What You Need To Know: Everything That Will Change In Spain In September 2024

September is a busy month in Spain with kids going back to school and shoulder season tourism still going strong. If you’re living in Spain then you need to know that mortgage rates will drop this month too, and that liquid limits will be reintroduced in Spanish airports.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg! To help keep you up to date, here’s a full breakdown of everything that will change in Spain in September 2024:

Liquid limits at airports

Thought we’d seen the end of liquid limits when passing through airport security? Sadly, they’ve been introduced again! The European Commission (EC) recently announced that it will temporarily reintroduce limits to liquids carried in hand luggage at some airports around Europe. This is due to a fault with the new multi-million euro scanning machines. So don’t throw away those 100ml bottles too soon!

Parents Beware: New Baby Seat Rules

If you travel with your child in a car seat in your Spanish vehicle then there are new rules to be aware of from 1st September 2024. Companies will now be prohibited from manufacturing child seats that fit the R44 model (which only adapt to the height and weight of kids). Only R129 (with increased protection) ones will be allowed. The sales of the old R44 model will be banned, and that includes reselling second hand seats. If you already have a R44 model in your chair you can still use it, but this isn’t recommended or considered best practice. Time to buy a new car seat perhaps?

It’s Back To School Time!

This is another one for parents: your kids are going back to school! School starts back from September with dates varying from region to region. It could be anywhere from the 6th to the 11th, with most regions choosing either the 9th or the 11th. The earliest to go back will be those in the Basque Country and Castilla y León on the 6th, and the latest to go back will be Galicia, Extremadura and the Balearic Islands on the 11th. Check with your school directly so you don’t miss any school time!

Spanish Mortgage Rates Will Drop

The Euribor is the interest rate used to work out mortgage payments in Spain, and it is set by the European Central Bank. This is expected to drop in September, and if it does it means that people with variable rate mortgages can expect to see their mortgage repayments drop too!

Regional Holidays Across The County

There are no national holidays in Spain in September unfortunately, but some regions will still get a day off thanks to regional holidays. The dates you need to be aware of are:
September 11th La Diada (Catalonia Day)
15th September (Cantabria's Día de La Bien Aparecida)
8th September (Asturias Day)
8th September (Extremadura Day)
2nd September (Ceuta Day)
Various island holidays in the Canary Islands:
8th September (Día de Nuestra Señora del Pino, Gran Canaria)
15th September (Día de Nuestra Señora de Los Volcanes: Lanzarote, La Graciosa and Fuerteventura)
25th September (Día de Nuestra Señora de los Reyes, El Hierro)

Festivals In Spain In September

The highlight of the summer are the ferias across Spain, but that doesn’t mean that the nation is all partied out. September brings its own jam-packed festival schedule. Look in your local paper or on local news pages for the festivals where you are, but the most noteworthy festivals of the month include: The Rioja wine harvest festival, the Jerez Grape harvest festival, and various historical reenactments such as  the Fiestas de Carthagineses y Romanos and the Fiestas del Motín in Aranjuez.

Barcelona will also be hosting its biggest celebration of the year - La Mercè - with lots of concerts, street theatre, dancing giants and fireworks. It's on from September 20th – 24th.

Self Employed Workers Can Correct Their Own VAT Mistakes

Filing your taxes can be incredibly stressful, especially if you make a mistake or miscalculation that you’re stuck with for the rest of the year. But this isn’t a problem any more. For the first time from September, the Tax Agency will allow self-employed workers and small companies to easily and quickly correct errors in VAT settlements. This will make life so much easier for many in Spain.

Does Spain Want A Shorter Working Week?

Does Spain want a shorter working week? Do you want a shorter working week? It has been proposed that the Spanish working week be reduced by 2.5 hours to improve work life balance. This is under discussion, and the government and Spanish unions haven’t yet reached a decision about whether it will go ahead. Talks resume on 9^th September, and it could be that you’ll be working for at least 30 minutes less every day from 2025.

Are you thinking of moving to Spain? Looking to escape the cold and rainy weather in the UK and make an escape to the sun? Then why not get in touch with our local property experts, who are perfectly placed to help you buy the Spanish home of your dreams. We’re excited to help you make your next move your best move!