Laws in Spain
How Spain is classified on 40 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Euthanasia legal Active euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal nationwide following the law that came into force in June 2021.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Banned Surrogacy is not legal in Spain as renouncement contracts are invalid.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-out (presumed consent) Spain has used an opt-out system for organ donation since 1979.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is generally legal but prohibited in specific cities or areas under local laws.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Spain restricts smoking in every indoor public place, including restaurants and bars, with limited hotel exceptions.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Phasing out A fur-farming ban is enacted but still being phased in.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 16.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal in Spain, though pimping is illegal and regulation varies by region.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition Spain allows non-binary recognition only for foreign nationals with existing legal recognition elsewhere.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Fines / civil penalties Spain's blasphemy law was removed, leaving only civil penalties for vilifying religious feelings.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law criminalises Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the national flag is a criminal offense punishable by a fine.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned Spain enacted a nationwide ban on conversion therapy in February 2023.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns are obtainable for sport or hunting, but self-defense alone is not sufficient for a license.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Spain banned all forms of corporal punishment in schools in 2007.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.