I bought an apartment in Dubai: how holiday letting works
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Holiday-let licences in Spain: a complete guide by autonomous community
A holiday-let licence is not a single, national procedure: each autonomous community has its own process, register and timescales. Since the Supreme Court struck down the state register in May 2026, it is the procedure you really need to list your property.
Leticia Heres · · 2 min read
A holiday-let licence is not a single, national procedure: each autonomous community has its own process, its own name for the register and its own timescales. This is even truer since the Supreme Court struck down, in May 2026, the additional state register that the Government had tried to impose: the regional licence is, right now, the only procedure you really need in order to list your property on Airbnb, Booking or any other platform.
Why does the holiday-let licence depend on each autonomous community?
Tourism is a power devolved to the autonomous communities. That is why each one regulates its own register of viviendas de uso turístico (VUT, holiday-let properties), with different requirements: number of guest places, type of entrance, minimum distance between properties in some areas, or the need for approval from the comunidad de propietarios (owners' association). It is precisely this power that the Supreme Court protected when it struck down the single state register.
The steps that repeat in almost every community
- Check that the property complies with planning rules and, where applicable, with the town hall's regulations.
- Obtain the certificate or cédula de habitabilidad/idoneidad turística (certificate of habitability or suitability for tourist use).
- Submit the declaración responsable (sworn statement) to the regional tourism authority.
- Register in your community's register of tourism businesses and activities.
- Display the plaque or identifier that your community requires.
Guide by autonomous community
These are the detailed guides we have already published, with the specific requirements of each authority:
Is your community not on the list?
We are gradually expanding this guide. If your property is in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Murcia, Cantabria, Extremadura, Navarre or La Rioja, the general procedure in this article will point you in the right direction, but contact your community's tourism authority or our team to confirm the exact requirements before you list your property.
What if I don't get the licence in time?
If your property does not meet the requirements for a holiday-let licence (because of its location, the rules of the owners' association or because the process is taking longer than expected), there is a legal alternative: the seasonal rental. We explain how it works and which reasons are valid in From holiday let to seasonal rental: the legal alternative.
At beBalmy we help you apply for your holiday-let licence and manage your property from start to finish. Request your free valuation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the regional holiday-let licence the same as the single state register (NRUA)?
No. The regional licence is your community's permit to operate as a holiday let and it is still compulsory. The NRUA (Número de Registro Único de Arrendamientos, Spain's single rental registration number) was an additional state register that the Supreme Court struck down in May 2026.
How long does it take to be granted a holiday-let licence?
It varies a great deal depending on the community and the authority, from weeks to several months. Check the specific guide for your autonomous community for indicative timescales.
What happens if I let my property without the regional licence?
Each autonomous community has its own penalty regime, with fines that can be significant and, in some cases, the precautionary closure of the property. The exact amounts depend on each region's tourism regulations.
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