How to register a yacht in Spain: Lista 6 vs Lista 7 (commercial vs private)

Spanish boats go on Lista 7 for private use or Lista 6 for commercial charter. You register through the Capitanía Marítima.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 3 min read

Key points

Lista 7 is for private recreation. Lista 6 is for recreational boats used for profit, such as charter.
Boats of 2.5 m and over must be registered in the Registro de Buques y Empresas Navieras.
Foreign owners can register with a correspondence address and a representative in Spain.

Two lists

Lista 7. Recreational boats used for sport or leisure with no profit, and for non-professional fishing. This is the list for private owners.
Lista 6. Recreational boats used commercially, for example chartered with a skipper or bareboat. The boat has to meet commercial safety and inspection standards.

A Lista 6 boat can still be used by its owner. The private use can have tax consequences, particularly for the registration tax exemption. See Spanish taxes beyond VAT: registration tax and transfer tax (ITP).

Who registers and where

Spanish law requires boats of 2.5 m and over to be on the Registro de Buques y Empresas Navieras, which the Dirección General de la Marina Mercante runs, with offices at local Capitanías Marítimas in the coastal cities. Barcelona has one. A foreign owner can register, with a correspondence address in Spain and a representative resident there. Spanish registration is not limited to Spanish nationals.

Documents you will be asked for

The exact list comes from the Capitanía, and a gestor or agent sorts it out for you. A typical file includes:

The bill of sale or invoice, and proof of the seller's title.
The deletion certificate from the previous register, if the boat was registered elsewhere. See Transfer of ownership, flag change and de-registration.
Proof that VAT and registration tax have been paid, or an exemption. See Proving and verifying VAT status: which documents count, and checking before you offer and Spanish taxes beyond VAT: registration tax and transfer tax (ITP).
The CE declaration of conformity or an assessment for older and imported boats. See CE marking and the Recreational Craft Directive: design categories A to D.
The owner's ID and tax number.
For a company, its incorporation papers and representative's authority.

The usual order

Settle the taxes.
Prepare the technical papers: CE or conformity, equipment lists, any required inspection.
File the application with the Capitanía.
Receive the registration certificate with the boat's Spanish identification.

We cannot quote a standard timeline, because it depends on the Capitanía's workload and how complete the file is. Ask your agent for a date after reviewing your documents.

Lista 6 or Lista 7?

If you will never charter, choose Lista 7. If you plan to charter, read Chartering your boat to offset costs first. The choice affects insurance, safety equipment and tax.

Also useful at step 3 Spanish taxes beyond VAT: registration tax and transfer tax (ITP)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; check your own case with a professional or ask us.