THIS Easter weekend will be another where the usual holiday traffic jams on motorways are very unlikely, since all regions in Spain – except the Canary Islands – have shut their borders to prevent mass movement across the country.
But there will be exceptions allowing people to travel beyond their home regions, and different criteria for proving these.
In some parts of the country, the traveller needs to fill in a form, normally downloaded from the internet, although in others, paperwork proving where they need to be and why is considered sufficient.
Anyone who does need to leave their region over the coming fortnight is advised to take any proof they may be able to find with them, just in case.
Those most likely to be affected will be residents close to regional borders – such as where their nearest district hospital or place of work is in a neighbouring region.
Anything relating to healthcare, such as attending GP appointments, clinics, hospitals or other medical and social care-related facilities, is permitted, as is going to work or to anywhere connected to one's job, like seeing clients, or making deliveries for those whose job involves long-distance driving.
Going to school, college, university, nursery or infant school and dropping off children there or picking them up is permitted – some universities and colleges are still providing their tuition online, but schools are largely open, although primary and secondary schools at least will be shut for normal classes over Easter.
Care and assistance for the elderly, minors, the disabled, persons considered 'especially vulnerable', and dependants in general is allowed.
Drivers who need to go to petrol stations just over their regional border, where this is the nearest, can do so, as can anyone whose bank, insurance company or other financial entity is in another region and they are required to travel there over Easter.
The same applies with any legal and administrative appointments – court cases, renewing passports or ID cards or driving licences, or anything else that falls within the description of 'legal' or 'officialdom' and which cannot be postponed until later in April.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com