Carrying pepper spray, knives and self-defence items in Spain

Key rules

• Pepper spray: Only approved sprays are legal, and you must be 18 or over to buy one.
• Knives: Whether a knife is allowed depends on its design and your reason for carrying it.
• Fines: Serious infractions for weapons carry fines of 601 to 30,000 euros plus seizure.
• Prison: Possessing a prohibited weapon can be a crime punished with 1 to 3 years in prison.

Pepper spray: only approved products are legal

You can carry pepper spray for self-defence in Spain only if it is an approved product. Approved sprays hold Ministry of Interior approval, contain no more than 100 ml, and have a capsaicin (OC) concentration of at most 5.3%.

You must be 18 or over to buy one. Armerías (gun shops) and some other stores sell them. Buy only from a shop that can show the product is approved.

Tear gas and similar aerosols that go beyond these limits are prohibited weapons. Imported sprays from other countries are often stronger, so do not bring one with you. Using even an approved spray for anything other than defence is a serious offence.

Knives: the rules depend on the knife and your reason

No single rule covers every knife. What matters is the design of the blade and why you are carrying it.

Prohibited:

• Knives with a blade over 11 cm sharpened on both sides.
• Knives with a point and a blade of that size.
• Butterfly knives, throwing stars and similar items.

Usually fine, with a reason:

• Kitchen, hunting, fishing and multitool knives, if you carry them for a real purpose such as work, hunting or camping, and they are not hidden.
• Short folding pocket knives, which are tolerated in practice.

Carrying any knife in public with no justified reason can be an infraction, and in some cases a crime. Police can seize the knife. Carry tools in a bag or toolbox, not on your belt or in a pocket, and be ready to explain why you have them. Regions can add their own rules.

What happens if you carry a prohibited weapon

There are two levels of penalty.

Administrative (a fine): Carrying a prohibited weapon without authorisation is a serious infraction. So is carrying a permitted weapon or similar item without due cause. Fines run from 601 to 30,000 euros, and the item is seized.

Criminal: Possessing prohibited weapons can be a crime, with prison of 1 to 3 years. Heavier prison terms apply to illegal trafficking or manufacture of weapons.

Whether a case is a fine or a crime depends on the type of weapon, your intent and the circumstances. If you are unsure about an item, do not carry it. Ask the Guardia Civil weapons office (Intervención de Armas) before buying or bringing it.

The warnings and FAQ below cover common situations.

What to watch out for

• Unapproved sprays count as prohibited weapons: A spray that is not approved, holds more than 100 ml or exceeds 5.3% capsaicin is a prohibited weapon, and so is tear gas. You can be fined and have it seized, or face criminal charges. Buy only from a gun shop (armería) and check the product is approved for defence use.

• Carrying a knife without a reason can be fined: A knife with a blade over 11 cm sharpened on both sides, a butterfly knife or a throwing star is prohibited. Even an ordinary knife carried in public without a justified purpose can be an infraction, and sometimes a crime. Leave knives at home unless you need them for work, hunting, camping or fishing. Carry them openly, never hidden.

• Serious fines and prison for prohibited weapons: Carrying a prohibited weapon, or a permitted one without due cause, is a serious infraction with a fine of 601 to 30,000 euros plus seizure. Possessing prohibited weapons can be a crime with prison of 1 to 3 years. Do not carry an item if you are unsure of its status. If stopped, say what it is for and ask a lawyer for help.

Frequently asked questions

Who can buy a pepper spray in Spain?

Only adults aged 18 or over can buy an approved defence spray in Spain.

Can I carry a folding pocket knife in Spain?

A short folding pocket knife is tolerated in practice, but only if you carry it openly and for a legitimate reason such as work, camping or fishing. Butterfly knives and knives with a blade over 11 cm that are sharpened on both sides are prohibited weapons. Police can seize any knife they think you carry without a justified purpose.

When does carrying a prohibited weapon become a crime instead of a fine?

It depends on the type of weapon, your intent and the circumstances. Possessing prohibited weapons can bring a prison term of 1 to 3 years, while carrying a permitted item without due cause is usually a serious administrative infraction with the item seized. If you are unsure about a specific item, ask the Guardia Civil weapons office before you carry it.