Paperwork 

You can find general guidance on the paperwork required when boating abroad on our Paperwork page.

Insurance 

You should carry evidence of insurance on board, including a Spanish translation.

Evidence of competence 

For general information on the validity of RYA certificates abroad, see Evidence of competence abroad. 

In Spain, vessel skippers are required to have evidence of competence, and it is not uncommon for the Spanish authorities to inspect certification. The position can vary depending on the skipper’s nationality or residence, the vessel’s flag state, and whether the vessel is privately owned, chartered, or Spanish-flagged.

UK citizens operating UK-flagged vessels 

For short visits to Spain, UK certificates should still be acceptable where a British citizen is operating a UK-flagged pleasure vessel. Although Spain has not adopted UNECE Resolution 40, the ICC is recommended for British citizens operating UK-flagged vessels when visiting Spain.

Foreign-flagged vessels operated by non-nationals of the flag state 

If someone operates a foreign flagged pleasure boat in Spain (i.e. a boat which is not Spanish-flagged) and they are not a citizen of the flag state, we understand they may need to hold the certificate required by their country of residence or nationality. 

Spanish citizens and residents 

Spanish citizens and residents may find that a UK certificate issued by the RYA is not sufficient, regardless of the vessel’s flag. Anyone resident in Spain should check the requirements that apply to them with the Spanish authorities or take appropriate local advice.

Spanish-flagged vessels and bareboat charter 

Until the end of 2020, the acceptance of UK certificates for the operation of Spanish flagged pleasure boats was based on the UK being an EU Member State. Acceptance on this basis ceased from 1 January 2021. 

For RYA certificates to be recognised in Spain for the operation (including bareboat charter) of Spanish-flagged pleasure boats, RYA certificates needed to be listed in Annex IX of the Royal Decree 875/2014 regulating nautical qualifications for the operation of pleasure boats. 

Royal Decree 339/2021, which came into force on 1 July 2021, amended Annex IX of Royal Decree 875/2014 to include the following RYA practical certificates.

Entry and exit formalities 

Spain is an EU member state and part of the customs territory of the EU, which includes EU territorial waters. You can find information on EU customs requirements and Schengen Area immigration at Entry and exit formalities.

Fees and taxes 

T-0 - navigation aids fee 

The T-0 tax relates to maritime aids to navigation, such as buoyage and lights. It is often collected with berthing fees, but regional and administrative variations mean it may sometimes be payable separately.

Waste water discharge and holding tanks in Spain 

You can read general information on waste water discharge and holding tanks at Holding tanks.  

Spanish regulations for waste water discharge are explained on the Ministry of Transport website, which you should be able to translate into English through your web browser. 

Spain has requirements for holding tanks and the prevention of sewage discharges from recreational craft. In practice, vessels should not discharge untreated sewage within Spanish territorial waters, which extend up to 12 nautical miles from the coast. Spanish guidance sets out different discharge restrictions depending on the distance from shore, with no discharge permitted in port waters, protected areas, estuaries and bays.

Orcas  

Reports of orca interactions with recreational craft have taken place during the summer months since 2020 along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Orcas are a protected species under International, EU, Spanish and Portuguese law and as such it is illegal to take any action which may harm or disturb these marine mammals. 

As these are wild animals, it is not possible for the RYA to provide advice that will fully mitigate the risks associated with orca encounters. This is just one of the many risk factors that skippers must consider when planning passages, as they may affect your chosen route, safety protocols, time of departure or even the need for a particular journey. 

The Cruising Association and the Atlantic Orca Working Group are collating information on both incidents and uneventful passages through the area inhabited by the orcas. To learn more about this initiative, review previous reports, or to report your own experiences visit the Cruising Association.

Keeping a boat in Spain 

The RYA cannot provide detailed advice on the full range of rules that may apply to boats kept abroad long term. The information below highlights issues that boat owners should be aware of, but you should take local advice if you are keeping a boat in Spain or have a connection with Spain. 

Boat owners should be aware that some Spanish legislation relevant to recreational boating may apply to foreign-flagged boats owned by individuals resident in Spain, or by companies with a registered office in Spain. 

This includes Royal Decree 339/2021, of 18 May, which regulates safety equipment and pollution prevention systems for recreational boats. 

Law 38/1992 introduced the Impuesto Especial sobre Determinados Medios de Transporte (IEDMT), often referred to as matriculation tax. This tax may apply where a person or company with a “permanent establishment” in Spain owns a new or second-hand boat intended to be used in Spanish waters. It is commonly referred to as being 12% of the market value of the boat, although owners should check the current position with a Spanish tax adviser. 

A 2009 RYA member guidance note remains available for historical background, but should not be treated as current legal advice. Earlier guidance indicated that the boat had to be registered under the Spanish flag. However, the RYA has been told that, following Royal Decree 2/2011, article 252, re-registration is no longer required. 

If challenged, you may need to provide evidence that the rules do not apply to you, for example by showing that you are not resident in Spain. 

Canary Islands 

The Canary Islands are outside the EU VAT area, so EU import VAT does not apply there. Instead, local taxes may apply, including IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto de Canarias), the Canary Islands’ general indirect tax, and AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancías en las Islas Canarias), a tax on certain imports and deliveries of goods in the Canary Islands. 

The RYA does not provide detailed advice on keeping a boat in the Canary Islands. If you plan to keep your boat there, you should take local advice to confirm which tax, customs, registration and other local requirements may apply. 

Useful links

• UK Government Travel Advice for Spain
• Sports and recreational craft tax & navigation aids fee  
• Canary Island tax
• Orca Iberia’s Atlantic Orca Working Group (GTOA)