Languages

The official language in Spain is Spanish but Spain is unique in that it has a number of other ‘co-official’ languages and dialects that are recognised in specific regions of the country.  These co-official languages include Catalan, Valenciana, Basque, Galician and Aranese.  When sending any parcels or letters to Spain you need to make sure your labels are addressed accurately as spelling and characters may vary from those used in English such as accents and ‘ñ’.

Weights and Measurements

Spain, like the rest of Europe, uses the Metric system for units of weight and measurement so there should be no confusion for people sending parcels from the UK.  Whilst customs documents are not required for shipping to Spain some items require their weight and other details to be provided.

Currency

Spain uses the Euro (€) along with most other European countries, and prior to adopting the Euro in 1999 the currency of Spain was the Peseta (Pts).  Pesetas were also used in neighbouring Andorra along with the French Franc.  One Euro is estimated to equate to roughly 166 Pts.

The central bank of Spain has claimed that millions of pesetas were never exchanged for Euros, believed to total €1.7 billion, and unlike other countries they remain exchangeable indefinitely at any branch.

Time Zones

Spain is one hour ahead of the UK, residing in the Central European Time Zone that is GMT +1.  In the summer, Spain goes forward one hour and this is known as Central European Summertime (GMT +2).

Public Holidays and Dates of Interest

Spain has a number of public holidays that are observed throughout the country but there are also a number of holidays that are held in particular regions as well.  These days can vary and are not observed in other regions of Spain such as The Madrid Festival (Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid) only celebrated in the capital and Dia de las Canarias celebrated on the Canary Islands.

Below is a list of the universally recognised public holidays throughout Spain:

·         New Year’s Day – 1^st of January

·         Epiphany – 6^th of January

·         Good Friday – Friday before Easter

·         Labour Day – 1^st May

·         Assumption – 15^th of August

·         Fiesta Nacional de Espana – 12^th of October

·         All Saints Day – 1^st of November

·         Constitution Day – 6^th of December

·         Immaculate Conception – 8^th of December

·         Christmas Day – 25^th of December

Customs Information

Since Spain is a fellow member of the European Union sending parcels to Spain is not classified as exporting, instead it is referred to as ‘moving’ and so is not subject to the customs paperwork such as CN22 or CN23 forms that are required when you are sending parcels outside of the European Union.

Import restrictions

Spain has a list of restricted items similar to other countries such as alcohol and tobacco that can only be imported in restricted quantities but Spain also has a separate list of items that are strictly prohibited.  If your parcels contain any of the following then your parcel will likely be seized by Spanish customs and either returned or destroyed:

• Asbestos fibres
• Atlantic Red Tuna Fish originating from Belize, Honduras or Panama
• Certain U.S. Beef hormones
• Products containing dimethylfumarate (DMF)
• Illegal Narcotics and Drugs
• Toys and games containing copper sulphate
• All concealable knives/blades contained in plastic, fabric or paper sheathes
• L-trytophane and products containing L-trytophane as an ingredient.
• Medical thermometers containing mercury

Export restrictions

Exporting goods from Spain can be done for many reasons such as sending gifts back to friends in the UK but again, there are restrictions and a similar list of prohibited items that cannot be exported from Spain.  You need to make sure that anything being exported from Spain complies with these restrictions before sending, to avoid any wasted effort and money.

• Asbestos fibres
• Atlantic Red Tuna Fish originating from Belize, Honduras or Panama
• Certain U.S. Beef hormones
• Non-perishable food
• Products containing dimethylfumarate (DMF)
• Illegal Narcotics and Drugs (prescription or non-prescription)
• Toys and games containing copper sulphate
• All concealable knives/blades contained in plastic, fabric or paper sheathes
• L-trytophane and products containing L-trytophane as an ingredient.
• Medical thermometers containing mercury
• Vitamins
• Viagra

FAQ's

Sending parcels overseas to Spain will obviously be different from sending a letter to a friend living in the UK; as such you may have questions or concerns about how to send a parcel to Spain and how to make sure it arrives in good time.  Below are a few frequently asked questions about sending parcels to Spain that should help you when making your order, but if you are still unsure then feel free to get in touch with our helpful customer help team.

Do I need to fill out any customs declaration forms for shipping to Spain?

Customs declaration forms and commercial invoices are not required when shipping parcels to Spain due to it being a fellow EU country.  If you were sending parcels from or to outside of the EU then you would need either a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration form (dependant on the parcel’s value) or a commercial invoice detailing the parcel’s contents, value and origin.

How long will my parcel take to arrive in Spain?

Whilst it is possible for couriers to drive to Spain (via a ferry) it is still a long distance and as such, most deliveries will be sent via air freight.  One of the couriers here at Parcel2Go, TNT, is able to offer quick 3 day deliveries to Spain via its TNT Express service (prices starting from £20.85 + VAT).

Do I have to pay any taxes on my parcel delivery?

Generally the parcel sender will not need to pay any taxes or customs fees.  With parcels ‘moving’ between EU states it won’t require any customs documents whilst duty or tax will not normally applicable.

Does the recipient have to pay any taxes?

Depending on the nature of the parcel, i.e. what its contents are, the recipient may need to pay import taxes or duty on the parcel.

How much does it cost to ship to Spain?

A number of couriers are available to book a delivery to Spain at Parcel2Go.com; they include DHL, TNT and FedEx Express.  Prices for deliveries to Spain start at £19.29 + VAT.

What happens if the recipient is not in when my parcel is delivered?

If the recipient is not at home when the courier tries to deliver your parcel then they will normally leave a calling card for the recipient to rearrange the delivery for a different date or collect from a local depot.  If time passes and no attempts have been made to rearrange the delivery then it will be returned to the sender.  It is therefore important to include your return address on the parcel to ensure it is returned to you if there are problems.

Does my parcel need to go via airmail?

At Parcel2Go.com we provide a flexible range of delivery options for our customers.  Parcels and larger shipments can be sent via sea freight if you would rather use a cost-effective method of shipping larger items or items in a higher quantity.

Useful Links

Spain Parcel Delivery – Our Spain delivery page has all of the services that deliver to Spain as well as information about the country itself.

Download Commercial Invoice Form – Download our commercial invoice form that needs to accompany your parcel if sending to France from anywhere outside of the EU.

eBay Shipping Tool – If you have sold items online at eBay we have a dedicated shipping tool for you to use.

Parcel Tracking – Our parcel tracking page allows you to track your delivery ordered through us with any of the couriers and parcel delivery firms available on the site.

Sea Freight Enquiry – Visit our sea freight page to look into sending your parcel via the sea as opposed to the air.