Why is Tenerife duty-free?

The Canary Islands are one of a group of nine territories that are part of the EU but are situated outside of Europe and known as the “outermost regions” (OMR). These territories are outside of the EU's customs and VAT regulations. Therefore, when you purchase any products in Tenerife, you do not pay VAT.



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Only the most remote restaurants and bars won't have a card reader. Mind you, you'll often find that some shops and restaurants prefer cash for small purchases. So, it's always useful to carry a few euros to help with budgeting and emergencies. And that'll also be handy for tipping waiters and drivers.

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Tenerife has the best tax regime in Europe, through the Canary Islands Special Zone (ZEC), with a 4% Corporate Tax, instead of 30% of the general regime and well below the European average.

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No, the six drinks rule is not in place in the Canary Islands. So if you're planning to visit Tenerife, Gran Canaria , Fuerteventura , Lanzarote, or the smaller islands in the archipelago like La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro or La Graciosa, this six drinks rule will not apply.

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Drinking on the streets It's prohibited across all the Canary Islands. You could face a hefty fine if caught.

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The Canary Islands are one of nine EU territories that are located outside of Europe and are known as the “outermost regions” (OMR). These areas are exempt from EU customs and VAT regulations. As a result, when you buy anything in Gran Canaria, you do not have to pay VAT.

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Tenerife has been part of Spain since 1496. Tenerife is also a province of Spain and is therefore part of the European Union and belongs therefore to Europe. Tenerife is part of the most southerly islands of Europe very close to the western side of Africa.

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Most of Tenerife drinking tap water comes from desalinated sea water and doesn't have a good taste, it's fine for bathing or washing clothes, etc. For drinking, tea, coffee or ice always use bottled water. Some people experience upset tummies and other digestive problems that possibly are caused by the tap water.

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Tenerife weather in August August is the hottest month of the year, with average highs of 29.2°C and 10 hours of sunshine a day. In the south it will often be warmer than this, reaching into the 30s regularly, while in the north it is usually a little cooler, and a gentle breeze may offer some relief from the heat.

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The legal tender used in Tenerife is the euro. If you are travelling from a country outside the eurozone, you will be able to change money by showing your passport at a number of exchange offices located in tourist areas, which tend to charge comparatively lower commission rates than elsewhere.

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An absence for an uninterrupted period of 90 days allows for a new stay for up to 90 days. Remember that you are always counting back the last 180 days, so if you have not exhausted the 90-day limit over the past six months, you will not have to leave the Schengen Area until that is the case.

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As in the rest of Spain, in the Canary Islands the official language is Spanish. However, as in the majority of countries, there are many people who speak English, the second most spoken language, and many people also understand German.

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If you open it at the gate or onboard, airline staff will confiscate your purchase, empty the liquor or perfume and throw out your candy or tobacco. Your goods will meet the same fate if you show up at your final destination and a customs agent sees that you've opened the bag or its contents.

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