The only Covid-19 travel rule which is still in place now is the requirement of wearing a face mask on public transport, including inside planes (but not in airports, ports or stations).
What changes in Spain.
For Members
EXPLAINED: What changes about life in Spain in November 2022
The Local Spain - [email protected]
Published: 26 Oct, 2022 CET.
Updated: Tue 1 Nov 2022 09:14 CET
From changes to phone contracts, to help for self-employed workers, the latest on Spain's new startups law and planned train and airline strikes, become a member to find out what's going on in Spain in November 2022.
Public holiday on November 1st
November 1st is a public holiday across Spain, celebrating Día de Todos los Santos or All Saints Day. This means that schools, supermarkets and other shops will be closed.
On this day, many Spanish people head to the local cemeteries to clean the graves and leave flowers for their departed loved ones. Sometimes events may be going on in the local cemeteries too, such as concerts. Try huesos de santo or bones of the saint, which are marzipan sweets shaped like bones and typically eaten on this day.
READ ALSO: Five weird and wonderful Spanish traditions on All Saints’ Day
Clocks go back
Technically, the clocks change on October 30th at 3am, but it's in November and the rest of winter that we'll benefit from the lighter mornings, meaning no more going to work in the dark.
Unfortunately, it does also mean less light in the evenings, so sunsets will be around 6pm in mainland Spain in November instead of the 7pm that it is now.
READ ALSO: Why Spain is still in the wrong time zone because of Hitler
Changes to the length of mobile contracts
Spain's new General Telecommunications Law comes into effect in November. The most significant change is that phone contracts will now be capped at a maximum duration of 24 months. This means that if you’re with a provider that offers permanent contracts, that will now be limited to 24 months. The law also includes the possibility of terminating the contract without penalty when it runs out.
All the major phone operators in Spain, including 02, Movistar, Vodafone, Jazztel, and Orange, are finalising the changes and informing their customers ahead of implementing them on October 29th and 30th.
READ MORE: How changes to the law will affect your phone contract in Spain
New startups law to be approved?
Since the Spanish government announced its planned startups law and digital nomad visa in 2021, many remote workers have been waiting with bated breath to find out when they may be able to come and work in Spain.
According to government sources, the legislation, which has already been greenlighted by Spain's Economic Affairs Commission in October, could be voted in during a plenary session in the Spanish Parliament in the first week of November.
In previous votes, it's received full support except for five abstentions, which suggests Spain's startups law will more than likely be approved with a majority and come into force soon.
READ MORE: When will Spain’s new startups law and digital nomad visa come into force?
New Trans Law may be approved
Spain's Minister for Equality Irene Montero hopes that Spain's Trans Law will finally be fully approved by the Spanish Parliament by November 18th.
The transgender rights bill will allow anyone over 16, in some cases as young as 12, to easily change their gender on their ID documents. This will make Spain one of the few countries in Europe to permit gender self-determination.
The Socialist branch of Spain's governing left-wing coalition has called for an extra week to tweak some of the law's more controversial clauses that it believes will result in right-wing parties refusing to support the legislation.
Air and rail strikes may affect your travel in November
Workers for Spain’s national rail network Renfe have announced stoppages across the country during November 2022. The trains that will be affected are the ones on November 7th, from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 8pm; and November 11th, from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 8pm.
Vueling strikes are also due to take place on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays, starting on November 1st 2022 and lasting until January 31st 2023. Additional days that will be affected are November 1st, 6th and 8th,
Ryanair baggage handlers and other on-the-ground staff at seven different airports will be going on strike, starting on October 28th 2022, and ending on January 7th, 2023. It is likely these airports will include Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Seville. However, it’s worth noting that Ryanair has said that it doesn’t actually expect this strike to cause that much disruption.
READ ALSO: Spain strike woes continue for low-cost airlines Vueling and Ryanair
Unrestricted travel for non-EU people
Spanish authorities have finally decided to stop requiring visitors from non-EU countries such as the UK and the US to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination, testing or recovery to enter the country.
As of October 21st 2022, tourists and other non-resident visitors from outside of the EU/EEA won't be asked to show a Covid-19 certificate by officials at airports and sea ports in Spain. This means that if you’re travelling to Spain in November you won’t have to worry about getting all your Covid documents sorted beforehand.
Companies to stop receiving traffic fines in the post
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has announced that from November 1st drivers in company vehicles will stop receiving traffic fines in the post and will instead only receive electronic notifications.
International Sherry Week in Andalusia
International Sherry Week will be celebrated in Andalusia from November 7th – 13th, which will mostly be held around Jerez de la Frontera and the Sherry Triangle, which also includes Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María.
The event includes visits to vineyards to learn how sherry is made, tastings, workshops and bodega tours, including learning about sherry vinegar and food pairings.
November begins with unusually high temperatures
The month will begin with unusually for this time of year. According to Francisco Martín from Meteored, November will start with temperatures of 30°C in some parts of Spain.
Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for Spain’s State Meteorological Agency said: a summer now lasts "about 40 days longer than in the 1980s". Spain has already experienced a very warm October with almost summer-like temperatures (although there has been spells of heavy rain) following one of the hottest summers on record.
Spain will start warning you via SMS of nearby dangers
On October 24th, Spain introduced a new mobile alert system that warns people in the country of nearby natural disasters or emergencies.
In order to test the new system on November 2nd people in Murcia, the Balearics, Madrid, Aragón, Navarre and Catalonia will receive the SMS alert. On November 10th it'll be turn of those in the Basque Country, Castilla y León, the Canary Islands and Ceuta; and finally on November 16th the final drill will happen in Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja and Melilla.
The other regions will have already had their test alerts at the end of October.
READ ALSO: How changes to the law will affect your phone contract in Spain
Deadline for self-employed to apply for benefits in some regions
The deadline for autónomos in Andalusia to apply for aid of up to €6,600 to hire employees will be up until November 18th.
Castilla y León has also announced a similar measure. New autónomos in the region can apply for grants of up to €5,000 up until November 4th, in order to promote self-employment.
Commuters in Madrid can get 50 percent back on their transport cards
From November 2nd, travellers in Madrid will be able to apply for 50 percent back on the price of the annual transport pass. This is because of the tariff deduction on multi-journey tickets for commuters that was announced by the Spanish government to help people combat the effects of inflation.
Black Friday in Spain
Black Friday sales takes place on November 25th and although the country doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, which is held on Thursday, November 24th, it does go in for the Black Friday sales.
Many high street fashion stores will be having big discounts such as Zara and Mango, while online stores such as eBay and Amazon will also be taking part.
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Public holiday on November 1st
November 1st is a public holiday across Spain, celebrating Día de Todos los Santos or All Saints Day. This means that schools, supermarkets and other shops will be closed.
On this day, many Spanish people head to the local cemeteries to clean the graves and leave flowers for their departed loved ones. Sometimes events may be going on in the local cemeteries too, such as concerts. Try huesos de santo or bones of the saint, which are marzipan sweets shaped like bones and typically eaten on this day.
READ ALSO: Five weird and wonderful Spanish traditions on All Saints’ Day
Clocks go back
Technically, the clocks change on October 30th at 3am, but it's in November and the rest of winter that we'll benefit from the lighter mornings, meaning no more going to work in the dark.
Unfortunately, it does also mean less light in the evenings, so sunsets will be around 6pm in mainland Spain in November instead of the 7pm that it is now.
READ ALSO: Why Spain is still in the wrong time zone because of Hitler
Changes to the length of mobile contracts
Spain's new General Telecommunications Law comes into effect in November. The most significant change is that phone contracts will now be capped at a maximum duration of 24 months. This means that if you’re with a provider that offers permanent contracts, that will now be limited to 24 months. The law also includes the possibility of terminating the contract without penalty when it runs out.
All the major phone operators in Spain, including 02, Movistar, Vodafone, Jazztel, and Orange, are finalising the changes and informing their customers ahead of implementing them on October 29th and 30th.
READ MORE: How changes to the law will affect your phone contract in Spain
New startups law to be approved?
Since the Spanish government announced its planned startups law and digital nomad visa in 2021, many remote workers have been waiting with bated breath to find out when they may be able to come and work in Spain.
According to government sources, the legislation, which has already been greenlighted by Spain's Economic Affairs Commission in October, could be voted in during a plenary session in the Spanish Parliament in the first week of November.
In previous votes, it's received full support except for five abstentions, which suggests Spain's startups law will more than likely be approved with a majority and come into force soon.
READ MORE: When will Spain’s new startups law and digital nomad visa come into force?
New Trans Law may be approved
Spain's Minister for Equality Irene Montero hopes that Spain's Trans Law will finally be fully approved by the Spanish Parliament by November 18th.
The transgender rights bill will allow anyone over 16, in some cases as young as 12, to easily change their gender on their ID documents. This will make Spain one of the few countries in Europe to permit gender self-determination.
The Socialist branch of Spain's governing left-wing coalition has called for an extra week to tweak some of the law's more controversial clauses that it believes will result in right-wing parties refusing to support the legislation.
Air and rail strikes may affect your travel in November
Workers for Spain’s national rail network Renfe have announced stoppages across the country during November 2022. The trains that will be affected are the ones on November 7th, from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 8pm; and November 11th, from 6am to 9am and from 6pm to 8pm.
Vueling strikes are also due to take place on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays, starting on November 1st 2022 and lasting until January 31st 2023. Additional days that will be affected are November 1st, 6th and 8th,
Ryanair baggage handlers and other on-the-ground staff at seven different airports will be going on strike, starting on October 28th 2022, and ending on January 7th, 2023. It is likely these airports will include Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Seville. However, it’s worth noting that Ryanair has said that it doesn’t actually expect this strike to cause that much disruption.
READ ALSO: Spain strike woes continue for low-cost airlines Vueling and Ryanair
Unrestricted travel for non-EU people
Spanish authorities have finally decided to stop requiring visitors from non-EU countries such as the UK and the US to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination, testing or recovery to enter the country.
As of October 21st 2022, tourists and other non-resident visitors from outside of the EU/EEA won't be asked to show a Covid-19 certificate by officials at airports and sea ports in Spain. This means that if you’re travelling to Spain in November you won’t have to worry about getting all your Covid documents sorted beforehand.
Companies to stop receiving traffic fines in the post
The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has announced that from November 1st drivers in company vehicles will stop receiving traffic fines in the post and will instead only receive electronic notifications.
International Sherry Week in Andalusia
International Sherry Week will be celebrated in Andalusia from November 7th – 13th, which will mostly be held around Jerez de la Frontera and the Sherry Triangle, which also includes Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María.
The event includes visits to vineyards to learn how sherry is made, tastings, workshops and bodega tours, including learning about sherry vinegar and food pairings.
November begins with unusually high temperatures
The month will begin with unusually for this time of year. According to Francisco Martín from Meteored, November will start with temperatures of 30°C in some parts of Spain.
Rubén del Campo, spokesperson for Spain’s State Meteorological Agency said: a summer now lasts "about 40 days longer than in the 1980s". Spain has already experienced a very warm October with almost summer-like temperatures (although there has been spells of heavy rain) following one of the hottest summers on record.
Spain will start warning you via SMS of nearby dangers
On October 24th, Spain introduced a new mobile alert system that warns people in the country of nearby natural disasters or emergencies.
In order to test the new system on November 2nd people in Murcia, the Balearics, Madrid, Aragón, Navarre and Catalonia will receive the SMS alert. On November 10th it'll be turn of those in the Basque Country, Castilla y León, the Canary Islands and Ceuta; and finally on November 16th the final drill will happen in Castilla-La Mancha, La Rioja and Melilla.
The other regions will have already had their test alerts at the end of October.
READ ALSO: How changes to the law will affect your phone contract in Spain
Deadline for self-employed to apply for benefits in some regions
The deadline for autónomos in Andalusia to apply for aid of up to €6,600 to hire employees will be up until November 18th.
Castilla y León has also announced a similar measure. New autónomos in the region can apply for grants of up to €5,000 up until November 4th, in order to promote self-employment.
Commuters in Madrid can get 50 percent back on their transport cards
From November 2nd, travellers in Madrid will be able to apply for 50 percent back on the price of the annual transport pass. This is because of the tariff deduction on multi-journey tickets for commuters that was announced by the Spanish government to help people combat the effects of inflation.
Black Friday in Spain
Black Friday sales takes place on November 25th and although the country doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, which is held on Thursday, November 24th, it does go in for the Black Friday sales.
Many high street fashion stores will be having big discounts such as Zara and Mango, while online stores such as eBay and Amazon will also be taking part.
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