driving from bilbao to composol - Page 3

The OP is taking a big risk in my opinion.

Could end with big problems.

And expensive fines not just a few hundred euros  could be thousands.

Agreed, unless they have money to throw away. Why not sit tight and wait for some clarification over what will and what will not be permitted nearer the time you wish to travel ? If you had "residence" status it would probably work in your favour, like ourselves, but as a tourist, who knows ?

Also remember that your Covid19 test needs to be taken not more than 72hrs prior to arrival. Travelling by ferry you also have to watch your timings on that.

I would suggest you read this, which is  from the department of foreign affairs and is current as of todays date.

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/spain/

And have you thought you may not be welcome, although you may own a property people are reporting any law breakers who are traveling for the wrong reason?

Just a word of caution as quite correctly people are concerned about the pandemic.

"We are travelling to stay a few months"

Not possible: when entry is permitted for non-residents (not permitted without special visa from the Ministry of the Interior, very rarely granted) you will be limited to a stay in the Shengen zone of 90 days in 180. The alternative would be to apply for residency and become full time residents.

thats the plan - as Irish citizens, we can stay for 3 months and if staying longer (but not exceeding 180 days) we will apply for permission. We have work to do at our villa and will probably apply for residencia while there. we are now not travelling until after the Easter lockdown. i have checked and from Ireland we only need a negative pcr test and our locator forms. thanks. 

That maybe under normal circumstances.......but you seem to be ignoring all the Covid rules applicable in Spain about transiting regional borders when you are not residents upon arrival.  **** Don't forget there is already a curfew in Spain from 22h00 until 06h00*****

If you are allowed in and hoping to drive through in one go you'll need to be arriving at Bilbao port not later than around 09h00 in the morning, giving time for offloading, passport control and customs plus the check on your dogs paperwork and then the long drive.

If you stop overnight, have you thought about hotels being closed or questions being asked as to why you are breaking rules. There are many that are being reported for breaking rules as people want to be as safe as possible.

Applying for residencia is a long process and for starters you will need a Spanish bank account with a lot of money in it to prove you will not be a burden on the State.

One more thing - I suggest you check your travel insurance as, similar to the UK, RoI has an 'advice against all non essential travel', which is a general exclusion on almost all travel insurance policies (even ones that have adpated to cover Covid related issues).

Battleface are one company that does provide cover where government advoce is not to travel and I believe a couple of other companies have been mentioned on this forum that provide similar options.

Staysure is another.

You need residencia or will be turned round at the port in Ireland or st Bilbao check with gov website before a long journey and wasted trip 

Hilarious! We are not allowed to travel out of Ireland expect for essential reasons. I’d love to visit my Torrevieja apartment but won’t until it’s safe to travel and Spain is openly welcoming tourists.