Are Spaniards still welcoming to foreigners, given tourism protests?

Key rules

• Protest targets: Protests aim at mass tourism, tourist flats and housing costs, not at ordinary residents.
• Everyday welcome: Daily attitudes toward newcomers stay mostly warm, especially toward EU and long-term residents.
• Main risk: Policy changes on property, short-term rentals and visas are the real risk to watch.
• Golden Visa: The Golden Visa for property investment ended on 3 April 2025.
• Short-term rentals: Every short-term rental needs a registration number, and listings without one are removed.

The short answer

Yes, you will mostly be welcomed. The protests you see in the news are about mass tourism and housing costs. They are not aimed at ordinary residents who live, work and rent in Spain. The real risk for you is policy: new rules on property, short-term rentals and visas can change what you are allowed to do.

What the protests are about

Anti-tourism and housing protests took place in 2024 and 2025 and continued into 2026. They were biggest in:

• the Canary Islands
• Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza
• Barcelona
• Málaga, under the slogan "Málaga para vivir, no para sobrevivir" (Málaga to live in, not to survive)
• San Sebastián, Valencia, Cádiz, Santiago de Compostela and Sevilla

Coordinated protests also took place across southern Europe in June 2025. Barcelona's July 2024 march became known for water pistols fired at tourists.

The targets are mostly:

• tourist flats and short-term rentals
• hotel expansion and cruise ships
• high rents and speculators
• the government's housing policy

In some cases, foreign buyers are named too. Tenants' unions have also organised national demonstrations about rents. If you rent long-term and live in the place, you are not the target. If you plan to buy or run a tourist rental, expect more criticism.

How people feel day to day

Spaniards are comparatively tolerant next to many other EU countries. Most people say immigrants are needed for the economy. Surveys also show Spaniards are positive about EU citizens living in Spain.

Attitudes are not all one way:

• Immigration has risen among the top worries in national surveys. At times it ranks second or third, behind housing and politics. Roughly 15 to 30 percent of people name it as a main problem.
• Support for stricter control has grown.
• The party Vox has gained ground alongside this trend.
• People tend to view EU and wealthy residents favourably. The debate is mostly about irregular migration.
• Views vary by age and political leaning.

In practice, expect friendliness in daily life. Learning some Spanish and living like a resident, not a visitor, helps a lot.

Policy: the part to watch

Rules are changing, and most changes hit specific groups.

If you buy property. In January 2025 the government proposed a tax of up to 100 percent on property purchases by non-EU non-residents. It needed new legislation and had not become law as far as is known. The Golden Visa for property investment ended on 3 April 2025.

If you rent out a home short term. Since July 2025, a national registry requires a registration number for every short-term rental. Platforms must remove listings without one, and tens of thousands of listings were ordered off Airbnb. Building communities now need the approval of three-fifths of owners before tourist rentals can start in a building. Regions add their own limits. Catalonia plans to end tourist licences in Barcelona by 2028, and the Balearics and Canaries have their own rules. Some of these are being challenged in court.

If you are a remote worker. Digital nomad visas remain in force. Proposals to tighten their tax or entry conditions have been discussed but are not settled.

If you are a tenant. These rules mainly target tourist rentals and buyers, not long-term tenants. The questions below cover this in more detail.

What to do

• Before buying, check the current rules for non-EU buyers with a Spanish lawyer or notary.
• Before renting out a home short term, check your region's rules and your building's rules.
• Before applying for a nomad visa, check the current conditions with the consulate.
• Check local news for the latest protests if you are travelling to a tourist hotspot.

Frequently asked questions

Do the new short-term rental rules affect me as a tenant or buyer?

Yes, they mainly affect owners who rent to tourists, but they can matter to you if you buy to let.

Is the Golden Visa for property still available?

No, the Golden Visa for property investment ended on 3 April 2025. If you want to move, look at other visa routes instead. Digital nomad visas under the Startups Law remain in force.

Will non-EU buyers have to pay a 100 percent tax on property?

No, a tax of up to 100 percent on purchases by non-EU non-residents was proposed in January 2025, but it has not become law. It would need new legislation. If you plan to buy from outside the EU, ask a lawyer or gestor for the current position before you commit.

Which places have seen the most protests, and who do they target?

Protests have been seen in the Canary Islands, Palma, Barcelona, Málaga, San Sebastián, Valencia and Ibiza, among others. They mostly target tourist flats, high rents, cruise ships and speculators, and sometimes foreign buyers. Check local news for the city you are considering.