Skip to content

Add your Spain holiday rental: Only €30 per year!

Get blasted out across our Social Media channels too!
Spain Buddy Travel
 

Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business - Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper. Born a "Norverner", she then spent most of her life "Dann Saff" before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle's loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine - although not necessarily in that order.

37 Comments

  1. Dennis Martin
    May 22, 2015 @ 5:09 pm

    Can I take a camellia plant to Tenerife in my car?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      May 22, 2015 @ 8:19 pm

      A beautiful flower, the camellia!
      I’m not sure though. I shall see if we can find out for you x

      Reply

  2. Dave Lister
    May 15, 2016 @ 12:43 pm

    May I take my New Zealand Tree Fern to Tenerife ?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      May 15, 2016 @ 12:57 pm

      We would recommend you speak to the authorities on specific cases. They will be able to advise you legally and maybe give you some paperwork to take with you.
      Good luck!

      Reply

  3. Dave Lister
    May 16, 2016 @ 3:14 pm

    Thanks, Elle

    Reply

  4. Carolyn Pearle
    February 10, 2017 @ 8:11 am

    Hi we are in the process of moving ftom the UK to southern Spain, I would like some sort of reassurance that I can take my 5ft Yucca elephantines, and my Mother in laws tongue plants, I’ve have them a long time and don’t want to have to leave them, international movers would be driving over in a van.
    Regards Carolyn.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      February 10, 2017 @ 11:17 am

      Hi Carolyn. I know of people who have brought their yuccas with them – but for your own peace of mind, speak to the movers who should be able to advise for sure. E xx

      Reply

  5. Martin Azzopardi
    April 25, 2017 @ 9:35 am

    Hi Elle, I was wondering if I can take some very small cymbidium orchid plants bare rooted wrapped tightly in plastic in my suitcase to Spain from Australia. Iv read as much info I can find and specifically seems to prohibit many fruiting and aggressive rouge plants, which these are not. Thanks M

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      April 25, 2017 @ 12:43 pm

      Hi Martin. I just wrote a long old paragraph about taking them from Spain to Auztralia… then realised you’d asked about the other way around ;)

      I think orchids are fine – plenty are here from elsewhere in Europe and blooming nicely on windowsills and in courtyards everywhere. However – I don’t know about any from Australia. Have a chat to the Australian Customs and see if they can help. Failing that – get someone who speaks Spanish to natter to the Spanish customs department. My gut says it’s absolutely okay – but it’s best to be sure.

      Good luck!

      Reply

      • Martin Azzopardi
        April 29, 2017 @ 4:53 pm

        Many thanks Elle :)

        Reply

  6. Paul Joseph
    July 17, 2017 @ 11:55 pm

    Can I carry cardamom seeds into Gibraltar? I am then traveling into Spain.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      July 18, 2017 @ 9:16 am

      Not a problem as far as I know. But may be be best to chat to customs at Gib to double-check that leg of your journey. That reminds me – I’m almost out of cardamom pods and I can’t make a curry without them! xx

      Reply

  7. Jeannie Stone
    October 27, 2017 @ 9:21 am

    Can i bring small wooden boxes and wood ornaments into Spain from Zimbabwe? They are all made from local wood. Would I need them fumigated?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      October 27, 2017 @ 1:48 pm

      They should be fine – plenty of African wooden goods on sale here. But if in doubt, speak to Customs first xx

      Reply

  8. Darren Hanness
    December 17, 2017 @ 10:18 pm

    Hi. Elle
    We are moving to catalonia in January and my wife wants to take cuttings of succulents with her .
    Are there any restrictions on these plants ?

    Thanks
    Darren

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      December 18, 2017 @ 1:51 pm

      As long as the plants aren’t on this list, she should be okay. Good luck! xx

      Reply

  9. Ross
    December 20, 2017 @ 1:33 am

    Hi
    I have a similar problem I would like to take a lemon myrtle plant to barcelona (backousia citriodora) which is not on the list but want to be sure.
    Does anyone know or where I can find information please?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      December 20, 2017 @ 5:48 pm

      Am 99% sure lemon myrtle’s fine. Contact Customs and Excise in your own country though… just for your peace of mind xx

      Reply

  10. Jean Wilkinson
    February 6, 2018 @ 8:07 pm

    Would it be OK to take a small peace lily (Spathiphyllum) by plane to Spain from England if I pack it securely in a box in my suitcase.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      February 7, 2018 @ 12:37 pm

      I’ve seen plenty of peace lilies here so I don’t see an issue with it. Watch that packaging though – your case may take a battering xx

      Reply

  11. Carlais Pyles
    July 13, 2018 @ 5:03 pm

    Can I bring dried flowers into Spain? They’d be used as wedding confetti and are obviously biodegradable. Unfortunately I cannot find the answer to this anywhere about dried flowers.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      July 13, 2018 @ 5:40 pm

      I don’t see why not – I know loads of people that do (for weddings etc). Australia may give you a problem as they’re stricter on what may be laying dormant… but I can’t see it being an issue here. Speak direct to Customs if you’re still unsure xx

      Reply

  12. Alex stone
    September 21, 2018 @ 11:47 am

    Hi can I take packet seeds in to Spain.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      September 25, 2018 @ 10:00 am

      As long as the seeds aren’t for products on the ban list – then yes.
      happy growing! xx

      Reply

  13. j clarke
    March 9, 2019 @ 6:39 pm

    can i take a 1 foot high jacoranda tree in to menorca

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      March 11, 2019 @ 11:00 am

      Hiya!
      I don’t see why not – we’ve seen jacaranda trees on the mainland already. But for peace of mind – contact customs and excise direct who should be able to give you the same positive answer.
      Elle xx

      Reply

  14. Gavin Tun
    June 8, 2019 @ 6:59 pm

    Hi Elle,
    What are the requirements if I want to bring some plants or seeds from Asia to Spain? The specific country of origin is Burma (now known as Myanmar). Any advice from you would be greatly appreciated.
    Gavin

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      June 11, 2019 @ 1:02 pm

      Hi Gavin. Sorry about the delay – I’ve been away.
      Your question is a good one – but I’m sorry to say that I can’t answer definitively. I’d recommend that you speak to Customs and Excise and see what they say. You should be okay – but just to be safe… … …
      E x

      Reply

  15. Faylen
    February 26, 2021 @ 3:07 am

    Hi, I was wondering if it’s ok to bring succulents from the US to Spain. I mainly have Echeverias with a few Haworthias and Aeoniums. They don’t seem to be on the list, but to be sure, how would I go about contacting customs? Is there an email I could write to? Also, do you know if the rules have changed at all due to the pandemic?
    Thank you,
    Faylen

    Reply

  16. Lauren McKenna
    April 9, 2021 @ 6:59 am

    What about a type of flowering nicotiana (tobacco?) in a pot?

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      April 9, 2021 @ 1:27 pm

      I can’t find anything to say it’s not allowed – but contact Customs if still unsure.
      E x

      Reply

  17. Desiree
    November 16, 2022 @ 4:49 pm

    Hi Elle, can I take sprouting broccoli and alfalfa seeds to Spain? This is for me to sprout and to eat, for my own consumption. Not to plant.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      November 29, 2022 @ 2:32 pm

      I think so yes – they don’t seem to share similarities to banned stuff. But do check with the authorities if you are unsure. x

      Reply

  18. Karen
    January 16, 2023 @ 6:35 pm

    hi can I bring Ginkyo seeds into Spain. (commercially packaged)

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      January 17, 2023 @ 9:23 am

      Hi Karen. Did you mean “Gingko”? The short answer is that I don’t know.

      My gut says possibly not – but try contacting Customs and Excise direct if you really want to bring them. I know you can buy them online in Spain (Amazon and Naturitos sell them for example) but they may have extra permissions and licences in place. Maybe just get some when already here and that will save any worry.

      E xx

      Reply

  19. Christine Malone
    March 21, 2023 @ 3:50 pm

    Hi can I take small plug plants of fuchsias from England to spain.

    Reply

    • Elle Draper
      March 22, 2023 @ 10:31 am

      Yes I think so. But do check with Customs if you are at all unsure. x

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *