Spain publishes record 1,310 unresolved asylum notifications in a single day
More than 400 migrants land on El Hierro in 48 hours, straining Canary Islands reception system
Nationwide General Strike Grounds Flights and Halts Public Transport Across Spain
Latest News
Storm Charles fails to stop migrant boats reaching El Hierro
Six boats with nearly 500 migrants reached El Hierro on 10–11 November despite gale-force winds from Storm Charles. Rescue services warn winter weather no longer deters crossings, complicating mobility logistics and adding pressure for stronger EU maritime deployment.
Congress Validates Emergency Housing Decree, Shaping the Relocation Landscape for Expats
Spain’s Standing Committee validated a wide-ranging housing decree on 12 November, freezing rent hikes, taxing short-term tourist lets and imposing penalties on vacant homes. The rules immediately affect accommodation budgets for expatriates and assignees and could tighten the supply of long-term rentals in major cities. Companies should stress-test their relocation policies and insert protective clauses in new leases ahead of the 29 November election, which may yet alter the regulatory landscape.
Schengen states prolong internal border checks citing Ceuta incident
New EU notices dated 12 November extend internal Schengen border checks in Sweden, Denmark and Norway until May 2027, citing security threats and the July incident in Spain’s Ceuta enclave. The prolongations mean renewed passport inspections for travellers on Spain-Nordic routes and potential trucking delays.
Madrid-Barajas faces chronic EES passport queues as winter peak begins
A 12 November field report reveals mounting EES-related delays at Madrid-Barajas, with first-time biometric capture reaching 50-minute waits. Extra police and process tweaks are underway, but companies should pad itineraries and keep exit evidence to avoid Schengen overstay flags.
Foreigners Face New Bottleneck as Extranjería Appointment Portal Falters Again
On 12 November Spain’s online extranjería appointment portal again crashed under heavy demand, leaving most provinces without available slots for residence-card procedures. The outage delays work start-dates for new hires and risks visa overstays for existing expatriates. Employers should adjust onboarding schedules, use early-morning booking windows, and consider in-person or proxy booking options until the Ministry upgrades server capacity.
Madrid-Barajas baggage-system strike continues through 30 November
Partial strikes by baggage-system engineers at Madrid-Barajas will persist until 30 November, causing sporadic belt shutdowns and manual bag sorting. Travellers should avoid short connections and monitor union talks that could escalate to a full walk-out.