The official language is Spanish (Castellano, 74%). Catalan (17%), Galician (7%) and Basque (2%) are spoken regionally; in tourist areas e.g. T. English and German.
[*] These holidays can be changed by the autonomous communities to another date.
[**] Celebrated regionally.
In addition to the stated national holidays, there are numerous regional holidays.
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be imported duty-free (when entering from non-EU countries): 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits with an alcohol content of more than 22% or 2 liters of spirits with an alcohol content of 22% or less or sparkling wine; 4 liters of table wine; 16 liters of beer; Gifts/other goods up to a total value of €430 (air and sea travel) or €300 (travel by train/car); Children under 15 generally €150. Note: Tobacco products and alcoholic beverages may only be imported by persons aged 17 and over.
Import regulations
For the import of weapons and ammunition, a hunting license from the home country certified by the Spanish consulate as well as an import permit and a hunting permit from the Spanish customs authorities are required. Travelers who bring meat and milk products, among other things, into the EU from outside the European Union must declare them. The regulation does not apply to the import of animal products from EU countries, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. Anyone who does not register these products must expect fines or criminal prosecution. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
There is a general ban on imports of live poultry, meat and meat products from third countries (with the exception of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland).
Import/Export to the EU
The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers as long as the goods are for personal use and not for resale. In addition, the goods must not have been purchased in duty-free shops. Travelers may be asked to provide proof of their own personal needs. Member States have the right to levy excise duty on spirit drinks or tobacco products if these products are not intended for personal use. The following maximum quantities apply as personal requirements: 800 cigarettes (persons aged 18 and over); 400 cigarillos (over 18s); 200 cigars (over 18s); 1 kg of tobacco (persons aged 18 and over); 10 liters of high-proof alcoholic beverages (persons aged 18 and over); 20 liters of fortified wine (such as port or sherry) (over 18s); 90 liters of wine (of which a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine) (persons aged 18 and over); 110 liters of beer (over 18s); Perfumes and eau de toilette: No restrictions if it can be shown that the amount is for personal consumption. Medicines: Amount corresponding to personal needs during the trip); Other goods: The movement of goods within the EU is unrestricted for travelers. However, this does not apply to gold alloys and gold plating in the unprocessed state or as a semi-finished product and fuel. Fuel may only be imported from an EC member state exempt from mineral oil tax if it is in the vehicle’s tank or in a spare container that is carried along. A fuel quantity of up to 10 liters in the reserve tank is not objected to. If additional quantities of these goods are carried, e.g. For example, a wedding is an event that could justify a bulk purchase. Note: However, there are certain exceptions to the free movement of goods regime. They relate in particular to the purchase of new vehicles and purchases for commercial purposes. (More information on car taxes can be found in the European Commission’s Guide to Buying Goods and Services in the Internal Market.) Import limits for goods from Andorra 300 cigarettes or 150 cigarillos or 75 cigars or 400g of tobacco (over 17s only); 1.5 l spirits (above 22% alcohol content) or 3 l alcoholic beverages up to 22% alcohol content (only persons over 17 years); 5 liters of wine (only persons aged 17 and over); 1 kg of coffee or 400 g of extracts, essences or concentrates from coffee or preparations based on these goods or based on coffee (only persons aged 15 and over); 200 g of tea or 80 g of tea extracts; 75 g perfume or 375 ml eau de toilette; Agricultural goods with a maximum value of €175 (persons under 15 years max. €90). The following quantity limits must be observed: 2.5 kg milk powder, 3 kg condensed milk, 6 kg fresh milk, 1 kg butter, 4 kg cheese, 5 kg sugar and sweets, 5 kg meat.
EU
Duty-free sales at airports and seaports have been abolished for travel within the EU. Only travelers leaving the EU can shop cheaply in duty-free shops. When importing goods into an EU country that were bought in duty-free shops in another EU country, the same travel allowances and allowances apply as when entering from non-EU countries. More information is available from Spanish Customs.
Contact addresses
Royal Spanish Embassy
Honorary consulates in Innsbruck, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, Rankweil/Bregenz, Henndorf/Salzburg and St. Pölten.
Knowledge of Spanish is an advantage, although Spanish business partners often understand English and possibly also German or French. Appointments and business cards are common. Business hours vary from establishment to establishment and should be inquired in advance.
Opening hours
Business hours in Barcelona, Seville and Granada: 08.00/09.00-18.00/19.00, usually with an extended lunch break of 13.30-15.00/16.00. Santiago de Compostela and Malaga: 09.00-14.00 and 17.00-20.00. Banks are only open in the morning. Business hours Madrid: Mon-Fri 09.00-14.00 and 17.00-20.00, during the summer months also 08.00-15.00. Large and multinational companies have adjusted their business hours to the European standard and offer continuous business hours.
Business contacts
Commercial and Economic Department of the Spanish Embassy Lichtensteinallee 1, 10787 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 229 21 34 and +49 (0)30 229 23 94. Website: www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/Berlin/ es/Paginas/inicio.aspx Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce for Germany Eschersheimer Landstraße 44, 60322 Frankfurt/M., Germany Tel. +49 (0)69 66 16 58 30. Website: www.coeca.de/?page_id=19843&lang=de Commercial Department of the Spanish Embassy Stubenring 16/1. Stock, Postfach 604, 1011 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 513 39 33. Website: www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/VIENA/es/Paginas/inicio.aspx Economic and Commercial Department of the Spanish Embassy Länggassstrasse 31, 3012 Bern, Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)31 381 21 71. Website: www.exteriores.gob.
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0034. The public telephones work with coins or prepaid Telefónica cards, which can be bought in tobacconists (estancos). Cheap international calls can be made from internet cafes and call centers. Public phones may be phased out by the end of 2020. Spanish islands: Every larger island has an island code, which is usually integrated into the phone number, for Mallorca 971, Tenerife 922, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote 928. International information can be reached on 118 25. 112 is the general emergency number in Spain and on the Balearic Islands.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. Network operators include Amena, Movistar and Vodafone. International roaming contracts exist. Spanish mobile numbers are preceded by a 6. The network coverage is very good and in large parts of Spain you also have 4G reception and partially 5G reception. Roaming abroad can be used within the EU at the regular home tariff of the respective provider. Roaming charges were abolished within the EU in mid-2017. It may still be worth purchasing a Spanish SIM card or prepaid cards from local providers.
Internet
Internet cafes and establishments offering Internet access can be found in most urban areas. Internet providers include ID Grup and Orange. Mobile surfing on the Internet is made possible, among other things, by the chargeable Goodspeed Wi-Fi hotspots. Free access to the Internet via Wi-Fi is available in cafes, restaurants, kiosks, among others, as well as in many airports, train and bus stations, in some shopping centers and hotels, as well as in public places, including squares and parks. Sometimes a password is required. Barcelona and some other major Spanish cities, as well as Playa de Palma in Mallorca and some other stretches of beaches in the Balearic Islands are covered by a dense network of WiFi hotspots.
Post office
Mail delivery is relatively good. Letters in intra-European postal traffic take about 5 days to arrive. Poste restante items can be sent to all main post offices.
Radio
Numerous German-speaking radio stations can be received via Astra satellites or via the Internet in Spain, among other things.
