Brits dreaming of a Spanish holiday this year may need to brace themselves for some hurdles. Whether you're planning a week-long sun-soaked getaway or considering retiring under the Spanish sun, it's crucial to stay updated with the evolving rules. The housing crisis in Spain, characterised by shortages and skyrocketing prices, has sparked anti-tourist protests in several cities including Barcelona and Seville. Local campaigners argue that the influx of foreign buyers and mass tourism exacerbate the situation.

As the summer holiday season looms, Brits heading to Spain have been alerted about nine changes they will face this year. In 2024, the country welcomed an unprecedented number of overseas visitors, with approximately 94 million arrivals. Despite the protests, it is still forecasted to be a major holiday hotspot for 2025, so here are the nine changes British travellers should be aware of if they've picked a Spanish holiday.

On December 2, 2024, the Spanish government implemented new regulations, mandating that hotels must gather extensive personal information from tourists. This includes family details, bank card specifics, and addresses, which will be shared with security services, reports the Express. Under these stringent new rules, holidaymakers arriving in Spain will have to provide a significant amount of personal data to their hotel. Hotels in Spain are up in arms over new regulations demanding they collect 42 pieces of personal data from tourists, with the system already in place but not yet tested during the peak summer rush. This could mean longer waits for holidaymakers at check-in.

The Spanish hotel association CEHAT has criticised the rules as an "unreasonable" load on small businesses and a privacy nightmare: "This Royal Decree infringes upon fundamental privacy rights and is contrary to several EU directives, which is why CEHAT asserts that compliance is impossible due to the risk it poses to establishments being subject to lawsuits from travellers," they declared. In another twist for travellers, the EU's set to shake things up at its borders come 2025. The upcoming Entry and Exit System (EES) will keep tabs on non-EU visitors, including Brits, clocking every entry and exit with an automated IT setup. This means names, travel docs, biometrics, and all the details of comings and goings will be meticulously logged.

The UK is set to revolutionise its entry process with an innovative system that's poised to eliminate the need for passport stamps, offering a swift and efficient experience at the border. No longer will passports be manually stamped – a practice deemed outdated and ineffective in providing accurate data on border crossings and tracking overstayers. This move paves the way for greater use of self-service systems and automated checks, ensuring travellers enjoy a seamless entry.

Spain is preparing to bid farewell to its lucrative "golden visa" scheme as it tackles its escalating housing crisis head-on. For almost a decade since 2013, this initiative has welcomed non-EU nationals with open arms, granting them residency rights in exchange for substantial investments in Spanish property. Presently, with an investment of no less than €500,000 (£420,405) into the Spanish housing market without leveraging loans, foreigners can secure a renewable residence permit which entitles them to live and work in Spain for three years initially.

However, the days of golden visas are numbered, with renewals possible every five years provided certain conditions are met. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has slated the cut-off for new applications to 3 April 2025, highlighting the urgency to reorganise national priorities. During his announcement, he noted: "Today, 94 out of every 100 such visas are linked to real estate investment... in major cities that are facing a highly stressed market and where it's almost impossible to find decent housing for those who already live, work and pay their taxes there.".

Brits planning a Spanish getaway, take note: tourist taxes are on the rise across several beloved destinations including Asturias, Galicia, Tenerife, Alicante, and Seville, with fee hikes expected in 2025. Visitors will typically cough up the tax when they check into their accommodation. Over in Gran Canaria's Mogan, holidaymakers are already feeling the pinch with a new nightly charge introduced this month, costing a mere €0.15 per person each day. The move, announced last month, sees local authorities promising to reinvest the extra cash into the tourism industry.

Mogan's mayor, Onalia Bueno, didn't mince her words last December, insisting: "The tourists who stay in the municipality contribute to paying what proportionally corresponds to them for the services and activities they enjoy during their stay. Under no circumstances do we want the residents to assume all the tax pressure through an increase in rates.". Meanwhile, Malaga is cracking down on rental properties, putting a stop to new rentals in 43 areas where they makeup more than 8% of homes. This three-year experiment kicked off this month.