Getting the Licencia
Governing: RD 875/2014 arts. 11, 13, 21, 33 and Anexos II §1, III and VII; CAIB guidance on EXNAU. Builds on: L2.1.
Who runs the course
Only an approved escuela náutica de recreo (recreational nautical school) or a sailing or motorboat federation may run the course and issue the Licencia. xplor is not one of them; this guide cannot give you a Licencia or count towards one.
The course
| Part | Minimum | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Theory | 2 hours | Introduction to the practical content; limits at buoyed and unbuoyed beaches and their access channels; port traffic rules; IALA region A lateral marks; steering to avoid rolling and pitching and not lying beam-on to the sea; collision rules 4–8, 11–19 and 37; basic handheld VHF: Ch 16, emergencies, routine calls, contacting Salvamento Marítimo (Ch 16, 112, 900 202 202) |
| Practical | 4 hours | Safety kit and pre-departure checks; engines, including jet-drive hazards; ropework (clove hitch, bowline, round turn); harbour manoeuvres and safe speed; anchoring with care near swimmers and divers; man overboard |
The theory may be taught in a classroom or on the training boat itself. The practical may be done on a RIB of at least 4.5 m. There is no exam: you complete the hours and the instructor signs you off.
CAUTION — "Two and two" is wrong Some press articles describe the course as two hours of theory and two of practice. RD 875 requires 4 hours of practicals. A school offering less is not issuing a valid Licencia.
What else you need
- Age: 18, or 16 with written parental consent.
- Medical: a reconocimiento psicofísico from a CRC (Centro de Reconocimiento de Conductores, the same centres that do driving-licence medicals), or a valid ISM seafarer's medical. Schools can usually book it for you.
- Identity: RD 875 imposes no nationality or residence condition. The Licencia records name, identity document and date. Balearic schools ask foreigners for a passport; some also ask for an NIE (foreigner's identity number). Check with the school before booking.
After the course
The school issues the Licencia on FNMT security paper, signed electronically by its director and the instructor. It must notify the administration within 5 working days. In the Balearics that goes to the Direcció General de Ports i Transport Marítim through the EXNAU platform. Schools that fail to notify risk suspension of their right to issue.
Cost (secondary sources)
School websites in Mallorca (September 2026) show:
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Group course | about €95–150 per person |
| Private course | about €490–600 |
| CRC medical | about €44–70 |
Prices vary by school and season; these are not official fees.
Language
There is no written test, so there is no exam-language barrier. Several Balearic schools advertise courses in English. Confirm in advance that the instructor will teach in a language you understand: the safety content matters more than the certificate.
TIP — Do it before the holiday rush Courses are practical and weather-dependent. Booking early in your stay leaves room for a reschedule if the wind gets up.
WARNING — Choose an approved school A certificate from an unapproved outfit is worthless at the rental desk and in front of an inspector. Ask which administration the school is registered with.