Tax free barcelona spain how many percent. The minimum amount for Tax Free in Spain has been canceled

Spain is a country with a unique and extremely rich history, culture and gastronomy. For example, many people dream of shopping in Barcelona, ​​because this city has become almost the capital of European shopping tourism. There are long sales in the city and the maximum low prices for products of almost any category. Also, almost everyone can get a Tax Free refund at Barcelona Airport. This is a popular service in Europe called value tax refund. The amount in this case directly depends on the amount of funds spent by the buyer, according to statistics, the figure varies from 10 to 15 percent.

Opportunity to get Tax Free at Barcelona airport occurs in several cases. Let's consider them in more detail:

1. If the person is not a resident of Spain or another European Union country. It is worth considering that this rule has certain exceptions: residents of Gibraltar, Bustle or Andor also have the right to a tax refund. Melilla and the Canary Islands are also mentioned as exception countries.
2. Buyer must be over 16 years of age.
3. When making purchases in Spain, in stores with the provision of the Tax Free service, the amount spent must be at least 90 euros.

It should be noted that this method of financial payments is available only to individuals and does not apply to companies, joint-stock companies And individual entrepreneurship. Also have access to this service legal entities, but in this case cash are returned not for a purchase, but for expenses during business trips.

Before receiving a return, you will need to fill out a special form. It remains valid for three months and is completed immediately before leaving the territory of the European Union.

How is the payment of compensation to individuals in Spain different from all other countries?

You can get a cashback from the funds spent in any of the 50 countries that are members of the European Union. But in Spain there are a number of features that are worth considering. The standard tax for visitors is 21 percent, but thanks to such a service as taxi fries, this can be significantly reduced. According to statistics, after filling out the form, the amount of tax required for payment was 10-15 percent of the funds spent.

Registration of tax free is possible only after contacting a specialized company. Such companies not only provide a service to their customers, but sometimes enter into agreements with various trade enterprises. Tax Free itself is formed on the basis of several factors. In order to correctly calculate the amount of expected payments, you need to consider:

• the presence or absence of a commission from the provider company;
• whether the company takes a percentage for service at key tourist destinations;
• what is the bank commission for cashless payments.

Of course, in this case, the rule applies: the more - the better. The higher the level of funds spent, the more free tax will be in the end. Many goods fall under this service, it is not only food, drinks and pharmaceuticals. This list also mentions some books, magazines, and optical products.

But before buying it is very important to make sure that the store works with this system. You can usually see the corresponding logo indicating a specific list of products. But if this logo is not there, you can check with the seller for the necessary information. Also, each client can immediately find out all the details on how to get Tax Free at Barcelona Airport.

A little about the features of reducing tax payments

First of all, you need to consider the minimum amount of purchases. In Spain, you can reduce the amount of VAT before departure only if you have spent at least 90 euros on various goods and services. For confirmation, you will need current receipts that will contain the maximum detailed information on vacation expenses. But there are two prerequisites:

Checks must be dated in the same calendar year. For example, checks from December 31 to January 1 are not included in this list. When grouping checks, the funds spent are not summed up. To comply with all the rules, it is necessary that a purchase of 90 euros be made on the same day.

More about the form

The form itself is issued after the sale of the goods. After receiving the signature, the seller attaches a check to the form. In addition, before registration, it is worth considering that the data of your international passport will be required for filling. If necessary, a sample and instructions with a detailed plan of further actions for the client are also provided. After that, an operator is assigned to the client, who answers all questions and provides the necessary information.

Basic ways to get and some rules

There are many ways to receive a refund, so everyone can choose the most comfortable option for themselves. The simplest thing is to contact a specialized employee directly at the airport before returning to your home country. You can also pay attention to special places services for tourists, but in this case it is worth considering the presence of a commission when issuing or transferring funds to a bank card. At the customs point, in order to obtain the appropriate mark, you will need to provide:

• correctly completed purchase form;
• list of purchased goods;
• travel documents;
• identification.

In addition, you can contact the taxi-free operator directly, under whose authority the client bought goods and services. To receive, the choice is also taken into account vehicle on which the client is going to leave the country. This is necessary to take into account the presence or absence of transfers during the return.

Where to go to receive?

According to statistics, most stores successfully work with this system. At the same time, the design in the store is not the only option for solving this problem. The client can always contact one of three specialized centers:

1. Global Blue;
2. Premier Tax Free;
3. Global Blue, Premier Tax Free, Travel Tax Free.

Finding them will not be difficult even for those who are not very well oriented in the city. All centers are located close to trade and tourist routes. If necessary, it is possible to get to them by taxi.

global blue- a well-known information center for tourists. It is located very conveniently on Plaza Catalunya. The company works all day from 8 am to 8 pm.

Global Blue Payout Kiosk

Premier Tax Free mainly works through stores, you can get a refund only if you have receipts and only if these receipts fully meet all the conditions. The center is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Global Blue, Premier Tax Free, Travel Tax Free is a combined tourist information center that works with all the listed operators at once. The working day starts at 3 pm and ends at 10 pm.

Reviews about the work of this company are mostly positive. More detailed information can always be obtained from the staff of the tourist center. All documents for registration of VAT reduction must be submitted within ten days after the purchase. It is worth noting that in addition to a foreign passport and a completed check, you will also need to provide a credit card. Its validity period should be at least four months, but it is best if it is much longer. The card is needed to ensure that the tax refund will be paid on time. If everything has already been paid for, it is recommended to check the presence of a customs stamp on the check in advance before departure.

To confirm payment, a check with this stamp will need to be sent to the specified address. Usually, an envelope is issued for this. But if it is not, then you will need to purchase and pay a shipping bill. It is also recommended to make copies of checks immediately before sending. This will serve as a guarantee and help to resolve any difficulties, if any, after returning from abroad.

Queue for Customs Tax Free at Barcelona Airport

How to collect compensation at the airport

This method is suitable for those who do not have time to visit tourist information centers. It is recommended to arrive at the airport for the procedure a little earlier in order to exclude the possibility of missing the flight. During the procedure, delays and queues are possible, in addition, it may happen that you have to be in different parts of the airport.

Getting tax free begins when passing through the customs office. It is at this stage that all checks and documents are provided. After verification, the client is sent to the point of receiving compensation. It is quite easy to navigate in the registration hall. Both pickup points work around the clock, so the client does not have to wait too long.

It is worth considering that in addition to receipts, you may also need to present the product itself, so it is recommended to keep the packaging, labels and other details in full. This will avoid significant difficulties at the customs point. The first terminal for receiving compensation is located immediately after passport control. Contacting the company's partner bank is also an effective way out if you need to get cash.

But there is one important detail: you need to return the customs stamp to the office of the tourist center before the expiration of 21 days. As soon as the deadline is exceeded, the selected amount will be automatically debited from the client's bank account. Receiving and sending the corresponding mark takes a minimum of time. But it is recommended to make a copy first.

If the client chose a cruise ship as their return transport, the process for obtaining compensation is not particularly different. To receive it, you will also need to provide a valid bank account number. For those who have chosen their own car for traveling back and forth, the procedure remains absolutely affordable. You will need to keep all receipts, including travel expenses. It is worth thinking about backing up this information so that there is always an opportunity to resolve any contentious issues.

airport terminal

What to do when vacation is over?

If the client of the company has already left Spain, everyone still has the opportunity to use the service. To do this, just use a regular bank transfer. Before this, you will need to send a check with a stamp. Compensation will be credited to the card within two months. It is easy to cash out the received money in any bank branch. But the choice of such a branch should be taken as carefully as possible.

When applying to the bank, you will also need to provide all information about purchases and customs marks. The client, among other things, must take with him an internal and foreign passport. The entire procedure for checking information and documents takes, on average, fifteen minutes. Another nuance that needs to be taken into account: the presence of a commission for the transfer. The amount of this commission is always individual and depends on the policy of a particular bank. Usually it is a few percent of the payment amount. For more information, please contact a specialist.

The main thing is not to postpone this procedure for too long. The fact is that the validity of checks is limited in time. And in the event that they are recognized as invalid, the client simply will not be able to get his money back. If we talk specifically about Spain, then there the terms last only three months after the purchase of goods or payment for services. Experts recommend making out no later than a month after the end of the holiday.

By following all the necessary recommendations and keeping receipts, you can easily reduce the amount of tax paid when buying goods in Spain and in any other country in the European Union. Companies providing this service fully guarantee its efficiency and quality. You can get a deduction from literally anywhere and at any time. Each client has a maximum of opportunities to choose the most comfortable form of service.

In contact with

Traveling to the countries of the European Union is not only rest, recuperation and getting new impressions, but also shopping. Taxation individuals takes place in all civilized states, but if a foreigner is not a resident, for example, of Spain, then the legislation provides for the possibility of returning Tax Free (VAT). It is proposed to familiarize yourself with how to get Tax Free for a foreigner at Barcelona Airport through specialized offices and other available methods.

Getting Tax Free is easy and fast!

In Spain, VAT is referred to as IVA. If a foreigner is a citizen of a state that is not part of the European Union, then the legislation gives him the right to return Tax Free - paid tax on the sale of goods, which is:

• 21% - as a general rule;
• 10% - for some food and optical products;
• 4% - for medicines, books, magazines and a certain category of food.

What you need to get Tax Free

It is proposed to consider what conditions must be met in order to return Tax Free.

In the shop

The minimum purchase amount that gives the right to return Tax Free is a little more than 90 euros.

Before purchasing the goods, you should ask the seller to issue a Tax Free check. Having a Global Blue Tax Free card makes it possible to immediately pay for goods in stores that support the Global Blue system, and personal data will be automatically displayed on the check, which saves time and eliminates the possibility of making a mistake.

It is possible that the store will work in the Tax Refund system. In this case, you will need to provide a passport to fill out the form provided by the seller.

Important! All tags, packaging, instructions and other related accessories of the goods must not show signs of use at the time of their presentation at customs.

You can return Tax Free at Barcelona El Prat Airport at the time of departure from the EU.

Product Requirements

Chronology of actions:

1. Check in your luggage at the check-in counter and get your boarding pass.
2. Go through pre-flight inspection.
3. Go through passport control and immediately go to the Global Blue office.

If purchases were made in stores operating in the Global Exchange / TaxFree Premier system, the money is returned at bank branches located in the departure areas, but subject to pre-flight inspection.

Is the procedure different at other airports in Spain

Spanish law provides one system return Tax Free, and the only difference may be only the location at the airport customs post, VAT refund offices and offices of Global Blue, Global Exchange/TaxFree Premier systems.

Can there be difficulties in obtaining Tax Free

In addition to the requirements for compliance with the general rules for the return of Tax Free, they may refuse if:

• the presence of errors in the receipt and special form refund of VAT issued by the shop-seller;
• no seal customs service;
• identifying many errors and inaccuracies when filling out documentation;
• unreadable customs seal or inability to distinguish the names of the checkpoint;
• missed deadlines for VAT refunds;
• the buyer of goods has the status of a resident of the country.

It is impossible to learn the peculiarities of the tax legislation of the countries that are members of the European Union, and in order to avoid difficulties when filling out the documentation and actually returning the money, it is recommended to clarify the return conditions directly at the store where purchases are made, as well as with the Tax Free operator.

You should not miss the opportunity to save some money, especially since the tax legislation of the country provides foreigners with such a right.

In every major store in Barcelona there is an opportunity to issue Tax free. Before paying for the purchase, inform the seller that you wish to receive a refund of Tax free. The seller will give you a special Tax Free Form along with the check, put it all in a beautiful branded envelope. Please note that Tax Free is issued for a one-time purchase from 92 euros.

According to my experience of shopping in branded stores, there are 2 operators in Barcelona: Global Blue and Premier Tax Free. For you, there is not much difference, just in the end you will have to receive money in different places at the airport.

Some stores will ask you for your passport details. Therefore, I recommend that you always carry a photocopy or photo of your passport with you. If the seller did not ask you for this data, then this means that you will need to enter this data yourself in the Tax Free Form (it looks about the same as the check) that he will issue you.

Getting Tax Free at Barcelona Airport

Before going to the control zone, it is necessary to put a customs stamp on the Tax Free forms received in stores. At customs you need:

• show the items themselves (new and with labels)
• completed Tax Free Forms for each purchase
• boarding pass (you can also show the electronic version)

It will be very inconvenient to fill out the form while standing in line, so it is better to do it in advance. Before going to customs, check if all fields of the Tax Free form are filled out correctly, namely:

• the passport number
• last name and first name
• Country of Citizenship
• your address with city and zip code
• personal painting

Neither me nor anyone in front of me was asked to show the things themselves and they put a seal in just 30 seconds. But, nevertheless, each person in line had bags with things in their hands. At the information desk it was written that the purchased items must be carried with you. Apparently, they check randomly.

After you have received the stamps on the Tax Free Form, you can proceed to check-in and check in your luggage (if you have not already registered).

Before passing through control, you will see Tax Free pickup points, but there are usually big queue. And after passing the control there will be the same points, but the queue there will be much smaller.

Therefore, calmly go through passport control and find kiosks in the departure hall where you can receive a payment.

If Tax Free is a Global Blue operator, then money must be received at a Global Blue kiosk.

If the operator is Premier Tax Free, then go to the Global Exchange currency exchange kiosk. True, despite the fact that they say “No commissions”, they still took 3 euros of commission from 37 euros from me and for a long time did not want to issue a refund in euros, persuading me to issue it in US dollars.

Payment can be received either in cash or by card. There are no additional fees charged for cash withdrawals.

At the point of issue, you show your passport, hand over Tax Free forms with customs marks, and they give you money.

Please note that if your departure is at night, you will not be able to get Tax Free at the airport, as the kiosks will be closed.

Diva machines. Information 2018

Now in Barcelona, ​​the Diva system has begun to operate - these are special machines that scan the barcode on checks and allow you to avoid the queue at customs.

If there is a Diva mark on the check, then the customs does not certify this check and does not consider it. With this check, you need to go to the machines (they are located next to the customs), bring the check to the reader.

Machines work, including in Russian, it is not difficult to deal with it.

If everything is in order, the machine will display a message, as shown on the screen below. The check is considered processed, you can go with it to the tax free kiosks, as described in the article above.

Please note that not all stores work with this system and issue Diva checks. Therefore, even so, allow time for visiting customs with the second half of the checks. Although, the queues at customs also decreased with the introduction of this system.

Diva machines stand both before passing the control and after. Therefore, if you do not have time, go through control and scan checks after it. Tax Free kiosks are also there.

But, there is information that periodically the machine sends to customs for the presentation of things. I don’t know how this issue is resolved after passing control, so I prefer to scan receipts near customs.

Especially during the summer and winter sales. Here you can buy high-quality clothes and shoes at reasonable prices and other goods for every taste from world brands to local brands that cannot be found in the vastness of your country. In Barcelona, ​​many people buy appliances, interior items, jewelry and perfumes.

If you are shopping for more than 90 € in the same store, do not forget to issue TAX FREE*.

*Tax free- a system for the return of value added tax (VAT). VAT is refunded on purchases made by foreign citizens when crossing back the border of the country in which they were purchased. In Spain, minus fees, about 10-15% of the value of the goods is returned. In each store, this percentage is slightly different. The store where this purchase was made must definitely support the Tax Free service, as there are many outlets that do not support this option.

It is important to note that by law you must make a purchase of at least 90 euros in one day, but most private stores will be able to issue you Tax Free if, for example, you made several purchases in this store during your vacation and the total amount turned out to be 90 € and more.

It is important to remember the time limit. To receive tax-free from the date of purchase until its export from Spain, no more than 3 months should pass.

How to get Tax Free in Barcelona?

There are three ways to return tax free:

1. At the airport

At the height of the tourist season, this method is perhaps the most inconvenient due to long queues in front of the window to get a customs stamp on your checks.

Where to print?

The seal is placed immediately before departure, at the airport, at the police station. In Terminal 1, it is located on the far left corner of the airport. That is, upon entering the airport building, you will need to go up to the topmost 3rd floor and head to the left corner of the departure hall, to check-in desk number 200. You will see signs “Mossos d´ esquadra”, “Cuerpo Nacional de Policia”, “Guardia Civil”, just below them at the level of your knees it says “Tax Free”, go straight down the corridor and to the left. Prepare everything in advance Tax checks Free, passport and air ticket. A stamp must be affixed to each check.

In Terminal 2, the desk where the inspector is located, who puts the seal, is located on the very left corner of the first floor of the airport (in Spain it is the ground floor) under the Terracota restaurant. And the La Caixa ticket office is right behind the bronze horse monument.

It is important to note that in order to receive money on a card or in cash, the Global Blue office in the new Terminal 1 is located inside the airport after passing through passport control and customs. It works from 7 am to 11 pm. All other operators return Tax free at the airport through the La Caixa bank, which closes at 21-00, so if you have a flight early in the morning or late at night, you will not be able to complete the registration.

If you still apply for tax free at the airport, keep in mind that the customs officer has the right to require you to show the things that you take out of Spain, so you need to go for a seal before you check in for a flight and check in your suitcases. Although in Spain they almost never check the goods, with the exception of technology and jewelry for large sums.

At the operator's office at the airport, the Tax Refund Check, which you have already stamped, will be collected from you, and the funds will be transferred to a bank card of any type, both debit and credit.

2. In the city at tax free return offices

Perhaps this is the most convenient option for obtaining tax free. The store where you made the purchase will give you an envelope and a form to fill out, officially called the Tax Refund Check. You fill out this form with your details and go with it, your passport and a receipt for the purchase to one of the offices of immediate tax-free payment.

It is important to note here that there are two main tax free operators in Barcelona: Premier Tax Free And global blue each with their own offices.

Points of "Immediate payment" Tax Free:

1) FNAC Stores (Premier Tax Free only)

Address: Plaza Cataluña 4, up from Las Ramblas.

Schedule: Mon - Sat from 10:00 to 22:00

At the Las Arenas shopping center in Plaza España

Address: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 373 – 385

Schedule: Mon - Sat from 10:00 to 22:00

Only checks from Premier Tax Free are accepted.

2) BARCELONA TURISME office near metro Diagonal. They accept checks from Innova Tax Free, Global Blue, Premier Tax Free and Travel Tax Free.

Address: Passatge de la Concepció, 7 - 9

Schedule: Monday to Thursday from 09:00 to 14:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30, Friday from 09:00 to 15:00, closed on weekends.

3) Underground Tourist Information Office BARCELONA TOURISME. Here you can issue any checks - Innova Tax Free, Global Blue, Premier Tax Free and Travel Tax Free. The entrance is on Plaza Catalunya itself, on the corner opposite the Corte Inglés shopping center.

Address: Plaza Catalunya, 17.

Schedule: Mon - Fri from 8:30 to 20:30, Sat from 15:00 to 20:00

4) Shopping mall El Corte Ingles in Plaza Catalunya. Global Blue checks are issued here only for goods purchased in the same shopping center.

Schedule: Mon - Sat from 10:00 to 22:00

With this procedure, when you fly home, at the airport you will have to NECESSARILY put a customs stamp on the Tax Refund Cheque and, putting it in the envelope issued in the store, throw it into the yellow mailbox, which is located near the customs office. If you do not do this, the operator will not receive your checks or they will be without customs stamps, then the amount that was transferred to you will be charged from the credit card in favor of the operator.

3. On the map of the house.

Such a refund can also be issued at home, if for some reason you did not have time to do it in the city or airport itself. The main thing you need is to affix a customs stamp on the Tax Refund Check at the airport, and also write the number on the check bank card, to which the return should occur. It doesn't matter if you own it - the main thing is that it is active. The money will be refunded only after the operator receives the Tax Refund Check, so in this case the type of card is not important for the operator. Once you've stamped the check, put it in the special envelope you got from the store and drop it into that yellow box. The operator will receive a letter within a week, then it will take some time to process information, verify data and send funds. In total, the money will come in about one and a half to two months.

We will tell you separately about tax free system in El Corte Inglés Shopping Centers:

When entering El Corte Inglés, Russian tourists with a Russian passport are issued a 10% discount card, which can be used multiple times in almost all departments of the store within one day. If you want to repeat shopping on another day, you will need to reissue the card. Every time you apply for Tax Free, El Corte Inglés will charge you 7.50 euros per issue, regardless of total amount. So, if you are sure that you will spend more than one day in Court Ingles, collect checks and come to arrange Tax Free on the last day of shopping in this store.

We hope this information was useful to you. Happy shopping!

For those who are just planning a trip to the sea, you can see the prices and location of hotels on the map below. If you are looking for a hotel in the suburbs of Barcelona, ​​zoom out on the map and move it towards the place of interest.

For unusual excursions in Barcelona, ​​see.

What is tax free

In Spain, as in any other country that is part of the European Union (and in a number of other countries), travelers from Russia are entitled to a refund of value added tax on purchases. Value added tax (VAT) is included in the price of each product (not exempt from VAT) and transferred to the state budget after its sale. But since tourists from non-EU countries do not constantly use the benefits from the budgets of the countries of the European Union, they are subject to the Tax Free system.

Tax Free (translated - without taxes) is a system for returning VAT on goods purchased by foreign citizens when leaving the country where the goods were purchased. The shops included in the tax free system have the appropriate designations (in the photo below) and, at your request, will issue Required documents. Tax refunds are organized by operating companies, including Global Blue, Premier Tax Free and others, who withhold a commission from the refunded amount for their services. In addition, there may be additional fees for issuing cash refunds and currency conversions if the issuance is not in euros.

Registration of tax free in the store

Refundable amounts mainly depend on the value of the purchases and the VAT rate on the goods. In Spain, the VAT rates (Spanish IVA) are:

• regular IVA rate - 21%;
• for certain food products and optics - 10%;
• on medicines, books and magazines, row food products - 4%.

There are several more rules for issuing tax free in Spain:

• the value of goods cleared in Spain must exceed 90.15 euros (including VAT);
• the recipient of the return must be over 16 years of age;
• The goods are purchased for personal, non-commercial use.

In large shopping malls you can make several purchases and then issue a tax free refund document for all purchased goods. For the Global Blue operating company, for example, such a document is called Tax Free Form, a sample filling of which can be viewed.

To fill out the Tax Free Form, you need to have a passport, all receipts for purchased goods, as well as a bank card, if it is supposed to transfer the returned money to it. The correctness of filling out the form is confirmed by your signature. Please check that the information you have filled in matches the cashier's checks and passport information.

There may be individual differences in different stores, depending, among other things, on the clearance rules of the operating companies. In some stores, you can make purchases, for example, for several dates, in others only for one calendar day and only on the day of payment - such nuances must be clarified on the spot.

Obtaining a customs stamp at the airport

A fully completed tax free form, along with the original cash receipts for goods, must be presented to the airport customs service to receive a customs stamp. The validity period of the mark cannot exceed three months from the date of purchase.

You must have with you:

• passport;
• a printout of an air ticket (or a boarding pass for a flight);
• purchased goods in their original packaging, which confirms that they have not been used.

As a rule, it doesn’t come to checking the goods, but you need to be ready for it. If you show up at the customs office without goods, you risk being refused.

When planning your departure from the airport, allow sufficient time for the VAT refund procedures. Do not forget that purchases must first be presented at the customs service, and only then checked in as baggage. Therefore, if you check in for a flight at the airport before visiting customs, either put your purchases in hand luggage (if the airline's rules allow), or you will have to make one more stop at the check-in counters to drop off your luggage after customs.

Tax free refund options: advantages and disadvantages

There are two main options for obtaining:

1.Cash payout at the points of organizations (bank offices, exchange offices), which, under an agreement with the operating company, provide this service. Their addresses can be found on the websites of the operating companies or in the brochure attached (not always) to the tax free form.

The main advantage of this option is that you get money before departure and even have time to buy goods you like in the duty free of the airport. But be prepared to stand another line (after the line at customs), and also part with some amount for cash.

Some companies charge a flat fee for each form of tax free. Such a commission is not taken when refunding to a bank card.

You may be given cash not in euros (in dollars or rubles), taking a large percentage for currency conversion.

Another "pitfall" appears in the case when you received a cash refund in the city (in a store, at City Refund points) before going through customs. If the tax free form with receipts and customs stamp is not received by the operating company within 21-30 days after receipt of the cash refund (terms differ for different operators), then the amount of cash refund plus administrative fee will be charged from the bank card recorded as a guarantee collection. The withdrawn amount of cash compensation will be returned to the card when the fully completed documents arrive at the operator, but the administration fee is no longer refundable.

Residents major cities there is an opportunity to get a refund of tax free in Russia. In Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, for example, Banca Intesa has this service on the forms of the companies GLOBAL BLUE and TAX REFUND (for TAX REFUND - in several other cities). Information about return points in Russia can be found.

2.Reimbursement to a bank card, usually used where there are no items cash receipt or for some reason it is not possible to use them. But knowing the “weak points” of cash reimbursement listed above, some resort to the card option to avoid additional payments and queues.

With this option, make sure that the correct number of a valid bank card is entered in the form. The rules of some operators provide for the indication of the card used to pay for purchases, while others allow the indication of another card. Don't forget to include your address Email so that the operator can contact you if necessary.

After receiving the customs stamp in the form of tax free, you need to put it in a special envelope received in the store along with the form and send it by mail to the address of the operating company. If the envelope is sent from the territory of Spain, it is not necessary to stick postage stamps - this is a prepaid envelope. If you use your own envelope, you will need to pay for the postage.

Global Blue mailboxes are usually located next to customs. The photo below (left) shows what such a mailbox looks like. Reminders are placed at the top of it:

• check that all forms are stamped by customs;
• your name and full home address must be legible and in capital letters;
• check that the bank details or bank card number are filled in correctly.

If the documents are sent to other operating companies (not Global Blue), the envelope should be dropped into the yellow mailbox with the inscription "Correos" (mail), shown in the photo on the right.

Having received correctly executed documents with checks, the operating company will transfer the VAT refund to your bank card.

Free Taxi at Barcelona Airport: Terminal 1

Terminal 1 serves aircraft of the Russian airlines Aeroflot and S7. Aircraft of other airlines arrive and depart from Terminal 2 (subject to change).

The office of the Civil Guard (Spanish: Guardia Civil), where you need to get a customs mark in the form of Tax Free, can be recognized by the sign shown in the photo below.

The text on the sign translated into Russian: VAT refund office.

In Terminal 1, it is located on level 3 in the check-in hall on the far left (from the entrance to the hall). The office is open around the clock.

After receiving the customs seal, if you have tax free forms from several operating companies, put them in the envelopes of the operators (when choosing a VAT refund on the card) and drop them into the mailboxes: Global Blue - in the blue box, the rest - in the yellow "Correos" (see photo above). The boxes are located near the customs office.

To receive a VAT refund in cash, you need to go to the representative offices of operating companies. You will find the Global Blue office right after passport control (on the left). Opening hours: from 8:00 to 23:30 daily.

Premier Tax Free refunds are payable at the Global Exchange, which is also located on Level 3 approximately 100 meters behind passport control on the way to the gates (gates) zone "D". The point works around the clock. In Spain, Global Exchange is also a VAT refund agent for companies: Innova Tax Free, El Corte Inglés, La Caixa, Tax Free Worldwide, Global Blue, Travel Tax Free, Tax Refund.

Taxi Free at Barcelona Airport: Terminal 2

The office of the Civil Guard, where you need to get a customs stamp in the Tax Free form, is located in terminal 2B on level 0 (in our opinion, on the 1st floor) next to the transition to the train platforms. It works around the clock. The photo below shows this office (sections 67, 68), as well as Global Blue mailbox(left) who stands against the wall bordering the stairs.

This staircase and the escalators adjoining it (pictured below), which you can navigate when looking for the office of the Civil Guard, lead to level 1 to the transition to the commuter train platforms and metro station (if you go straight from the stairs), as well as to the departure hall ( departures) if, after going up the stairs, turn right.

If the blue mailbox into which the envelope for Global Blue must be dropped is located next to the office, then to find the yellow mailbox with the inscription "Correos" (mail), you need to walk about 300 meters towards terminal 2C to the black horse statue. Right in front of the horse you will see him (see photo)

For those interested: the author of the sculpture called "Caballo Negro" (Black Horse) is a Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero Angulo (Spanish: Fernando Botero Angulo). He also owns the authorship of the bronze figure of a seven-meter cat, standing on the Rambla del Raval in Barcelona.

As already mentioned above, envelopes with Tax Free forms of other operating companies should be placed in the yellow box.

There are two places where you can receive your VAT refund in cash with Global Blue in Terminal 2:

1. At the Global Blue office on level 0 a few steps from the Civil Guard office - near the next front door to the terminal, if you go towards terminal 2C. It is easily recognizable by its blue-blue symbolism. Opening hours: Saturday from 7:00 to 19:00, other days from 8:00 to 16:00.
2. At the Global Exchange point at level 1, which operates around the clock.

The rest of the operating companies listed above are also served at this point. But to get there, you must first check in for a flight and check in your luggage. Take the escalator next to Customs to level 1 and turn right to enter the pre-flight and departure hall security area. Immediately behind it begins the duty-free shopping area. To find the Global Exchange point, you need to follow the signs leading to the departure sectors "W" and "Y". After a while you will see it (shown in the photo below).

When queuing at this point, do not forget that you still have to go through passport control and find the right gate for boarding. The signage system at Barcelona Airport is quite informative and on the way there are periodically electronic displays with information about departures. Keep track of your flight announcements as the gate location is sometimes changed.

most up-to-date information you should look for return points on the official websites of operating companies, and for the location of customs offices - on the official website of Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

Enjoy the shopping!

Transfer with Kiwi-taxi or Welcome Pickups

Transfer to the hotel and back to the airport can be ordered in advance, in the Russian-speaking taxi booking service Kiwi-taxi. Compared to finding a local taxi, in addition to the traditional comfort, safety and reliability, this option has a number of advantages:

a driver with a name plate will meet you at the arrivals area;

in case of a flight delay, the driver monitors the change in arrival time (no surcharges);

operators communicate with you in Russian and a Russian-speaking driver is usually provided;

child seats can be ordered in advance;

it is possible to choose any class of car (out of 12) and a car for non-standard luggage;

the price of the transfer will be known before the trip and will not change.

You can also get from Barcelona airport and back with Welcome Pickups.

Welcome is more than just a transfer service:

Your transfer is booked at a fixed price, no more than a regular taxi.

It provides 24/7 customer support, flight control in case of delays and free cancellation.

A local English-speaking driver will meet you and introduce you to the city.

After booking a transfer, you can order the necessary travel products: SIM cards and WiFi hotspots access; skip-the-line tickets to attractions; local souvenir sets.

Upon arrival, you can book recommended restaurants and various events with a Welcome driver or with local partners.

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