Framework
Governing: RD 875/2014 (as amended by RD 1188/2025); ministry recreational-titles page; Decreto 44/2025 (Illes Balears). Builds on: all previous lessons.
Who does what
| Matter | Who is competent |
|---|---|
| Recreational title exams, title issue, nautical schools | Twelve regions: Andalucía, Asturias, Baleares, Canarias, Cantabria, Cataluña, Ceuta, Galicia, Melilla, Murcia, País Vasco, Valencia. The DGMM examines only in Madrid. |
| Professional titles, PPER, refrendo, legislation test | State (DGMM) |
| Registry (lists 6ª, 7ª), despacho, rol, safety equipment, surveys | State (Capitanías Marítimas) |
| Charter as a tourism or leisure activity, local berthing, protected areas | Regions (for example the Govern de les Illes Balears, Ports IB) |
The state rules apply everywhere. Regional rules add to them; they do not replace them. A yacht chartering in the Balearics must satisfy both the RONM despacho and Decreto 44/2025, and the two do not always agree (L3.2).
TIP — One title, any region A recreational title issued by one region is valid throughout Spain. What differs is where and when you can sit the exam, and in what language. None of the DGMM convocatorias mentions English papers.
The 1 October 2026 change
RD 875/2014 art. 10 has long allowed adults to handle small boats without any title. RD 1188/2025 narrows it. From 1 October 2026 the text reads:
- motorboats up to 5 m and 15 CV (nominal, without a power-reduction device): private use only;
- sailing boats up to 6 m: sporting use;
- beach craft;
- in all cases within 2 nm of the port, marina or beach of departure, in daylight, and only for those aged 18 or over;
- PWC are excluded.
The preamble gives the reason: a high number of incidents involving hired small boats. The practical result is that anyone hiring a small "licence-free" boat will need at least a Licencia de Navegación or a recreational title.
WARNING — Tenders and toys RD 1188/2025 does not say whether a guest driving a yacht's tender, chartered with the yacht, is "private use" or "hire". Until the DGMM clarifies, do not let unlicensed guests drive tenders on a charter. The same caution applies in the Balearics, where tenders chartered with the main yacht are outside the regional declaration but still subject to state title rules.
PWC hire, briefly
The same RD amends RD 259/2002: hire by the hour without a title is allowed only inside a marked circuit or on guided excursions, with at least two monitors, each supervising no more than 4 PWC and 2 users per PWC. Day hire needs a title or licence.
Where to go next
- Operators: Spanish-Flag Charter Compliance and Balearic Charter Compliance.
- Skippers: Skippering Charter Guests in the Balearics and Anchoring in the Balearics.
- Exams: PER Theory Exam Prep, Patrón de Yate Theory Exam Prep, Capitán de Yate Theory Exam Prep, PPER Knowledge Test Prep.