Boating licences in Spain: titulín vs PER (2026 rules)

Titulín or PER? It depends on the boat you want to skipper and how far you want to go. The titulín (Licencia de Navegación) lets you skipper boats of up to 6 metres, in daylight and within 2 miles of the coast. The PER lets you take boats of up to 15 metres up to 12 miles offshore, at night as well.

On top of that, a key rule changed on 1 October 2026: you can no longer hire a motorboat without a licence. This guide explains it all.

Quick summary: what each licence allows

Licence	Maximum length	Distance from the coast	Hours	Jet skis
No licence	Motor up to 5 m and 15 hp (private use) · Sail up to 6 m (sporting use)	2 miles	Daylight only	No
Licencia de Navegación (titulín)	6 m	2 miles from port, marina or shelter	Daylight only	Yes
PNB (Patrón para Navegación Básica)	8 m	5 miles from a port, marina or shelter	Day and night	Yes
PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo)	15 m (up to 24 m with extra practical training)	12 miles from the coast, and between islands	Day and night	Yes
Patrón de Yate	24 m	150 miles	Day and night	Yes
Capitán de Yate	24 m	No limit	Day and night	Yes

Source: Royal Decree 875/2014, as currently in force.

What is the titulín (Licencia de Navegación)?

“Titulín” is the popular name for the Licencia de Navegación. It is the quickest way to start skippering a boat in Spain.

• What you can skipper: boats of up to 6 metres, with the engine power the manufacturer allows, and jet skis.
• Limits: daylight only, and no more than 2 miles from the port, marina or shelter.
• How to get it: a short theory and practical course at a nautical school or federation. There is no official exam.
• Age: 18, or from 16 with written consent from parents or guardians.
• Medical requirement: a fitness report.

Who it is for: anyone who wants to hire a motorboat or a jet ski on holiday, or spend the day close to the coast.

What is the PER?

The PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) is the most popular licence for people who want to sail seriously, on their own boat or a hired one.

• What you can skipper: motorboats and sailing boats of up to 15 metres.
• How far: up to 12 miles from the coast, and between the Balearic and Canary Islands.
• Extension: with extra practical training you can skipper boats of up to 24 metres and cross from the mainland to the Balearics.
• At night: yes, unlike the titulín.
• How to get it: an official theory exam plus compulsory navigation and radio practicals.

Who it is for: anyone who wants to make passages, charter yachts or catamarans on holiday, or own a mid-sized boat.

And the PNB: when is it worth it?

The PNB sits in between: boats of up to 8 metres and up to 5 miles from the coast. It has an exam, but an easier one than the PER.

In practice: many people go straight to the PER, because the effort is similar and it allows far more. The PNB makes sense if you will only ever sail in one area with a small boat.

Titulín vs PER in 4 points

1. Boat size: 6 metres with the titulín, 15 metres with the PER.
2. Distance: 2 miles versus 12 miles.
3. Hours: the titulín is daylight only; the PER allows night sailing.
4. Effort: the titulín is a one-day course with no exam; the PER means studying, passing an official exam and doing practicals.

New rules: what changed on 1 October 2026

Royal Decree 1188/2025, published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) on 30 December 2025, amended article 10 of Royal Decree 875/2014. These are the main changes:

• No more hiring motorboats without a licence. You used to be able to hire a boat of up to 5 metres and 15 hp with no licence at all. Now, to hire you need at least the Licencia de Navegación.
• No licence needed only for private or sporting use: motorboats of up to 5 m and 15 hp for private use, sailing boats of up to 6 m for sporting use, and beach or floating craft.
• Limits for going out without a licence: daylight only, no more than 2 miles from the port, marina or beach you left from, and you must be 18 or over.
• Jet skis: still require a licence or qualification.
• Official competitions: no licence or minimum age required, to make it easier to train young racers.

What it means for you: if you plan to hire a motorboat next summer, get your titulín first. It is quick and opens the door to most coastal boat hire.

Myths about the PER worth clearing up

• “With the PER I can skipper any boat.” No. The limit is 15 metres (24 with extra training) and 12 miles from the coast.
• “The titulín no longer exists.” It does, under its official name: Licencia de Navegación.
• “I always need a licence to sail.” No. Sailing boats of up to 6 metres for sporting use, such as dinghies, need no licence within the distance and daylight limits.
• “If I have the PER, I know how to sail.” A licence gives you permission, not experience. Hours on the water are what make a good skipper.

Want to start sailing without a licence?

You do not need any licence to learn dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking or paddle boarding. It is also the best foundation for a future PER: anyone who learns in a dinghy understands the wind, manoeuvres and safety from day one.

At Grímpola, in Puerto de Mazarrón, we have been teaching dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddle boarding since 1998, with qualified instructors and a safety boat on the water all day.

• Dinghy sailing courses
• Taster sessions: try one session
• Book your activity

Frequently asked questions

Can I ride a jet ski with the titulín? Yes. The Licencia de Navegación covers jet skis, in daylight and within 2 miles.

Do I need a licence to hire a motorboat in 2026? Yes. Since 1 October 2026, to hire a recreational motorboat you need at least the Licencia de Navegación.

How old do you have to be to get the titulín? 18, or from 16 with written consent from parents or guardians.

Is there an exam for the titulín? No. It is issued after a theory and practical training course at a nautical school or federation.

Do I need a licence for kayaking or paddle boarding? No. Kayaks and paddle boards need no licence, although safety rules and marked swimming zones must be respected.

You might also like: Sea kayaking to Paco Island and the Phoenician wrecks · Introduction to dinghy sailing

Article updated on 17 October 2026 in line with Royal Decree 875/2014 as amended by Royal Decree 1188/2025. Always check the current rules in the BOE.