Letting your Spanish property to tourists can deliver an attractive return, but for that you need a holiday rental licence. And the rules have been tightened considerably in recent years. In this blog we explain how it works and what changes in 2026.
At Jansen & Brouwer Property Capital we check before the purchase whether a property is suitable for tourist letting, so that you are not caught out afterwards.
What is a holiday rental licence?
To let a property to tourists on a short-term basis in Spain you need a registration or licence. Without that registration you may not legally advertise or let, and you risk fines. The exact requirements are set per region (autonomous community) and even per municipality.
The rules differ by region
- Valencian Community (Costa Blanca): the licence is called VT (Vivienda Turística). You register the property in the tourism register and need, among other things, a municipal declaration of town-planning suitability (compatibilidad urbanística).
- Andalusia (Costa del Sol): here you register the property as a VFT (Vivienda con Fines Turísticos) in the Andalusian tourism register (RTA).
- Balearic Islands (Mallorca): the licence is called ETV (Estancia Turística en Vivienda) and is granted per island, on Mallorca by the Consell de Mallorca. Since 2025 no new rental places can be added in apartments on any of the islands, and in Palma, since early 2026, not in any type of home. Outside Palma it is still possible in a detached or terraced house, but only with tourist places, and their issue has largely been frozen since 2022. If you want to let on Mallorca, buy a property that already has the licence and have your lawyer check that it transfers. Illegal letting can lead to a fine of up to 500,000 euros.
New in 2025-2026: the national registration number
Since 2025 there has been a national registration system alongside the regional licence. You need a unique registration number to list your property on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, and those platforms are obliged to check this number. The rollout is phased, so up-to-date advice matters.
Please note: the owners' association
Since a change in the law in 2025, an owners association can decide by majority to restrict or refuse new tourist letting within the development. So always check the statutes of the development before you buy, certainly if letting is an important objective.
Taxes op verhuurinkomsten
As a non-resident you pay income tax in Spain on your rental income. How exactly that works is explained in Taxes on Spanish property.
What does this mean for you as an investor?
Buy with letting in mind: have it checked before the purchase whether a property qualifies for a licence and whether the owners association permits letting. That prevents you from finding out afterwards that you are not allowed to let. See also Renting out property in Spain and the buying process in 8 steps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to let my Spanish property?
For tourist (short-term) letting, yes. The licence and its name differ by region: VT in the Valencian Community (Costa Blanca), VFT in Andalusia (Costa del Sol) and ETV in the Balearic Islands (Mallorca).
What is the national registration number?
Since 2025 you need a national registration number to list your property on platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com. The platforms are obliged to check it.
Can an owners association ban tourist letting?
Yes. Since 2025 an owners association can restrict or refuse new tourist letting by majority decision. Always check the statutes before buying.
Do you help with the licence application?
Yes. We check in advance whether a property qualifies for a licence and guide you through the application.
Ready to invest with letting in mind?
We check the letting options in advance and guide you through the licence. View the listings or schedule a no-obligation call.