MASKS will still be compulsory on aeroplanes and all other public transport in Spain, even though the European Union has recommended they cease to be obligatory in flight.
Cases where inter-regional travel is allowed at Easter, and what to do to prove it
27/03/2021
THIS Easter weekend will be another where the usual holiday traffic jams on motorways are very unlikely, since all regions in Spain – except the Canary Islands – have shut their borders to prevent mass movement across the country.
But there will be exceptions allowing people to travel beyond their home regions, and different criteria for proving these.
In some parts of the country, the traveller needs to fill in a form, normally downloaded from the internet, although in others, paperwork proving where they need to be and why is considered sufficient.
Anyone who does need to leave their region over the coming fortnight is advised to take any proof they may be able to find with them, just in case.
Those most likely to be affected will be residents close to regional borders – such as where their nearest district hospital or place of work is in a neighbouring region.
Anything relating to healthcare, such as attending GP appointments, clinics, hospitals or other medical and social care-related facilities, is permitted, as is going to work or to anywhere connected to one's job, like seeing clients, or making deliveries for those whose job involves long-distance driving.
Going to school, college, university, nursery or infant school and dropping off children there or picking them up is permitted – some universities and colleges are still providing their tuition online, but schools are largely open, although primary and secondary schools at least will be shut for normal classes over Easter.
Care and assistance for the elderly, minors, the disabled, persons considered 'especially vulnerable', and dependants in general is allowed.
Drivers who need to go to petrol stations just over their regional border, where this is the nearest, can do so, as can anyone whose bank, insurance company or other financial entity is in another region and they are required to travel there over Easter.
The same applies with any legal and administrative appointments – court cases, renewing passports or ID cards or driving licences, or anything else that falls within the description of 'legal' or 'officialdom' and which cannot be postponed until later in April.
Exams and tests, where these cannot be postponed, can be carried out in another region if there is no way of doing so in one's own.
Emergencies of any type, or situations of 'extreme necessity', force majeur, natural disaster, or pressing issues or engagements which cannot be put off allow for travel outside one's home region, although if stopped by the police blockades expected to be set up at all borders, it is likely such cases will be open to interpretation, so all care should be taken to provide as much evidence of their urgent nature as possible – unless this is obvious, such as a fire or flood which involves immediate mass evacuation.
Returning to one's main residence, or family home if this is not the same place – such as students, or people who live alone and decide to spend Easter with their parents or other close relatives – is permitted.
Forms to be completed proving the need for movement are required for residents in and travellers to the Basque Country, Navarra, Catalunya and Aragón.
For entry to or departure from the Greater Madrid region, a specific form has not been created, but the one in use over December and January for Christmas travel should be downloaded and completed.
All other regions simply require paperwork to prove the need, which could be a letter of confirmation of a doctor's or hospital appointment, a job contract, or similar.
Different rules apply concerning movement within regions, such as curfews – ranging from approximately 22.00 to midnight and 05.00 to 07.00, which all residents should ensure they are familiar with – and shop and bar opening times, and limits on numbers of people.
In some regions, such as the Comunidad Valenciana, bars and restaurants are now able to open their outside seating areas, and their insides for up to 30% of their usual capacity, but smoking is banned on outside terraces – customers should step off the premises onto a pavement, and ensure they maintain at least a two-metre distance from all other people, including other smokers – and all these premises are required to close by 18.00, meaning for meals out, only the lunchtime slot will be available as evening dinners are not typically served until around 20.00.
Also in the Comunidad Valenciana, shops are permitted to open until 20.00, although pharmacies, petrol stations and supermarkets can continue to serve customers during their normal hours if they typically shut later, and the post office is only open from 08.30 to 18.30, Monday to Friday, with Saturday services currently suspended.
Most regions in Spain are expecting to review their situations from April 12 onwards – cases of contagion have fallen considerably since the beginning of the year, but are starting to rise again in some parts, particularly the north, and authorities are concerned Easter may bring a fresh spike in numbers.
Travel to holiday homes outside one's region of residence is not permitted, and a woman from Madrid who recently moved into her summer house in Alicante has been fined.
These rules are expected to relax as the spring progresses, especially as the vaccine roll-out continues – so far, around 2.5 million people in Spain have had both doses of the Covid vaccine, meaning that even though they can still catch the virus and may be able to pass it onto others, the inoculation should prevent their suffering the effects of it.
Related Topics
THIS Easter weekend will be another where the usual holiday traffic jams on motorways are very unlikely, since all regions in Spain – except the Canary Islands – have shut their borders to prevent mass movement across the country.
But there will be exceptions allowing people to travel beyond their home regions, and different criteria for proving these.
In some parts of the country, the traveller needs to fill in a form, normally downloaded from the internet, although in others, paperwork proving where they need to be and why is considered sufficient.
Anyone who does need to leave their region over the coming fortnight is advised to take any proof they may be able to find with them, just in case.
Those most likely to be affected will be residents close to regional borders – such as where their nearest district hospital or place of work is in a neighbouring region.
Anything relating to healthcare, such as attending GP appointments, clinics, hospitals or other medical and social care-related facilities, is permitted, as is going to work or to anywhere connected to one's job, like seeing clients, or making deliveries for those whose job involves long-distance driving.
Going to school, college, university, nursery or infant school and dropping off children there or picking them up is permitted – some universities and colleges are still providing their tuition online, but schools are largely open, although primary and secondary schools at least will be shut for normal classes over Easter.
Care and assistance for the elderly, minors, the disabled, persons considered 'especially vulnerable', and dependants in general is allowed.
Drivers who need to go to petrol stations just over their regional border, where this is the nearest, can do so, as can anyone whose bank, insurance company or other financial entity is in another region and they are required to travel there over Easter.
The same applies with any legal and administrative appointments – court cases, renewing passports or ID cards or driving licences, or anything else that falls within the description of 'legal' or 'officialdom' and which cannot be postponed until later in April.
Exams and tests, where these cannot be postponed, can be carried out in another region if there is no way of doing so in one's own.
Emergencies of any type, or situations of 'extreme necessity', force majeur, natural disaster, or pressing issues or engagements which cannot be put off allow for travel outside one's home region, although if stopped by the police blockades expected to be set up at all borders, it is likely such cases will be open to interpretation, so all care should be taken to provide as much evidence of their urgent nature as possible – unless this is obvious, such as a fire or flood which involves immediate mass evacuation.
Returning to one's main residence, or family home if this is not the same place – such as students, or people who live alone and decide to spend Easter with their parents or other close relatives – is permitted.
Forms to be completed proving the need for movement are required for residents in and travellers to the Basque Country, Navarra, Catalunya and Aragón.
For entry to or departure from the Greater Madrid region, a specific form has not been created, but the one in use over December and January for Christmas travel should be downloaded and completed.
All other regions simply require paperwork to prove the need, which could be a letter of confirmation of a doctor's or hospital appointment, a job contract, or similar.
Different rules apply concerning movement within regions, such as curfews – ranging from approximately 22.00 to midnight and 05.00 to 07.00, which all residents should ensure they are familiar with – and shop and bar opening times, and limits on numbers of people.
In some regions, such as the Comunidad Valenciana, bars and restaurants are now able to open their outside seating areas, and their insides for up to 30% of their usual capacity, but smoking is banned on outside terraces – customers should step off the premises onto a pavement, and ensure they maintain at least a two-metre distance from all other people, including other smokers – and all these premises are required to close by 18.00, meaning for meals out, only the lunchtime slot will be available as evening dinners are not typically served until around 20.00.
Also in the Comunidad Valenciana, shops are permitted to open until 20.00, although pharmacies, petrol stations and supermarkets can continue to serve customers during their normal hours if they typically shut later, and the post office is only open from 08.30 to 18.30, Monday to Friday, with Saturday services currently suspended.
Most regions in Spain are expecting to review their situations from April 12 onwards – cases of contagion have fallen considerably since the beginning of the year, but are starting to rise again in some parts, particularly the north, and authorities are concerned Easter may bring a fresh spike in numbers.
Travel to holiday homes outside one's region of residence is not permitted, and a woman from Madrid who recently moved into her summer house in Alicante has been fined.
These rules are expected to relax as the spring progresses, especially as the vaccine roll-out continues – so far, around 2.5 million people in Spain have had both doses of the Covid vaccine, meaning that even though they can still catch the virus and may be able to pass it onto others, the inoculation should prevent their suffering the effects of it.
Related Topics
More News & Information
A 'QUALITY of life' survey among residents in Spain's biggest cities shows attitudes have changed since the start of the pandemic, according to national consumer organisation OCU, which conducted the...
AIRLINES and the European Commission are urging member States and third countries to accept antigen tests instead of PCRs for international arrivals, in a bid to save the tourist season over Christmas and allow families...