Spain

General Information
Business Hours
Business & social hints
Climate
Customs
Health
Immigration & Passport
Useful Contacts

General Information

Capital City:: Madrid
Population:: 40.5 million
Area:: 195,349 square miles
Language:: Spanish (Castilian), Catalan, Galician, Basque
Electricity:: 220V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:: 34
Driving:: Driving is on the right. EU Driving Licences are accepted, if not an International Driving Licence is required. Minimum driving age is 18, however minimum age for car hire is 21
Currency:: Euro (EUR 1 = 100 Cents)

Business Hours

Bank:: 0900-1400 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat (except during the summer)
Office:: Times vary considerably
Shops:: 0900-1300 & 1630-1930 Mon-Sat (1000-2000 department stores)
Public Holidays:: 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day, 6 Jan * Epiphany, 19 Mar * San Jose, 1 Apr * Maundy Thursday, 2 Apr Good Friday, 1 May Labour Day, 15 Aug Assumption, 12 Oct National Day, 1 Nov All Saints' Day, 6 Dec Constitution Day, 8 Dec Immaculate Conception, 25 Dec Christmas Day. Note: *These holidays may be replaced by the autonomous communities with another date. (b) Additional dates are celebrated as regional public holidays. These vary from region to region.

Business and social hints

General:: Business is conducted in Spanish, many executives speak French or English. On social occasions, eg invitation to restaurants, be reasonably punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated
Tipping:: Service charges may not always be added to the bill, although a cover charge may be applied. Tips of 5-10% are discretionary
Clothing:: Lightweights for summer, mediumweights for winter with warmer clothes for central and northern areas
Emergency Services:: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112
Hotel Classification:: Normal hotels and "Hotel Residencias" (residential hotels with no restaurant) are officially graded by stars from 1 up to 5. An extra-luxurious "5-star GL" category tops the range. Lower-quality accommodation called "Pension", "Hostal" and "Hostal Residencia" (a hostal with no restaurant) is graded less rigorously from 1 star up to 3 star. Holiday Villages (low-rise accommodation usually in spacious gardens) are also officially classified as "Ciudad de Vacaciones" and graded from 1 star to 3 star. Aparthotels and "Residencia Apartamentos" (aparthotels without a restaurant) are graded on the same basis as hotels from 1 star to 5 star. Apartments are classified by "Keys" from 1 key up to 4 keys.

Most of Spain is hot and sunny in summer but there are differences in temperature during winter depending on the climatic region. There are three regions: the north and northwest, the central region and the Mediterranean coast including the Balearic Islands. The north and northwest is the wettest region with cooler and wetter summers although there is still an ample amount of warm weather. The central region has low rainfall although during winter there may be quite heavy snow. Summers are hot with spring and early summer being the wettest seasons. The Mediterranean coast has milder winters with hot and sometimes humid summers

Madrid

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum Temperature °C	10	11	14	18	22	27	33	30	25	19	12	9
Minimum Temperature °C	1	2	4	7	10	14	16	17	13	9	4	1
Average Humidity (mornings) %	89	87	84	78	75	69	63	63	73	83	89	90
Average Humidity (afternoons) %	71	65	58	52	51	43	37	36	47	58	68	72
Average Rainfall	39	34	42	48	47	28	11	15	32	54	48	48

Import Allowances:: For persons of 17 years of age or older: 1) Travellers entering from non-EU countries (including Canary Islands, Channel Islands & Gibraltar): a) 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco b) 1 lit of spirits of more than 22ï¿½ proof or 2 lit of up to 22ï¿½ proof or non-denatured ethyl alcohol with more that 80% volume. c) 2 lit of still wines d) 50gr of perfume & 0.25 lit of eau de toilette e) Other goods to the value of EUR 430 (EUR 150 for travellers under 15 years) f) 4 lit of wine g) 16 lit beer 2) Travellers entering from EU countries: No limits for passengers arriving with goods purchased with the E.U that are for personal use only, inclusive of tax, in the shops of an E.U country and brought to Spain.
Contraband:: Products of animal origin, Fire Arms Ammunition

Participant of the European Health Insurance Card - EHIC scheme (formerly known as the E111) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment with emergency care. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card please click <a href="http://bit.ly/9B8ipv">here</a> Please note: The EHIC is <b>NOT</b> an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK, lost or stolen property etc.

Compulsary Vaccinations: None.
Recommended Immunisations: None however long-term visitors should consider Hepatitis A immunisation.
Risks: Rabies not normally present on the Spanish mainland except in Spanish territory in North Africa (Cueta & Melilla)

Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay.

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Spain 2) For an unrestricted length of stay by: a) Holders of passports issued by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Rep, Slovenia, Sweden & Switzerland b) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen 3) For stays up to 3 months in 6 month period by: a) Holders of passports issued by Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passport holders only), Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St. Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, United States, Vatican City & Venezuela b) Holders of British passports endorsed British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen (provided endorsed British Subject or British National for Community Purposes)

Embassy

Consulate General of Spain 20 Draycott Place London, SW3 2RZ tel: +44 20 7589 8989, 08713760023 (visa enq) fax: +44 20 7581 7888 e-mail: conspalon@mail.mae.es website: www.conspalon.org hours: 0830-1730 (Mon-Fri)