How to obtain a vacation rental license - Spain

In order to make the process of obtaining a vacation rental license as easy as possible, we have summarized what you need to do in this guide per region.

1. Register your vacation rental
2. How to obtain a license - general info
3. Catalonia
4. Valencian Community & Murcia
5. Canary Islands
6. Balearic Islands
7. Andalucia

Register your vacation rental

The following information is up to date as of 01/06/2022. Please note that this is a guide, and the information provided does not constitute legal advice.

In order to start running a vacation rental business in Spain, you must first meet some legal requirements. A vacation rental is defined as a property that is rented out to third parties in exchange for a price. To fall into this category, the property should be rented for a maximum period of 31 days (28 days in the Balearic Islands), two or more times a year.

 

Requirements for renting out your vacation rental are regulated on a regional level (Legislación Autonómica). Each region has a different law, so it is important to inquire with your local authorities about the legal requirements for where your property is located. Although there are some local specificities, in general, the process for registering a vacation rental is similar throughout the whole country. The first and most important requirement is to obtain a valid Registration Number.

 

How to obtain a vacation rental license - general information

Although the exact process may differ slightly from region to region, generally, the process for obtaining a tourist license is as follows:

You, the rental owner, must declare to the local authorities that you want to rent out your property by sending a DRIAT (Declaración Responsable de Inicio de Actividad Turística). Once you have submitted the declaration, you will receive a temporary registration number and can begin distributing your property.

When submitting this declaration, you will generally need to present the following:

• Identification details of the property and the owner 
• Proof that you possess a certificate of occupancy 
• Compliance with the requirements set out in the applicable regulations

In most regions, this declaration can be submitted online.

• The regional authorities will check the documentation submitted by the homeowner. If the vacation rental meets all requirements, you will receive their permanent registration number (which will be the license number) after about 3 or 4 months, depending on the region. The property will also be recorded in the regional registry. If the vacation rental doesn’t meet the necessary requirements, you will have to stop distributing the property until it does. 
• It is important to mention that the municipal regulations for the sector where the property is located can limit or condition the property’s use.

Catalonia

Do I need a license?

It is mandatory to have a vacation rental license if you want to rent your home out to guests in Catalonia. 

What do I need in order to get a rental license? 

In order to obtain a vacation rental license you must adhere to these principles: 

 

• The property must have a Certificate of Occupancy (or license of the first occupation). This certificate establishes the number of people who can occupy the house. You cannot rent to more people (at the same time) than those established in it. 
• If the property is in an urbanization or community of owners, the holiday rental must not be prohibited by the statutes or community rules. The house must have all the furniture, appliances and equipment to be used as holiday rental accommodation. 
• The owner must provide a contact number (personal or a representative) that must be operational 24 hours.

 

Where can I get a vacation rental license? 

The process of obtaining a vacation rental licence can be completed online on the official Gencat website. Please note, that you can only get a holiday rental license through this website if you already have your digital certificate. 

 

How much does it cost? 

There is no official fee to obtain a vacation rental license in Catalonia, however, there may be a fee depending on the municipality. 

 

Valencian Community 

Do I need a license?

Yes. In order to rent out your property for vacation rental, you must obtain a license to do so in the Community of Valencia. 

 

What do I need in order to get a rental license? 

It is important to distinguish between the regulations managed by each Autonomous Communities and those operated by each municipality. It is also important to note that the process is different depending on how many properties the homeowner/agency is renting out at one time. 

 

First of all, you should apply to the City Hall of your municipality in order to obtain the municipal urban compatibility report (informe municipal de compatibilidad urbanística), which is mandatory for tourist rental.

 

You will need to consider the following documents/items:

• A declaration that the property will be used for tourism purposes (for less than 4 properties the application form is "DECLARACIÓN RESPONSABLE REFERENTE A VIVIENDAS DE USO TURÍSTICO" and for those wanting to rent more than 4 properties the application form is "DECLARACIÓN RESPONSABLE REFERENTE A LA ACTIVIDAD DE EMPRESAS GESTORAS DE VIVIENDAS DE USO TURÍSTICO"). 
• Identify the characteristics of the accommodation (address, maximum occupancy and other conditions to be classified in standard/premium/superior category) 
• Responsible declaration of necessary requirements 
• Property documentation (nota simple, insurance, energetic certificate) 
• Copy of the identity document of the owner 
• Cadastral reference number 
• Communal urban compatibility report which allows its use as tourist accommodation. Included in this report is the código seguro de verificación (CSV) which verifies the integrity and authenticity of electronic documents.

 

Where can I get a vacation rental license? 

Obtaining a vacation rental license can be done in several ways:

• Online on this website if you have a digital certificate or an electronic DNI.
• In-person presenting this documentation directly to the Servicios Territoriales de Turismo (Tourism Territorial Services) in the province where the accommodation is located. 
• Post the documentation at any post office with the envelope open so that the stamp and date of application can be stamped on the form and on the copy.

 

How much does it cost?

There is a cost to obtain the Certificate of Compatibility which can vary across municipalities, however, the registration for a vacation rental license in Valencia is free of charge.

 

Murcia

Registration at the relevant touristic office of the region (where the property is located) by completing the "DRIAT" and therefore informing the authorities of your intention to rent out the property for tourist purposes.

Other items needed are:

• Civil liability insurance to cover damages to both your home and your tenants. If you already have home insurance, you will need to extend it. 
• Cooperate with the authority and make sure the property is in accordance with the legal provisions, displaying safety signs at the property, allowing the inspectors an initial review and measurement of the property, etc. 
• Make sure that the standards and criteria of the license will be retained. Also that a minimum of emergency contact numbers (firemen, ambulance, police) are visible at all times on the property. 
• Allow for routine or special inspections, and inform authorities about refurbishments or changes to the property.

You will be notified of the final decision within approximately three months. However, you can start your rental activity from the moment you submit the “responsible declaration”. Once a property has been authorised a registration number will be assigned to the property.

 

Canary Islands

Do I need a license? 

Officially, it is not mandatory to obtain a vacation rental license in the Canary Islands. However, this could be subject to change at any time as it is only partially rejected by the Supreme Court. It is highly recommended to do so in order to avoid any problems with guests and in case it becomes compulsory in the future.

 

What is the process of renting out a property for touristic processes?

• Homeowners have to send the "DRIAT" to the Cabildos (the government of each island in the Canary Islands) order to obtain a registration number. 
• The DRIAT can be delivered directly to the Cabildos Insulares or online via the Registro General. 
• The authorities check the documentation attached to the DRIAT, and if everything is ok, they inscribe the property in their Regional Tourism Registry and assign the property a license number.

 

Balearic Islands

Do I need a license?

Yes, you do. However, the first thing to note is that the granting of new vacation rental licenses is suspended until February 2026 in the Balearic Islands. 

Only new declarations responsible for the start of commercialization of tourist stays can be submitted if they refer to a residential property that is located in the areas declared expressly suitable in the Tourist Zones outlined by the Insular Council of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Palma City Council. 

The Balearic Islands have more restrictions and regulations when it comes to obtaining a vacation rental license. It is important that you consider the specific legislation for each island. On some islands, depending on the zone in which your vacation rental is located, vacation rental licenses may not be permitted. On the Balearic Islands, the license is called an ETV, and homeowners should know under which ETV their property is categorized.

• ETV365: This is for single-family homes where the tourist stays in your villa or townhouse. A single-family home is a property not attached to another (so not an apartment or a property not on its own a ‘parcela’ for example). This license does not expire and you can rent out the property all year round.
• ETV365-Pluri: This is for the tourist to stay in a multi-family residence, such as an apartment block or villa on a shared 'parcela'. The license lasts for 5 years and is renewable, and the property may be rented out all year round. 
• ETV-60: This is when the tourist will stay in the main residence (when the property owner is registered with the Empadronamiento as living in the local property). The license is valid for 5 years and can be renewed. However, you can only rent out this kind of property for 60 days per year maximum.

 

What do I need in order to get a rental license?

The first thing you need to do if you want to rent out your property is present a statement of responsibility known as a DRIAT (Declaración Responsible de Inicio de Actividad Turística) and a certificate from the Ayuntamiento certifying your property is zoned somewhere that allows holiday rental.

You must have the following documentation:

• NIE, DNI or similar identification. 
• Municipality certificate showing the property is zoned somewhere holiday rentals are permitted. 
• A certificate that accredits tourist occupancy ‘plazas’ from the "Consorcio de bolsa de plazas" which depends on the "Consells Insulares". This has been suspended, however, if you bought your "plazas" before February 2022, you can continue with this process. 
• An empadronamiento certificate naming you as the property’s owner
• Documentation showing the community permits holiday rentals (for a multi-family property). 
• A modernisation plan you can download from the Dirección General de Turismo website. 
• Proof of paying the administrative fee with Model 046 from the Agencia Tributaria website.

Where can I obtain a vacation rental license?

• Online - send the DRIAT electronically via Sede Electrónica > Relación de trámites > Inscripción inicio de actividad turística de estancias turísticas en viviendas, by mail, or in person at any registry office of the Autonomous Administration. 
• In-person - Unless the applicable regulatory regulation establishes the contrary, you can present the documents addressed to the organs of the Autonomous Administration in any of its registry offices. You can also submit them in the official registers of the island councils and of the municipalities attached to the framework agreement of integrated offices. 
• By mail - In this case, you must present the documents in an open envelope, so that the staff of the post office can indicate, through the official stamp, the place, the date and the exact time in which the registration was made, the data that they will also be recorded in the receipt justifying the presentation.

*The name of the council responsible for the registration is "Consells Insulares"

 

How much does it cost?

Registering is free, but the cost of obtaining a vacation rental license in the Balearic Islands depends on the property type and the modality of ETV you wish to obtain.

• €3500€ for ETV-365 
• €875 for ETV-365 Pluri 
• €292 for ETV-65

 

Andalucia

Do I need a license? 

Yes, all properties that are rented out for vacation purposes must have a license to do so in Andalucía.

 

What do I need in order to get a rental license?

The required documents you need to register for your vacation rental license are:

• First Occupation License 
• Title Deed 
• The last IBI receipt (local town hall or municipal tax)

 

Then you must submit the "Responsible Declaration" (Declaracion Responsable) in front of the Tourist Board of Andalucía. In this document, you declare that you fulfil all the requirements and will be able to prove it during the inspection once it takes place.

 

Where can I get a vacation rental license?

• It can also be done electronically via this link. 
• The procedure can be carried out in person at the "Delegacion provincial de tourism".

Once you have the electronic certificate which is usually granted instantly, you will receive a temporary license. With this, you will have to submit more documents to get the permanent one.

 

How much does it cost?

It is free to obtain a vacation rental license in Andalucía.