Licences · 8 min · Updated in September 2026
Spanish Boating Licences Explained: PNB, PER, Patrón de Yate and Capitán de Yate
Boating licences can be confusing for anyone outside the industry: acronyms, lengths, miles. Knowing them helps you understand why yachts of a certain size are always sailed by a professional skipper, and what the rules require of anyone who wants to run their own boat. This guide summarises the four recreational licences regulated by Royal Decree 875/2014.
Why they matter (even as a passenger)
Each licence entitles you to command boats up to a maximum length and to sail up to a certain distance from the coast. As a passenger you don't need any, but knowing them explains how recreational boating is organised and why a professional crew is the norm on mid-size and large yachts. If that interests you, we cover it in our guide to renting a boat without a licence.
The four recreational licences
The Basic Navigation Skipper (PNB, Patrón para Navegación Básica) entitles you to command boats up to 8 metres in length, sailing up to 5 miles from a port, marina or sheltered place. Minimum age is 18, or 16 with parental or guardian authorisation.
The Recreational Craft Skipper (PER, Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) allows you to command boats up to 15 metres and sail up to 12 miles from the coast.
The Yacht Skipper (Patrón de Yate) entitles you to command boats up to 24 metres and sail up to 150 nautical miles from the coast.
The Yacht Master (Capitán de Yate) is the highest recreational licence: the same lengths (up to 24 metres) and navigation with no geographical limits.
And above 24 metres
None of the recreational licences entitles you to command pleasure vessels over 24 metres: for those lengths, professional Merchant Navy qualifications are required. It is one of the reasons large yachts are always run by a qualified crew.
Among mid-size and large boats, this also explains why a yacht longer than 15 metres (up to 24) requires a Patrón de Yate or Capitán de Yate to be commanded on a recreational licence. You can browse our fleet to see the lengths available.
Foreign licences
The regulation allows, under certain conditions, citizens of European Economic Area countries to command Spanish-flagged boats with the licence of their country or country of residence. The details depend on each case and on residency requirements, so it is worth checking the specific rules, or asking a professional, before assuming a foreign licence is valid.
Recreational versus professional qualifications
Besides the recreational licences there are professional Merchant Navy qualifications, which are those held by people who work as skippers or captains. Both are governed by different rules. In charter, the skipper's experience and qualifications are a key safety factor, and it is one of the reasons sailing with a professional is preferred.
Which licence you need by boat length
A practical way to see it is by length. For a boat up to 8 metres, the PNB is enough, with navigation limited to 5 miles from a port or sheltered place. Between 8 and 15 metres you need at least the PER, with a limit of 12 miles from the coast. Above 15 metres and up to 24 metres you need the Patrón de Yate or Capitán de Yate. And above 24 metres, recreational licences are no longer sufficient.
Looking at it by length explains why upper-range yachts are almost always run by a professional: the jump in responsibility is large, and so are the training and experience requirements.
Distance from the coast, and why it matters
The mileage limit is not an administrative detail: it reflects the exposure the boat faces. The further from the coast, the greater the autonomy needed, the higher the chance of weather changes and the longer the response time in an emergency. The higher licences include more training in navigation, meteorology and safety because they entitle you to go further.
On a charter day along Mallorca's coast, typical distances are well below those limits, but the skipper's training remains the basis of safe navigation.
Age, requirements and responsibility
The minimum age to obtain any of the licences is 18, except for the PNB, which can be obtained from 16 with parental or guardian authorisation. Whoever commands a vessel is legally responsible for the safety of the people on board and for compliance with the rules, which is why insurers and owners require licences appropriate to the boat's length.
Official source
Royal Decree 875/2014 regulating the qualifications to command recreational craft (BOE). Checked in September 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Which licence do I need to command a 12-metre boat?+
A PER (up to 15 metres and 12 miles from the coast), or a Patrón de Yate or Capitán de Yate. The PNB only goes up to 8 metres.
Is a PER enough for a 16-metre yacht?+
No: the PER goes up to 15 metres. For 16 metres you need a Patrón de Yate or Capitán de Yate, which cover up to 24 metres.
Do I need a licence to enjoy a charter?+
No. As a passenger no licence is required, because a professional skipper handles the navigation.