Aquiring a Spanish Charter License

In order to aquire a Balearic Charter Licence you have to go through three stages. First, you must get a permit from the Balearic Government's Department of Transport; secondly you must obtain a Seaworthiness Certificate either from the Capitania Maritima or an authorised version from the EU country of registry; thirdly you must obtain a Charter Licence.

1.Permit from the Balearic Government's Department of Transport
A notarised legal copy of the yacht's registration document (Small Ships Registry or Yacht Club registry is not sufficient, it must be fully registered)

Proof of tax registry of the owner. This can be done either by:
(i) getting the owner (individual or company) a non-resident tax number in Spain. If this is done then quarterly income and VAT declarations must be made to the Spanish government of turnover in Spain (even if this is negative in some quarters).
or
(ii) for the owner to lease the vessel to a Spanish resident or company (a proper leasing agreement in Spanish must be prepared and signed by both parties) and the charter licence and tax requirements will then be done using the Spanish resident's name or company.

Proof of a current full insurance policy which includes a permission to charter clause and shows cover for passengers.

A notarised legal copy of the ID or passport of the person involved, or, in the case of a company (Spanish or non-Spanish) a copy of the articles of association which specifically state that the activities of the company include yacht charter and to show proof of the person who is authorised to sign on behalf of the company in Spain.

Matriculation Tax: For vessels up to 15m in length, an exemption document, or for those over 15m in length proof of payment of Matriculation Tax (12% of the current value of the vessel).

Proof of payment of Government stamp duty due. The charges for this depend upon the length of the yacht.

2.The Seaworthiness Certificate
There are two ways of obtaining this:

(a) Present a notorised legal copy of your Small Commercial Vessel Certificate or equivalent from the EU country of registration together with a legalised translation into Spanish.

(b) If the yacht is being put onto Spanish flag obtain a Spanish Seaworthiness Certificate. On vessels up to 12m in length this involves a simple stability test carried out by a Spanish Naval Architect who will also produce basic boat plans (Approximate cost 100,000 ptas). This is followed by a hull and safety equipment inspection (the cost of which depends on the size of boat and capacity of the engines). If the vessel is over 12m in length a full stability test must be undertaken and full plans produced by a Spanish Naval Architect. The cost for this varies between 400,000 and 500,000 ptas depending on what plans and details you are able to provide at the outset. This is then followed by the same hull and safety equipment inspection as above. The Seaworthiness Certificate is valid for five years with a mid-term hull inspection required.

3.Charter Licence

Once you have completed stages 1 and 2 you can then apply for the Charter Licence itself. The Charter Licence is usually valid for the same period as the seaworthiness certificate and so in subsequent years you will frequently only need to renew the Govern Balear permit.

Throughout all three stages of the Charter Licence, The Network Group can help you obtain the papers and permits you need to charter successfully in the Balearics. For further information telephone Patricia Bullock or Stephanie Mason on 971 403903 or 971 403703.

The information contained in this document is correct to the best of our knowledgehowever Network S.L. undertake no legal responsibility for same.

VAT - Bonding - Support - Permits - Registering - Charter Licenses