Fishing, hunting, mushroom picking and boating licences

Terms used

• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners, used for paperwork and registrations.
• Licencia de caza — The licencia de caza is the regional hunting licence, usually issued after passing the hunter's exam.
• Coto — A coto is a private or managed hunting preserve where you may need a permit or membership.
• Capitanía Marítima — The Capitanía Marítima is the local maritime authority that handles boating titles and recognition of foreign qualifications.

Key rules

• Regional rules: Fishing, hunting and mushroom rules change by region, so check where you will actually go.
• Hunting with a gun: A hunting licence is not enough: you also need a Guardia Civil weapons licence, type D or E, and liability insurance.
• Boating titles: The title you need depends on your boat's length and how far from the coast you sail.
• Private land: Get the owner's consent before picking mushrooms on private land.
• Foreign residents: Nationality does not block you, but most regions expect residents to pass the Spanish exam.

Who decides what

Fishing, hunting and mushroom picking are set by each region, so the licence, the fee and the test depend on where you do it. Boating is different: national qualification rules apply across Spain. Nationality does not block you. Foreign residents can get all of these licences on the same basis as Spaniards.

To register for any of them, bring your passport or ID and, if you are a resident, your NIE. The documents list below has the full set.

Fishing

Freshwater fishing needs a licence from the region where you fish. It is valid only in that region unless the region has an agreement with another. Licences come for a few days, a year or several years. Fees vary, and some regions ask you to pass a short test or course on fishing rules.

Sea fishing from shore, a boat or underwater is also regulated. Many coastal regions, such as Andalucía, Cataluña, Valencia, Galicia, Baleares and Canarias, require a sea-fishing licence. It is free or cheap in some, and a few regions do not require one. Ask your region's fisheries or environment department before you start.

Everywhere, species, minimum sizes, quotas and protected areas apply. You may not sell what you catch.

Hunting

You need a regional hunting licence (licencia de caza). In most regions you get it after passing the hunter's exam on law, species, safety and ethics. Some regions also require a course. You must hold mandatory hunting liability insurance, and some regions also ask for accident insurance. Many regions also require a permit for the hunting ground or membership of a coto. Licences must be renewed periodically.

To hunt with a gun, you also need a weapons licence from the Guardia Civil:

• Type D is for rifled long guns, used for big game.
• Type E is for shotguns.

You must pass medical and psychological tests, have a clean record and pass a weapons-handling test. The gun must be registered.

If you are a foreigner, some regions accept a valid home-country hunting licence plus insurance, or issue a temporary licence. Most require the regional exam. Visiting hunters bringing a weapon use a European Firearms Pass. If you live in Spain, plan on the regional exam.

Mushroom picking

Picking is allowed in many forests, but rules are regional and sometimes local. Regions with rules include Cataluña, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and the Basque Country. Some require a permit or paid licence in regulated areas. Daily limits apply, often 2 to 3 kg per person per day in Cataluña. Tools such as rakes are often banned. Picking to sell generally needs a permit.

On private land you need the owner's consent. Protected natural areas can ban picking entirely. Fines run from hundreds to thousands of euros. Check with the regional forestry authority or your town hall before you go.

Boating

To skipper a recreational boat you need a title from the maritime authority (Capitanía Marítima). Exams are theory and practice, run by the regional nautical authority, and you need a medical certificate. The title depends on boat length and distance from the coast:

• Licencia de Navegación: small craft up to 6 m, about 5 nautical miles from a safe haven, limited engine power.
• Patrón de Navegación Básica (PNB): up to 8 m, up to 5 miles from the coast.
• Patrón para Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER): up to 15 m, up to 12 miles.
• Patrón de Yate: up to 24 m, up to 60 miles.
• Capitán de Yate: no limit.

Jet skis need a specific title or at least the PNB. Boats under 5 m with an engine of 11.9 kW or less, and sailboats under 5 m, may not need a title. Confirm this before you go out.

Foreign boating qualifications

Spain recognises EU/EEA qualifications and many ICC holders for chartering and navigation. Other foreign titles may be converted or validated through the maritime authority, depending on the country and title. If you live in Spain long term, expect to get a Spanish title. Ask the Capitanía Marítima what applies to yours.

What to do first

1. Pick the activity and the region where you will do it.
2. Ask that region's environment or forestry department, or the Capitanía Marítima for boating, what you need.
3. Gather your documents and book any exam.

The checklist below walks through these steps, and the FAQ answers common questions.

Documents you need

• Valid ID or passport, and your NIE if you are a resident, to register for any licence.

• Medical certificate for the boating exam, to sit the theory and practice exams run by the regional nautical authority.

• Your home-country hunting licence plus insurance, if the region accepts foreign hunters without an exam.

• European Firearms Pass if you are a visiting hunter bringing a weapon.

• EU/EEA boating qualification or ICC certificate, if you want it recognised or converted by the Spanish maritime authority.

Checklist

• Ask your region's environment department which fishing licence you need and whether a test is required.

• Check whether your coastal region requires a sea-fishing licence before fishing from shore or a boat.

• Book the hunter exam with your region and take out the mandatory hunting liability insurance.

• Apply to the Guardia Civil for a type D or type E weapons licence if you will hunt with a firearm.

• Pick the boating title that matches your boat's length and how far from the coast you will sail.

• Ask the Capitanía Marítima whether your foreign boating qualification can be recognised or converted.

• Check the regional forestry authority or local council for mushroom permits, daily limits and banned tools before you pick.

• Get the owner's consent before picking mushrooms on private land.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a title to skipper a small boat or jet ski?

Yes, you need a title for a jet ski, at least the Patrón de Navegación Básica, and for most boats too. Boats under 5 m with an engine of 11.9 kW or less, and sailboats under 5 m, may not need one. Check the rules with the Capitanía Marítima before you rely on that.

Can I hunt in Spain with my home-country licence?

Only in some regions, which may accept a valid foreign licence plus insurance or issue a temporary licence. Most regions make you pass their own hunter exam. For a firearm, visitors use a European Firearms Pass, and residents need a Guardia Civil weapons licence.

Is my foreign boating qualification valid in Spain?

Often yes, if it is an EU/EEA qualification or an ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft).

How much mushroom can I pick per day?

In Cataluña the limit is often 2 to 3 kg per person per day. Other regions set their own limits, and some ban rakes or require a permit.