Covid-19 Update: The Latest Rules and Restrictions in Spain

Unlike many other European countries, the rules and restrictions in place in Spain, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, differ from region to region. There are 17 autonomous regions in Spain (and two enclaves in North Africa which are a part of Spain), and each have these has their own authorities with their own powers to determine what the local restrictions should be.

At this point, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has not followed the lead of other European nations by reintroducing a national lockdown in the country. Instead, Spain is committed to continuing with its localised restrictions, which allows regional leaders to assess their own unique situations within their communities and determine which restrictions to enforce.

The drawback of this, is that if you’re moving from region to region, it does make it a little more complicated to understand what restrictions are in place. This is particularly true for Brits visiting or living in Spain after Brexit. For example, if you're in the middle of buying a holiday house and making the country your second home, then why not get in touch with Right Casa Estate Agents. Our local property experts are excited to take your call, and help you to turn your dreams into a reality. We have literally thousands of properties for sale from properties in Calahonda, to Cabopino, apartments in Fuengirola, houses for sale in Coin, we have all types of properties for sale!

But to get back to the topic, to help you navigate the new rules, here is a breakdown of the restrictions in place in each Spanish region right now. Bear in mind that as this situation is very fluid, these restrictions are liable to change without warning:

Andalusia

• Regional borders remain closed. Travel is also prohibited between provinces within the region.
• All cities with a population of over 100,000 are subject to municipal confinement. This same rule applies to towns that have an infection rate above 500 cases per 100,000. If the cases rise above 1,000 cases per 100,000 people in an area, all non-essential businesses in that area will close .
• A curfew is in place from 11pm-7am, but these timings may vary slightly depending on province.
• Essential and non-essential shops can open until 10.30pm.
• Bars, restaurants can open until 10.30pm.
• Non-essential activities must also stop by 10.30pm.
• Social gatherings are limited to four people in both private and public spaces.

As there are regional variants in place in Andalusia, you can find more information about the regional differences in a map via this link HERE

Catalonia

• Travel is allowed between comarcas, due to recent restriction loosening.
• People can now meet, but social groups are limited to 6 people from two households.
• Restaurants, cafes and bars are allowed to open until 5pm, seven days a weel
• All shops open, but non-essential shops must close at weekends.
• All hospitality venues located inside shopping centers (cafes, restaurants etc) will remain closed.
• There is a curfew between 10pm and 6am.

Madrid

• Borders are open expect the areas of Las Margaritas,San Fernando Alameda de Osuna, Rejas, Chopera and Villaviciosa de Odón which will keep their borders closed until 19^th April. The following link will show which other health zones have closed their borders and when they are expected to open.
• An 11pm curfew is in place. This applies to personal homes as well as bars and restaurants, which can accept their last customers at 10pm (provided they leave by 11pm)
• The number of people allowed to meet around a table on the terraza of a restaurant, cafe or bar is limited to six people. This figure is reduced to four people for sitting indoors.  Restaurants can only hold 50 percent of their pre-covid capacity.
• Individuals cannot mix in private homes.

Valencia

• Border closures remain in place
• Up to four people from different household can meet in public places. Meeting in private homes is prohibited.
• Restaurants can open at 30 percent of their pre-covid capacity. They must close at 6 pm and tables must be 1.5 metres away from each other. Takeaways can open until 10pm.
• Non-essential shops can open provided they only have 50 percent of their pre-covid capacity, and they must close by 8pm
• Gyms, pools and sports centres can open at 30 percent capacity. Outdoor sports are also permitted, but masks must be worn whilst exercising.
• There is a curfew in place from 10pm-6am.

Aragón

• The regional border surrounding Aragón is closed, but travel between provinces is allowed. The exception to this is the  area of Tarazona and the city of Zaragoza, which are subject to individual border closures.
• The curfew from 11pm-6am remains in place across the region.
• In Tarazona, all non-essential activities must stop by 8pm.
• All bars and restaurants in the region must close by 10pm, and adhere to a 30 percent capacity limit inside and a 100 percent capacity limit outside. 
• Groups are limited to 6 per table outside and 4 per table inside. 
• Services, non-essential shops and shopping malls are open at 25 percent of their pre covid capacity. Shops selling food are open to 50 percent capacity.
• Cultural venues can open at 50 percent capacity.
• Up to six people from different households can meet in public and four in private residences and gardens.

La Rioja

• Borders between municipalities are open but the regional borders remain closed
• The curfew from 11pm-5am remains in place across the region.
• You cannot socialise with those outside your household, unless you are legally permitted to form a social bubble.
• All bars and restaurants in the region must close by 11pm, and adhere to a 30 percent capacity limit inside and a 75 percent capacity limit outside. 
• Cultural and sporting activities can operate at 50 percent of their pre-covid capacity.
• Shops and other commercial activities can operate at 1/3 capacity. Non-essential shops must close by 8pm.

Extremadura

• There is a curfew in place from 11pm – 6am
• Bars and restaurants can open from 6am-11pm. Four people can sit together inside and up to six people can sit together outside.
• Shopping centres can open from 10am-6pm Mondays to Fridays and from 10am-2pm on Saturdays with a limited capacity of 40 percent of their pre-covid capacity.
• Cultural activities can also reopen at a capacity of 50 percent.

Castilla y León

• Customers cannot enter bars and restaurants (but takeaway and outdoor dining is still permitted.)
• Places of worship can open at up to 1/3 of their pre-covid capacity.
• A curfew is in place from 10pm-6am.
• A maximum number of four people are allowed to meet in private with the recommendation that groups are limited to individuals from the same household.
• Shopping malls and sports centres are allowed to open.

Basque Country

• Social gatherings are limited to four people in public spaces and meetings in private are banned.
• The ban on travel in and out of the Basque Country remains in place. If you have a legitimate reason to enter the region you must complete an entry form before arrival: you can find this HERE.
• The curfew is in place between 10pm and 6am.
• Bars and restaurants must close between 8pm and 6am. Capacity is set at 50 percent of pre-covid limits inside and 100 percent of pre covid limits outside.  Customers can only be served indoors for breakfast (6.30am until 9.30 am) and lunch (1pm to 4.30pm).
• Shops can stay open until 9pm with a capacity of 40 percent in shops bigger than 150 metres squared and a capacity of 60 percent in those that are smaller than this size. 
• Group sports venued are open, but limited to groups of up to four people. Changing rooms are closed (expect in swimming pools).

Navarra

• The regional border remains closed.
• Bars and restaurants can operate at 30 percent of their pre-covid capacity. Terrace dining is allowed whereas indoor facilities must close to the public.
• Social gatherings are reduced to those from within the same household although those who live alone can form a social bubble.
• Social gatherings are limited to four people inside and six people outside.
• Smoking on terrazas or walking in the street is banned.
• There is a curfew in place between 11pm and 6am.

Balearic Islands

A level system is in place. Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera are at level 2 and Menorca is at level 1. In addition to this, until the 23^rd April, the interior areas of bars and restaurants must close in Mallorca and Ibiza, and service must stop by 5pm.

On all islands, regardless of level:

• A curfew is in place between 10pm and 6am
• Groups are limited to a maximum of six people, who must be from no more than two homes. This applies to both indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Level 1:

• Shops can open at full capacity, commercial centres and malls are limited to 75 percent of their pre-covid capacity.
• Gyms can operate at a 50 percent capacity.
• Up to 15 people can play non-contact sports together outside.
• The interior of bars and restaurants can operate at 50 percent with four people at each table. Outside tables can seat up to six, and pre-covid capacity limits apply.

Level 2:

• Bar and restaurant interiors can operate at a 30 percent capacity and must close at 5pm. Terraces can operate at a 75 percent capacity and open until 10pm. Four are allowed at a table inside and six outside.
• All shops can operate at a 50 percent capacity and stay open until 10pm.
• Social meetings are capped at six people from a maximum of two households.

Murcia

• Regional borders remain closed
• There is a curfew in place from 10pm each evening.
• Bars and restaurants can operate their interiors at a 30 percent of their pre-covid capacity, however terraces can operate at 100 percent.
• Two people from different households can sit together inside and four people from different households can sit outside.
• Meetings inside private homes remains prohibited
• Non-essential services and activities must stop by 8pm.

Canary Islands

Like the Balearics, the Canary Islands are also operating a level system, based on case numbers. La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro are at are at Level 1. Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura are at Level 3. Lanzarote is currently at Level 2.

Level 1:

• No limits on entering or leaving the island.
• Curfew between midnight and 6am.
• Social gatherings limited to six people maximum
• Restaurants/bars close at midnight
• Sports in groups of up to six, markets only if open air, public transport functioning normally but all cultural events suspended.

Level 2:

• No limits on entering or leaving the island
• Curfew between 11pm and 6am.
• Social gatherings limited to four people maximum
• Restaurants/bars close at 11.
• Sports in groups of up to four, public transport functioning with 50 capacity but all markets and cultural events suspended.

Level 3:

• Entering and leaving the island is restricted to those with justified cause (work, study, legal or administrative appointments, to care for dependents or to return to habitual or familial home). Travel between islands is only allowed for essential reasons.
• Curfew between 10pm and 6am.
• Social gatherings limited to four people maximum.
• Restaurants/bars close at 10. Only outside table service with 50 percent capacity
• Sports centres closed inside and outside only allow groups of up to four, public transport functioning with 50 percent capacity but all markets and cultural events suspended.

Castilla- La Mancha

• The regional borders remain closed
• A curfew is in place after midnight each night.
• Bar and restaurants can stay open until 11pm. Inside seating areas can operate at 50 percent of their pre-covid capacity with four people per table and terrazas at 75 percent of their pre-covid capacity.
• Bar service is not allowed
• The number of people allowed to meet is limited to six with the recommendation that groups are limited to a maximum of two households.
• All shops are open but operating at 50 percent of their pre-covid capacity.

Asturias

• A curfew is currently in place between 11pm and 6am
• Regional borders are closed, except in limited and pre-determined circumstances
• Shops are open, but those larger than 300 meters squared can only operate at 20 percent of their pre covid capacity.
• Indoor sports centres and gyms are closed.
• All non-essential activity must cease at 8pm
• People can meet in groups of no more than 4 indoors

Cantabria

• The regional borders remain closed
• A curfew between 10pm until 6am remains in place.
• Bars and restaurants can open but only for customers seated outside.
• Groups of people meeting outside are limited to six.
• Cultural venues can open but their capacity is limited to 50 percent of their pre-covid levels.
• Sports in enclosed spaces is permitted but only if masks are worn

Galicia

Galacia is also operating on a level system, with each area within the region being assigned their own level, based on case numbers.

Level 1:

• Closure of all bars and restaurants
• Meetings prohibited and individuals can only socialise with those they already co-habit with.
• Perimetral border closure

Level 2:

• Meetings of up to four people allowed, these can be from more than one household.
• Bars and restaurants can open their terrazas to up to 50 percent capacity of their pre-covid capacity, and can open until 6pm
• Gyms, sports centres and swimming pools can reopen, but group sports are limited to four players and masks must be worn.

Level 3:

• Bars and restaurants can stay open until 6pm. Inside seating can open at 30 percent  of its pre-covid capacity and terraza space is limited to 50 percent of its pre covid capacity.
• Other measures remain the same as level 2

Level 4: (Currently, 85 percent of the Galician population is in level 4, but you can find out which muncipality is in which level here )

• Bars and restaurants can open until 9pm with a capacity of 50 percent inside and 75 percent on the terrazas.
• Travel is allowed between provinces, but not to those with higher alert levels.
• Up to six people can meet who don’t live together.
• Sports centres, gyms and pools can open. Sports can be practiced with up to four other people, while wearing masks.

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