Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo

Boating licences in Spain

Spain has 5 licences for recreational boats: Licencia de navegación, Patrón para Navegación Básica (PNB), Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER), Patrón de Yate, and Capitán de Yate. The first three can be taken directly; Patrón de Yate requires the PER and Capitán de Yate requires Patrón de Yate.

Licence	Motor boats	Theory exam	Practice	Radio
Licencia de navegación	Up to 6 m, up to 2 miles from a port, marina or shelter, in daylight	No official exam: issued by a school or federation	4 h	—
Patrón para Navegación Básica (PNB)	Up to 8 m, up to 5 miles from a port, marina or shelter	27 questions, 45 min, at least 17 correct and subject limits	8 h	4 h
Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER)	Up to 15 m, up to 12 miles from the coast and between the Balearic and between the Canary Islands	45 questions, 90 min, at least 32 correct and subject limits	16 h	12 h
Patrón de Yate	Up to 24 m, up to 150 miles from the coast	40 questions, 120 min, at least 28 correct and subject limits	48 h	12 h
Capitán de Yate	Up to 24 m, no geographical limit	40 questions, 150 min, at least 28 correct and subject limits	48 h	12 h

All of them also cover jet skis. Age: 18; the licencia and the PNB from 16 with parental consent. All require a medical check. The 12 h radio course covers PER, Patrón de Yate and Capitán de Yate; the PNB's 4 h course does not replace it.

The PER

It covers boats up to 15 m up to 12 miles offshore, extendable with practice to sail and to 24 m.

Without a licence

From 1 October 2026, without a licence you may skipper motor boats for private use up to 5 m and 15 hp, or sailing boats for sporting use up to 6 m: in daylight, no more than 2 nautical miles from the departure port, marina or beach, from age 18, excluding jet skis. To skipper a rental boat you need a licencia de navegación or an appropriate licence.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the PNB and the PER?

The PNB covers motor boats up to 8 m within 5 miles of a port; the PER, up to 15 m within 12 miles of the coast and between islands. The PNB exam has 27 questions and the PER exam 45.

Can I get the PER without the PNB?

Yes. The licencia de navegación, the PNB and the PER can be taken directly. Patrón de Yate requires the PER, and Capitán de Yate requires Patrón de Yate.

Does the licencia de navegación have an exam?

There is no official exam: nautical schools and federations issue it after the theory and practical training.

What can I skipper without a licence?

Official sources (in Spanish)

Data checked against the official sources in October 2026.