What you can't bring into Spain or must declare

Key rules

• Animal products: Meat, dairy and other animal-origin products from outside the EU can't go in your shipment.
• Plants: Live plants, seeds, bulbs, fruit and vegetables need a phytosanitary certificate, and soil is prohibited.
• Medicines: Keep medicines to a personal supply of about three months, with a prescription.
• Firearms and wildlife items: Get Guardia Civil authorisation or CITES permits before you ship, not after.
• Alcohol and tobacco: Declare them all, because they are taxed in a shipment.

Items that are banned

If you ship from outside the EU, leave meat, dairy and other animal-origin products out of your boxes. This is EU-wide. There are narrow exceptions for small quantities from a few countries, such as Andorra, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Don't count on them, and check before you pack.

Soil is prohibited. So are some plants. Live animals can't travel as part of the shipment. They need their own pet or animal import procedure.

Items that need a permit or certificate

Plants, flowers, seeds, bulbs, fruit and vegetables. These need a phytosanitary certificate from the origin country. They are also inspected at the border. Ask the plant health authority in your origin country for the certificate before you ship.

Medicines. Keep them for personal use only:

• Pack them in original packaging.
• Bring no more than about three months' supply.
• Carry a prescription or a medical report.

Larger quantities need authorisation from AEMPS, the Spanish Medicines Agency. If a medicine contains a narcotic or psychotropic substance, you need extra authorisation or a medical certificate. Rules vary by drug, so confirm with AEMPS before you ship.

Firearms. You need prior authorisation from the Guardia Civil before shipping. You also need a Spanish licence and registration. Firearms can only enter through authorised customs procedures. Start early, because this takes time.

Wildlife items. Ivory, some reptile skins, corals and similar items are covered by CITES, the international wildlife trade rules. You need an export permit from the origin country. You also need a CITES import permit from the Spanish authority. Get both before you ship.

Alcohol and tobacco

Alcohol and tobacco are not exempt when you move your belongings. In a moving shipment they are normally taxed with excise duty and IVA at 21%. Declare every bottle and pack. Customs practice varies by office.

The traveller allowances are 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits over 22% or 4 litres of still wine. These apply to what you carry in your luggage, not to a shipment.

Before you seal the boxes

Rules depend on your origin country and the product. If you're unsure about food or plants, ask the Spanish border inspection post. The checklist and questions below cover the practical steps.

Checklist

• Remove all meat, dairy and other animal-origin products from your boxes before shipping.

• Remove soil and any plants that are prohibited from your shipment.

• Get a phytosanitary certificate from the origin country for any live plants, cut flowers, seeds, bulbs, fruit, vegetables or potatoes, and expect inspection at the border.

• Arrange a separate pet or animal import procedure for any live animal instead of packing it in the shipment.

• Pack medicines in their original packaging, in a quantity for no more than about three months, with a prescription or medical report.

• Ask AEMPS, the Spanish Medicines Agency, for authorisation before shipping larger quantities or any medicine with narcotic or psychotropic substances.

• Declare all alcohol and tobacco to customs, and expect to pay excise duty and IVA on them.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ship my prescription medicines in my household shipment?

Yes, you can ship medicines for personal use, but only in original packaging, in a quantity for a limited period (typically up to three months) and with a prescription or medical report. Larger quantities need authorisation from AEMPS, the Spanish Medicines Agency.

What if my medicine contains a narcotic or psychotropic substance?

Medicines with narcotic or psychotropic substances need extra authorisation or a medical certificate before you bring them. If you travel from a Schengen country, you also need a Schengen certificate for these drugs. Confirm the rules for your specific drug with AEMPS before shipping.

Do I need permits to bring a firearm or ivory items to Spain?

Yes, a firearm needs prior authorisation from the Guardia Civil, and ivory or other wildlife items need a CITES import permit plus an export permit from the country they come from. The owner of a firearm also needs a Spanish licence and registration. Get all permits before shipping, as they take time.

Can I put wine or cigarettes in my moving shipment?

You can, but alcohol and tobacco in a moving shipment are normally taxed at the full excise duty and 21% IVA, because the duty-free relief generally excludes them. The traveller allowances of 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits over 22% or 4 litres of still wine apply to personal luggage, not shipments. Declare all bottles and tobacco.