Spain

Last updated: 19 April 2010

Current at: 04 September 2010

We encourage citizens travelling to this destination to register their contact details here.

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SAFETY & SECURITY

Bombs exploded on commuter trains in Madrid in March 2004, killing 192 people. This attack was attributed to Al Qaeda terrorist network. In October 2007, a Spanish court found 21 people guilty of involvement in the bombings. On 19 January 2008, 14 individuals were arrested in Barcelona on suspicion of terrorism. These individuals are believed to be part of an Al Qaeda inspired cell which planned to attack the Barcelona metro and other targets in Spain, Germany, France, Portugal and the UK.

The Basque terrorist organisation, ETA, announced a ceasefire in March 2006 which was interrupted with a car bomb attack on Madrid airport in December 2006 that resulted in two deaths. ETA ended this ceasefire at midnight on 5 June 2007. There has been a considerable number of arests of ETA operatives, both in Spain and France, as well as the discovery of explosive caches. Despite this, the terrorist group has carried out killings of Spanish police and of a local politician. It has also tried to damage the Spanish tourist industry with bombs near a couple of beaches in the Basque country and in summer 2008 in Torremolinos/Benemaldena area. The devices have been small and caused no injuries.

More recent incidents include the following:

09 August 2009 - three small explosions in and around Palma de Mallorca, following a warning purported to be from ETA. No casualties have been reported.
30 July 2009 - a bomb exploded in Palma Nova, Mallorca killing two Civil Guard Officers. No other injuries rejorted.
29 July 2009 - a van bomb exploded outside Civil Guard Barracks in Burgos; 66 people injured
19 June 2009 - a car bomb exploded in Bilbao killing one police officer.

As in other parts of the European Union, or perhaps even more so, the Spanish Government and security forces are fully alert to the threat of terrorism and are taking substantial measures to counter this threat. However, in the circumstances where an organisation such as ETA has announced the end of a ceasefire, Irish citizens should be vigilant and be aware that attacks could be indiscriminate (and include places frequented by foreign tourists). At all times you should follow the instructions and advice of the local police and your tour operator.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

The Department of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends that comprehensive travel insurance, including medical insurance, is obtained before travelling to Spain.

Travellers should note that the Irish government does not provide funds for emergency medical repatriation or for repatriation of remains.

You should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) free of charge which entitles you to emergency medical treatment. This card is NOT a substitute for travel insurance. See www.ehic.ie for further details. The EHIC replaces the Form E111, which is no longer valid.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Advanced Passenger Information

The European Union passed a Directive 2004/82/CE on 29th April 2004 regarding the obligation of carriers (airlines, ferries etc.) to provide details of passengers. Spain was the first EU country to put this Directive into practice with a national regulation which came into effect on 17th March 2007. Carriers were given three months to set up the necessary systems in order to obtain this data effectively and without adversely affecting passengers.

This means that the carriers who transport passengers to Spain from a country who has not ratified the Schengen Agreement (which is the case with Ireland) should provide the following details of each passenger:

Name
Date of birth
Nationality
Number and type of travel document (passport of National Identity Card)

These details are usually taken by the carrier at the time of booking, or at the time of check-in.

Staying for longer than three months

In compliance with Royal Decree 240/2007 approved on 16 February 2007 by Spain, EU citizens residing in Spain will no longer be issued with residence cards. All EU citizens who wish to reside in Spain for less than three months do not need to apply for a registration certificate. Only those who want to reside in Spain for more than three months have to apply for a Certificate of Registration in the Oficina de Extranjeros (Foreigners Office) or if there is none in your region, at designated police stations. In place of a residence card, you will be issued a certificate stating your name, address, nationality, identity number and date of registration. The certificate serves as confirmation that the registration obligation has been fulfilled, but it is not recognised by the local authorities as a valid form of identification and you are not obliged to keep the certificate with you.

CRIME

Most of Spain has a moderate rate of crime.

However, travellers to Spain should be aware that in areas such as airports, bus stations, railway stations, tourist areas and major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, there is a much higher risk of pickpocketing and muggings. Visitors to Spain are strongly advised to leave most valuables in a secure place and carry only one credit card, a small amount of cash, photo ID other than a passport and a photocopy of the personal information page of their passport.

Additional personal documents, cash, credit cards and other valuable items should be left in a secure place such as a hotel safe. Thieves may work in teams and a person may attempt to distract you in order that an accomplice can rob you more easily. Theft, including violent theft, occurs at all times of day and night and to people of all ages.

The Spanish authorities have warned of “date rape” drugs, including “GBH” and “liquid ecstasy”, being used. You are advised not to lower your personal security awareness because you are on holiday.

Theft from vehicles is common. Drivers should keep doors locked, windows rolled up and valuables out of sight while driving.

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Should you be detained by the Spanish police at any stage, please ensure that all judicial matters pending against you are resolved before leaving Spain and that any appropriate fines have been paid. Otherwise, you may be detained again at a future date when entering Spain and may incur further fines or even a custodial sentence.

Consumption of Alcohol

Visitors to Spain should be aware that alcoholic spirits are usually sold in significantly larger measures in bars and restaurants than in Ireland. Consumption of alcohol in public places, except licensed bars and restaurants, is forbidden in Madrid, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Failure to respect these laws may result in a fine.

Illegal Drugs

Visitors to Spain should be aware that there have been fatalities involving Irish citizens who have consumed illegal drugs in Spain. The Spanish authorities take the possession of illegal drugs in any quantity extremely seriously and such activity may result in imprisonment. The authorities in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza are particularly active in anti-drug law enforcement, and are likely to prosecute in cases of use or possession of drugs.

ROAD SAFETY

The Department of Foreign Affairs encourages caution and vigilance when driving in Spain. Traffic in Spain is faster-paced than in Ireland and driving customs are different. Night driving can be particularly dangerous. The use of a mobile phone without a hands-free device can result in a fine and driving prohibition while in Spain. All drivers are required to wear a reflective vest and to use a reflective triangle warning signs if they need to stop at the roadside.

Drivers should be always be cautious when approached by anyone claiming to be a police officer, either in plain clothes or travelling in unmarked vehicles. In all traffic related matters police officers will be in uniform. Unmarked vehicles will have a flashing electronic sign on the rear window which reads "Policía" or "Guardia Civil", and normally have blue flashing lights incorporated into the headlights. In non-traffic related matters police officers may be in plain clothes. However, you have the right to ask a police officer to identify him/herself. Also, a genuine police officer will not request that you hand over your bag or wallet. Should they request identification, they should be shown photographic ID such as your passport or driver's licence. If in any doubt, drivers should converse through the car window and contact the Guardia Civil on 062 or the Spanish National Police on 112 and ask them to confirm that the registration number of the vehicle corresponds to an official police vehicle.

Lorry drivers should be aware of the strict enforcement of fines relating to tachometer and other irregularities. Such fines imposed by the Spanish police are very servere and must be paid either on the spot or by bank transfer. The latter can be done directly or by the haulage company's Spanish agent, if they have one. Once payment is made, the vehicle will be permitted to continue. A form for appeal is given with the receipt.

NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

There is a high risk of forest fires during the summer. Many areas of Spain (including Catalonia, Murcia, the Canaries and Aragon) have been affected since July 2009. In some cases, the fires have led to fatalities and evacuations. Irish visitors to Spain should be alert to the risk (particularly in rural areas) and should avoid any actions which could cause fires. If in an affected area, you should follow the advice of the local emergency services, stay away from affected areas and monitor local media for up-to-date information.

A/H1N1 PANDEMIC

Please consult the Spanish Ministry for Health website for updates on numbers of confirmed cases and locations: http://www.msps.es/ . The Ministry has advised that almost all cases are mild in nature and recovery takes place within a few days.

BUYING PROPERTY IN SPAIN

Irish citizens intending to purchase property in Spain are strongly advised to consult an independent legal advisor from the beginning of the process. Irish citizens should be aware that in parts of Spain, particularly Valencia, there are laws entitling the local authorities to appropriate rural property for development and to charge property owners for part of the cost of that development. Potential and existing property owners should ensure that their legal title to the property is completely in order as their rights relating to, for example, notification of development plans, depend on the property being correctly registered. Property buyers should not, at any point in the transaction, carry around large sums of cash.

LOTTERY SCAMS

There are several Lottery scams being run from Spain. Visitors to Spain are advised to exercise caution if contacted by an organisation purporting to be a Spanish lottery. Do not give out personal details or pay any money, which may be described as an “advance fee,” a "tax", or "insurance". It is likely to be a scam if you have entered a lottery, are asked to pay anything up-front or if the contact telephone number is for a mobile phone.

According to the Spanish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Spanish Lottery prizes are always free of taxes, and the Spanish police have already arrested and subjected to legal procedures some of the members of groups who were operating from Spain.

Therefore, when you are offered "prizes" that seem to be linked to the Spanish Lottery, DO NOT PAY any amount. Likewise, please send a copy of the false documentation to the following address:

Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. Legal Advice Service
c/ Guzmán el Bueno nº137
28003 Madrid, Spain

or to fax number 34 91 533 51 36

GETTING MARRIED IN SPAIN

According to the Central Civil Registry Office in Madrid, in order for two Irish citizens to get married in Spain, one of the parties should be legally resident in Spain for approximately the previous two years. Naturally, this is not the case if an Irish citizen is to marry a Spanish citizen.

An application to get married in Spain usually involves a lot of bureaucracy and can be time consuming. Applicants should allow enough time before the intended date of the marriage for the paperwork to be completed. Individuals wishing to be married must first certify, in a file processed in accordance with the legislation for the Civil Register, that they meet the requirements established by law. The requirements in Spanish law are detailed here

Formalities may again vary in different Registries. Therefore applicants should check in every case which precise documents are needed by making direct contact with the Civil Registry Office in the area where they are intending to marry. A list of Civil Registry Offices can be found by region on the Spanish Ministry for Justice's website.

Please also be aware that the requirements for religious marriages vary according to the denomination and area in which an applicant lives and requirements should be checked well in advance with the relevant authority.