Boating licences: what you need to hire a boat in Formentera

Updated: November 2026. Got an RYA certificate, an ICC or another boating licence from your country? Choose your country and licence in the selector below to see straight away which boats from our fleet in la Savina you can hire without a skipper in Formentera, and within what limits. Further down you’ll find our guide to boats up to 6 m and over 6 m and, for reference, the Spanish licences.

Which boat can I skipper with my licence?

Choose the country that issued your licence and then your licence: you’ll see the maximum length, the navigation area, whether you can go out at night and which boats from our fleet you can skipper.

UK, Irish and other common licences

What each licence allows in Spain and which of our boats it covers. Licences from countries outside the EEA that are not listed in Annex IX of Royal Decree 875/2014, such as the United States, are not recognised in Spain.

Boats up to 6 m — Licencia de Navegación

These four boats have a hull length under 6 m: you can skipper them with any recognised licence that covers their length and navigation area (check yours in the selector above) or with the Spanish Licencia de Navegación.

The Quicksilver Activ 605 Sundeck and the Karnic SL602 are over 6 m overall, but what counts is the hull length in the declaration of conformity (art. 3.6, Royal Decree 875/2014).

With the Licencia de Navegación you may only go out in daylight and up to 2 nautical miles from a harbour, marina or shelter. With the PNB or higher, the limits are those of your licence.

Boats over 6 m — PNB, PER or with a skipper

For these boats you need at least the PNB (up to 8 m) or the PER (up to 15 m), or an equivalent foreign licence. If you don’t have one, you can hire them with a skipper.

With the PNB you can go out day and night up to 5 nautical miles from a harbour, marina or shelter; with the PER, up to 12 nautical miles from the coast and between the Balearic Islands.

With a foreign licence, use the selector above or check the equivalence table below: the boat must be within the length and area your licence allows.

Spanish recreational boating licences

For reference, these are the Spanish recreational licences and what they allow.

Motorboat entitlements under articles 8 and 11 of Royal Decree 875/2014. To skipper a sailing boat with the PNB or higher, sailing practice is also required.

The essentials

• Since 1 October 2026 you need at least the Licencia de Navegación (Spain’s basic navigation licence) to skipper a hire boat. The licence exemption (motorboats up to 5 m and 15 hp, within 2 miles and in daylight) now applies only to private use (Royal Decree 1188/2025).
• For CE-marked boats, the length that counts is the hull length in the declaration of conformity (art. 3.6, Royal Decree 875/2014), not the overall length including removable parts.
• Foreign licences are valid within their own limits, provided they were issued by your country of nationality or residence and that country is in the EEA or listed in Annex IX of Royal Decree 875/2014.
• Bring your original licence and your ID card or passport on the day.

Foreign licences: when they are valid in Spain

• The licence or certificate must be valid and issued by your country of nationality or residence.
• That country must belong to the European Economic Area (EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or be listed in Annex IX of Royal Decree 875/2014: the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Andorra, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela and Canada.
• You may only skipper the boats your licence allows in your own country: same length, same distance from the coast and same type (motor or sail).
• If your country does not require a licence for small boats, that does not entitle you to skipper in Spain: you will need the Licencia de Navegación or a skipper.
• The ICC (International Certificate of Competence, UNECE Resolution No. 40) is valid for the categories shown on it (motor or sail, inland or coastal waters, length).

Equivalence table for foreign licences

No licence?

You can hire a boat with a skipper (subject to availability) or get the Licencia de Navegación: nautical schools and federations issue it after a short theory and practical course, and it lets you skipper our boats up to 6 m.

Guidance only; Isla Azul makes the final decision after checking your original licence.

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