VISA INFORMATION
Why a visa?
When a visa requirement is applied to citizens from certain countries, the purpose of the requirement is to control who is permitted to enter and reside in Spain and other Schengen countries. The Schengen countries normally decide cooperatively what nationalities will be included under the visa requirement. The countries are selected with consideration to immigration and security issues, as well as political concerns.

A visa is only used for the purpose of a foreign national's visit to Spain and/or the other Schengen countries for a short period. If an individual wishes to reside in this country for a longer period, he or she must apply for a residence permit.

Anyone visiting Spain for short periods of time from a country with a visa requirement for entering the country must obtain a visa before arriving here. You can find below a list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Spain.

If you need an invitation letter from the organisers in order to obtain a VISA, please e-mail a request as soon as possible to iswcs2006@upv.es. Please note that an invitation letter can only be sent to you once your registration and payment for ISWCS´06 have been received

CURRENCY
The currency used in Spain is the Euro which is divided as follows: bills of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Euros; coins of 1, 2 Euro and of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents.

Tourists reaching Spain can obtain Euros through any bank or exchange offices at airports, seaports and railway stations in the main cities. It is advisable to keep receipts of currency exchanged in case it would be necessary to reconvert euros back before leaving the country.

HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
Tourists requiring urgent medical care should go to the nearest hospital emergency room (airports and many train stations also have medical teams and first aid facilities). Those with serious illnesses or allergies should always carry a special note from their physicians certifying in detail the treatments in progress or that may be necessary.
Pharmacies (Farmacia), generally follow shops times (approx. from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday, but in large cities some are open non-stop.
Please note that the organising committee of ISWCS'2006 has arranged a medical assistance insurance for attendees registering at the conference. You can check the medical coverage at the following document.

INTERESTING PHONES

PUBLIC TELEPHONES
Public telephones are available throughout Spain. Either local or international calls require the use of a phone card (Carta Telefonica) which may be purchased at any news stand, tobacco shop or "bar" (coffee shop).

TIME ZONE
People generally eat later than in other European countries: breakfast (7:30 to 10:00 a.m.) is similar to the continental style. Restaurants serve lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and dinner from 8:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m

POSTAL SERVICES
The Central Post and Telegraph Office (Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 24) is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Telephone: 96 310 27 30. Stamps are also available in all tobacconists.

WEATHER
Valencia enjoys a mild temperate Mediterranean climate. The average annual temperature is 17ºC with warm summers and very mild winters, rarely below 10ºC. In September, temperatures are usually around 25ºC. There is only light rainfall mainly in autumn and the beginning of spring.

TIPPING
Tips are included in all prices and bills, so tipping is not considered obligatory. However, if the service received is considered satisfactory, especially in bars and restaurants, a tip is often left.

BANKS
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Only a few branches open on Saturday mornings. There are 24-hour automatic tellers around the city, and most (Servired, 4B, etc.) offer international services.

CREDIT CARDS
Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Valencia accept the main credit cards (American Express, VISA, Mastercard, 4B, Access y Diners Club).

ELECTRICITY
Standard electrical voltage in Valencia is 220-240 V AC, 50 Hz. A transformer and an adapter are necessary to use North American electrical appliances whose plugs have two square pins. Adapters are available in most hardware stores.