WHICH BOATING LICENSE IS REQUIRED FOR MALLORCA OR THE BALEARIC ISLANDS?

For the new regulations (according to the BOE regulation of October 11, 2014 and the amendments/additions in 2019 and 2024) for the operation of recreational craft for leisure and water sports in Spain, which come into force on January 11, 2015, the following should be noted:

DEFINITIONS & GENERAL:

Pleasure craft for leisure and water sports are limited to 24 meters, 300 tons GT and 12 passengers (without crew). A boating license is required in Spain for boats longer than 5 meters and for sailboats with a length of more than 6 meters and a power of more than 15 HP.

Boats below these criteria may be sailed without a license, but only within the prescribed distances from the coast (see detailed view below).

REGULATION FOR CHARTER GUESTS FROM THE EU (OR A COUNTRY LISTED IN THE BOE TABLE BELOW) WHO ARE NOT RESIDENT IN SPAIN:

• To operate a boat under the Spanish flag. A driver's license issued in the country of origin of the charter guest - taking into account the restrictions listed in the table - is required. Otherwise, the regulations of the country of origin on which the license is based apply. Example: A German charter guest who has obtained his German license in Germany is entitled to operate Spanish-flagged boats in Spanish waters, as in this case the country of issue of the license and the home country of the license holder are the same.
• Charter guests with a driver's license from a country other than their country of origin must prove that they are either resident there - or that the license was obtained during a stay (e.g. studies or similar). Example: If a German charter guest has acquired an English driving license, the charter guest must be able to prove that they are either resident in England or that they resided there at the time of acquiring their driving license (e.g. through studies or similar).
• If the boat is operated in Spanish waters under the flag of an EU country (not Spain), the official (compulsory) boat license issued in the respective country of origin (taking into account the corresponding restrictions) is sufficient. If the nationality and license do NOT match the flag of the boat, the regulations of the guest's country of origin or the license apply.

REGULATION FOR CHARTER GUESTS FROM OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES RESIDENT IN SPAIN:

Non-Spaniards living in Spain (of foreign origin from a country within the EU) who are registered residents in Spain and wish to drive a boat under the Spanish flag require a domestic (Spanish) boating license. (see below: New regulations for Spanish boating licenses).

Alternatively, it is possible to have a license/qualification issued/recognized by the shipping office of the country of origin. The licenses listed in the BOE table below are recognized.

REGULATION FOR SPANISH CHARTER GUESTS WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUED ABROAD (NOT SPAIN):

Spanish charter guests must have a Spanish driver's license if they are registered in Spain, unless they are resident in another country (again, the country must be part of the EU or listed in the BOE table). Furthermore, Spanish. Furthermore, Spanish charter guests must have a valid document showing this residency information (ID / driver's license / passport or similar).

REGULATION FOR NON-EU CHARTER GUESTS:

Non-EU citizens are required to have a specific certification to drive a boat, which must be applied for at the respective consulate.

RADIO TICKET:

If the vessel is also equipped with a radio/radiotelephone system, the charter agency may require an individual radiotelephone certificate. However, the radio certificate is not mandatory.

JET SKI:

Jet ski drivers must also be in possession of an appropriate driving license. Taking into account the points listed above, driving licenses for coastal navigation are sufficient here. Jet ski driving licenses can also be acquired explicitly, but these must meet the same conditions as above. There is an exception for the temporary rental of jet ski equipment, which may only be used in designated zones.

NEW REGULATION FOR SPANISH BOATING LICENSES:

According to the new reform (as of October 2014), the following driving license categories are distinguished in Spain:

CAPITÁN DE YATE

Valid for pleasure craft up to 24m in length.
Megayachts must be operated with a professional certificate of competency specifically qualified for megayachts.
Valid for sport boats with a length of up to 24 ms (80 ft).

PATRÓN DE YATE

Has been increased to 24m in length and is valid up to 150 miles off the coast and is therefore now allowed to sail unlimited in the Mediterranean.

PER

Now allows the navigation of boats up to 15 meters in length (previously 12 m), which move up to twelve miles off the coast and in particular within the archipelagos of the Balearic Islands up to the Iberian Peninsula.

With additional practical experience/examination, the license can be extended, which means that boats up to 24 m in length can be operated within the Balearic Islands up to the Iberian Peninsula.

PNB

Valid for pleasure craft up to 8m in length, this applies to both sailing and motor yachts moving up to 5 miles off the coast.

LICENCIA DE NAVEGACIÓN

Replaces the previous "Titulín" (which will be completely abolished), eliminating the speed limit and allowing the boat to be equipped with the maximum speed permitted for the boat.
Valid for boats up to 6 meters in length that move 2 nautical miles off the coast.
Only day trips allowed.

LICENSE FREE

Boats up to 5m in length with a maximum power of 15hp can be operated without a boating license. These may not exceed the distance to the home port or the coast (max. 2 miles).
Only day trips allowed.

A license is also not required for sailboats up to 6 m in length that travel up to 2 nautical miles from their home port or off the coast.
Only day trips allowed.

PREVIOUS SPAN. CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE

Titles already purchased will be replaced as follows:

• Capitán de Yate = Capitán de Yate with basic qualification
• Patrón de yate = Patrón deYate with basic qualification
• PER = PER with basic qualification
• PNB = PNB with basic qualification

Optional supplementary courses are also offered separately to extend his certificates of competence.

LEGAL REGULATIONS and NEW REGULATIONS:

Here you will find an overview of the driving license regulations and the foreign driving licenses accepted in Spain: 

BOE-A-2014-10344: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2014/10/11/pdfs/BOE-A-2014-10344.pdf
BOE-A-2019-6481: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2019/05/01/pdfs/BOE-A-2019-6481.pdf
BOE-A-2024-1278: https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2024/01/23/pdfs/BOE-A-2024-1278.pdf

All information is explicitly without guarantee of completeness and correctness.