Everything That Changes in Spain in June 2023, Including New Laws You Need to Know About

June is a busy and important month in Spain, with the start of the school holidays in the country, as well as the onslaught of tourists from other countries when their school holidays begin. The La Renta tax deadline also falls this month, and new laws are being introduced too.

Here is a breakdown of all the important changes you need to know about in Spain in June 2023:

The Deadline for ‘La Declaracion De La Renta’

La Declaracion de la renta is the annual income tax return in Spain, and if you are eligible to pay tax in Spain then the deadline for this falls at the end of the month. Your earnings in 2022 should be presented before 30^th June. 

If you haven’t already submitted your personal income tax return then it is possible to do this in person between 1^st June until 30^th June. You can visit one of the various Agencia Tributaria offices that are located across the country. Alternatively, you can present your tax return over the phone, but the deadline for this is 29^th June. And if you want to make your payment by direct debit then you must do this by 27^th June.

New Laws Focused on Female Reproductive Health

From 1st June the Organic Law 1/2023 which was approved on 28^th February will come into effect. The focus of this law is on the "introduction of the necessary modifications to guarantee the effective enforcement of women's sexual and reproductive rights".

There are three key elements of this law. They are:

• The introduction of menstrual leave for individuals suffering from extreme period pain due to conditions such as endometriosis, polycystic ovaries or dysmenorrhoea, among many others. The law covers leave for up to three days, however you can apply for leave up to five days if you have a note from your doctor stating that this is neccessary.
• The allocation of medical leave to cover temporary disability due to the end of a pregnancy. This covers pregnancies that have ended due to either miscarriage or elective abortion. There is no set amount of leave allowed here: this is up to the discretion of your doctor.
• Finally, the allocation of medical leave to cover temporary disability due to ongoing pregnancy. This includes if your doctor puts you on bed rest or advises you not to work at any point during your pregnancy.

Unsolicited Telecommunication Reduced by Law

Nobody likes receiving unsolicited telecommunication. But the good news is, the amount of telecommunication calls you receive will be reduced by law this month.

Getting spam calls from companies trying to sell you new products is relatively common in Spain but from 30th June the General Telecommunications Law will be reformed to prohibited businesses and other providers from making unsolicited telephone calls for the purpose or effect of promoting or selling goods and services.

The Start of the School Holidays

You wouldn’t be mistaken if the streets of Spain started to feel a little busier this month. That’s because the Spanish school holidays begin and will last for between 10-12 weeks, with most children returning to school in the second week of September.

The exact holiday start date will depend on where in the country you live.  For example, in Andalusia schools will end on June 22nd, while in Catalonia they will end on the 20th for secondary school and 22nd for primary and kindergarten age. In Valencia all schools will break up on June 21st and in Madrid it's June 22nd.

The Introduction of New Road Signs

The huge raft of new road signs that the Ministry of Transport and the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) first revealed ath the end of last year will finally be introduced in June 2023. This includes both new signs and redesigns of old signs: You will start to see these on the roads from 1st June.

Festivals and Celebrations in Spain This Month

June will see a huge number of festivals and celebrations taking place across the country.

Nine weeks after Easter, the Corpus Christi festival that commemorates the body of Christ will take place. This is celebrated differently across the country, so it is worth researching how it will be celebrated in your area and which festivities appeal to you most.

On 23rd June much of Spain will also celebrate the Night of Sant Juan. This celebration marks both St John the Baptists birth, and also falls on the shortest night of the year. It is celebrated with bonfires and fireworks. The way that the celebrations take place will differ from region to region.

Finally, the music festival season will begin in Barcelona this month.  Barcelona's Primavera Sound and Sonar are some of the biggest names in the festival arena. Primavera will be on from May 29th until June 4th, while Sonar will be on from June 15th - 17th.

New Rights for Rail Passengers

Finally, rail passengers will see their rights increasingly protected in Spain from 7th June. These new regulations will introduce several new rights including, but not limited to,  a new obligation for certain carriers to offer their rail services as direct tickets, and companies will also have to provider real-time travel information to their travelers.

This is good news for existing rail travelers and will also make travelling by rail more appealing to a wider audience.

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