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Permits required to sail in Spanish waters

A sailing permit or licence (título de recreo) is not needed to sail the following vessels during daylight hours in Spanish waters:

Motorboats up to 4 metres in length and with a maximum power of 10Kw

Sailing boats up to 5m in length

Canoes, kayaks and boats with motors less than 3.5Kw

All other vessels may only be handled by a person holding an appropriate licence. Failure to have a licence may result in the vessel being confiscated or a large fine.

Although a Yacht Masters Certificate (and translation into Spanish) or an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) are considered enough proof of competence to skipper a UK (or some other) flagged vessel, the ICC is not a recognised qualification for Spanish flagged vessels. Anyone resident in Spain must have a Spanish recognised qualification, the título de recreo.

Note: this information applies to recreational (not professional skipper) licences only.

Types of sailing licence in Spain

• Patrón de Navegación Básica (PNB) (Basic Navigation Skipper)
  Licence to skipper a sailing yacht maximum 8 metres in length or a motor boat maximum 6 metres (with a motor appropriate to the size) provided the boats stay within 4 miles of the shore

• Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER) (Recreational Vessel's Skipper)
  Licence to skipper a motor boat up to 12 metres, within 12 miles of shore

• Patrón de Yate (Yacht Master)
  Licence to skipper a yacht up to 20 metres within 60 miles of land

• Capitán de Yate (Yacht Captain)
  No limitations

• Patrón de Moto Náutica (Motor Boat Skipper)

  • Patrón de Moto Náutica C (licence C to skipper boats under 55 CV)

  • Patrón de Moto Náutica B (licence B to skipper boats between 55 CV and 110 CV)

  • Patrón de Moto Náutica A (licence A to skipper boats from 110 CV

How to obtain a sailing licence in Spain

The título de recreo is applied for and issued either by a school recognised by the Spanish Dirección General de la Marina Mercante or one of the Autonomous Communities. A medical certificate (certificado médico) is required and the exam will include a series of safety, boat navigation and boat principles tests. The título de recreo is issued once the applicant has passed a theory and practical exam (it varies in length and difficulty depending on the size of vessel). A good level of Spanish is required to take this exam.

Some non-Spanish boating permits are recognised in Spain including the US Coast Guard Licence and the RYA Yacht Master Certification and the International Certificate of Competence and exemption can be acquired. Regulations can vary in different regions and marinas so check first.