Entry & progression
Governing: RD 505/2024 (in force 1 Jul 2024); LNM art. 158; ministry Libreta page. Builds on: L4.1.
The seafarer medical
RD 505/2024 replaced RD 1696/2007 on 1 July 2024. The key rules:
| Point | Rule |
|---|---|
| Who examines | The Instituto Social de la Marina (ISM), at any maritime health centre, free of charge (art. 4) |
| Validity | Up to 2 years; 1 year under 18 (art. 10.2) |
| Expiry at sea | Valid to the next port where a new one can be obtained, up to 3 months (art. 10.4) |
| Foreign certificates | Accepted as equivalent for workers who reside outside Spain, if issued by a recognised doctor in a state applying ILO/IMO medical standards and written at least in English (art. 12) |
The medical is required to enrol on a Spanish-flag vessel (RONM art. 21.2 lists it with titles, certificates and seafarer's ID), for refrendo, and for professional certificates such as the PPER.
CAUTION — Two different medicals Recreational titles (PNB, PER, PY, CY) use a CRC psicofísico report from a driving-licence medical centre, valid 2 years for the application (RD 875 arts. 21–22). An ISM certificate is also accepted, with a CRC colour-vision check. The CRC report does not qualify you to work as crew.
The Libreta de Navegación Marítima
The Libreta is the Spanish seafarer's record book. It lists your titles and your sea service (enrolments and discharges noted by the Capitanía).
- Who: Spanish nationals who may serve on Spanish civil vessels (LNM art. 158).
- Prerequisite: a CoC, or for other crew a Basic Safety Training certificate.
- Price: 1.84 € (ministry page, 2026).
- Verification: there is an online verification service on the ministry's e-office.
The older Libreta Marítima/DIM booklet is being replaced by a card-format DIM (seafarer's identity document under ILO 185) plus a separate Libreta. The ministry page sets out seven transition cases (A–G), depending on whether your old booklet is in date and whether it has blank pages.
Foreign crew
Non-Spanish crew do not get a Libreta. They are enrolled with a certificado de embarque para tripulantes extranjeros. Since 31 December 2025 the master or owner must also enter every foreign crew member in the DGMM database before enrolment (RONM art. 21.3). Proof of service for foreign crew comes from the rol and the enrolment records, so ask for copies when you sign off.
TIP — Your sea time is your career Whatever your nationality, keep your own copy of each enrolment and discharge. Recognition, PPER logs and flag-state applications all ask for proof you can only reconstruct with difficulty later.
For the documents a UK seafarer uses instead, see the MCA library.