Registering a tourist accommodation in the Canary Islands involves complying with strict regulations that combine urban planning, tax, and registration requirements, mainly regulated by the Ley 6/2025 de Ordenación Sostenible del Uso Turístico de Viviendas and Decreto 113/2015. This process aims to balance tourism with access to residential housing, limiting tourist use to 10% of the real estate stock in most municipalities (20% on green islands like El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Palma). Registration in the General Tourist Registry (RGT) is mandatory and begins with a responsible declaration.
Key regulations
The main regulation is Law 6/2025, of December 10 (BOC 246/2025), which classifies tourist use as an economic activity conditioned on municipal urban planning and prohibits its implementation in protected or VPO areas. Supplementarily, Decree 113/2015 for vacation homes and the Tourism Accommodation Activity Regulation (Decree 142/2010) apply.
- A minimum of 10 years of ownership of the property is required for new tourist uses.
- The town councils set limits by area and conduct inspections within 6 months.
- It prohibits “pseudo-hotels” (buildings entirely for tourism).
From 2025, the State Single Registry of Tourist Rentals is integrated.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
- Proof of ownership (deeds or exploitation contract).
- Registration for IGIC (model 400, heading 1685: non-hotel accommodations).
- Energy efficiency certificate (valid for 10 years).
- Liability insurance.
- House plans and activity report.
- Absence of prohibition in the statutes of the community of owners (Law 49/1960).
Uses on protected land or without municipal authorization compatible with planning are not allowed.
Step-by-step procedures
- Check urban compatibility: Consult city council and island council for tourist place limits (10-20%) and land.
- Gather documentation: Includes holder identification (DNI/CIF), urban planning/occupation certificate (art. 166-bis LOTC), community approval if exterior sign, and IAE/IGIC registration.
- Submit responsible declaration: Online at the electronic headquarters of the Government of the Canary Islands or island council (e.g. Gran Canaria, Tenerife differ in details). Obtain a provisional number to operate.
- Register in RGT: Automatic after declaration; displays plate with number at entrance (unless prohibited).
- Fulfill ongoing obligations: Claim forms, emergency contact (8am-8pm), advertising with registration number, sending traveler reports via SES Hospedajes.
Fulfill ongoing obligations: Claim forms, emergency contact (8am-8pm), advertising with registration number, sending traveler reports via SES Hospedajes.
Operational obligations and sanctions
You must have a contract in Spanish/English, complete equipment, and respect maximum capacity. Truthful advertising with RGT number; includes tools like registroparteviajeros.com for traveler reports (SES Hospedajes).
Serious infractions: (fines €3,001-300,000): Missing plaque, illegal advertising, over-occupation. Very serious: Operating without registration (>300,000€). Mandatory municipal inspections.
Once registered, automate compliance with lodging regulations by electronically sending traveler reports to SES Hospedajes, avoiding fines from the Civil Guard. Our Registro Parte Viajeros platform allows you to fully automate the submission of guest data, also reducing errors and guaranteeing timely submission. Additionally, our notification service will alert you if your guests have not filled out the reports on time, enabling you to request them and condition their stay on completing the legally required data.
Registro Parte Viajeros works from the Canary Islands and we know the applicable legislation and any other circumstance that may affect your business, try our application for free for 7 days and benefit from simple and effective management.
