Spain’s New Single Tourist Rental Registry – What Non-Resident Property Owners Need to Know

If you own a holiday rental property in Spain and rent it out on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Rentalia or Vrbo, you’re going to need to know about these important regulatory changes that are coming. The Single Tourist Rental Registry, which came into effect on January 2, 2025, will become mandatory from July 1, 2025.

This new system aims to regulate short-term and seasonal rentals across Spain, ensuring all tourist accommodation meets the legal requirements. For those non-resident property owners, you’ll need to get to grips with the registration process and comply with the new rules to ensure that your property remains legal.

In this guide, we’ll be explaining who needs to register, how to complete the process, and what happens if you don’t comply.

What Is the Single Tourist Rental Registry?

The Single Tourist Rental Registry is a government initiative designed to regulate Spain’s growing short-term rental market – something that has been a major talking point both in Spain and across Europe.

The goal of the new measures is to:

• Ensure all holiday rental properties comply with legal and safety standards
• Reduce illegal rentals and tax evasion
• Improve transparency and monitoring of the sector
• Protect tourists from unregulated and potentially unsafe properties

By centralising rental data, the Spanish government aims to create a safer, more transparent holiday rental market while ensuring property owners meet tax and regulatory obligations.

If you rent out your property short-term, you will need to register and obtain a unique registration number before advertising your listing online.

Why Is Spain Introducing This Regulation?

The holiday rental market in Spain has grown significantly over the last decade, but this growth has also led to some challenges, including tax avoidance, unfair competition, and unregulated accommodation.

With this new registry, the government seeks to:

• Eliminate illegal rentals that bypass tax and safety regulations
• Ensure a level playing field for all property owners
• Improve rental market oversight to better track supply and demand
• Increase tourist confidence in Spanish holiday rentals

For non-resident landlords, this means stricter oversight but also a more stable and professionalised rental market.  

Who Needs to Register?

If you rent out your Spanish property for short-term stays, you must now register for a Rental Registration Number (Número de Registro de Alquiler, NRA).

This applies to:

• Entire properties rented to tourists
• Individual rooms within a property rented out separately
• Properties listed on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Rentalia

Failure to register means you cannot legally advertise your property, and you may face financial penalties if you’re discovered by the authorities.

What is the Rental Registration Number (NRA)?

The NRA is a unique identifier assigned to rental properties, allowing them to be legally advertised for short-term stays. Without this number, property owners may face fines or restrictions on their rental activities.

How to Apply for an NRA

The process of obtaining an NRA is straightforward and can be completed online through the College of Registrars’ platform. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Identify Yourself on the Online Portal

Visit the College of Registrars’ Electronic Headquarters.
Log in using an electronic certificate for authentication.

2. Access the Online Submission System

Navigate to the Rental Registration Number section.
Select Online Submission to start the application.

3. Complete the NRA Request Form

Enter key details, including property location, cadastral reference, and the number of rental units.
Attach supporting documents, such as proof of registration or authorisation.

4. Submit the Application

Upload all required documents and digitally sign the request.
Submit the form and accept the terms and conditions.
Receive a provisional NRA confirmation via email.

What Happens If You Don’t Register?

Failing to register your property could result in:

• Financial penalties for operating an unregistered rental
• Suspension of rental activity until compliance is met
• Listings removed from platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com

To continue legally renting out your property, you must complete the registration process before July 2025.

How Will This Affect Non-Resident Property Owners?

For non-resident landlords, the new registry means:

• More regulation, but also greater market transparency and credibility
• Higher trust from tourists, leading to increased demand for legally registered rentals
• Increased tax enforcement, ensuring all rental income is declared correctly

If you own a rental property in Spain but live abroad, it’s essential to comply with tax regulations, alongside this new registration.

Staying Compliant with Non-Resident Taxes

Even after you register your property with the authorities, you are still responsible for paying the correct taxes as a non-resident property owner. You will be liable to pay these taxes for the duration of your ownership, so it’s important to be in the know! 

Key taxes during your ownership include:

• IBI Tax: This is a property tax charged by your local town hall and funds your local public services.
• Rental Income Tax: This is the tax you’ll need to pay on the income generated from your property and is declared annually by the 20th of January each year for the previous year.
• Imputed Income Tax: If your property is not rented out all year, you must still pay tax. This is due by the 31st of December each year for the previous year.
• Capital Gains Tax: If you sell your property, you must declare any profit made from the sale within 4 months of the sale date. 

At IberianTax, we specialise in helping non-resident property owners navigate the complexities of Spanish tax obligations. Our simple online platform makes it easy to file your Modelo 210 for the purposes of paying your Rental Income Tax, Imputed Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. By using IberianTax, you’ll be ensuring full compliance with Spanish tax laws, even when you live abroad. 

With prices starting as low as 34,95€, and even without previous Spanish tax knowledge, non-residents can intuitively file their Modelo 210 with us within a few minutes. Our tax team also provide free support if needed, to help guide you along the way. It’s simple, accurate, secure and there’s no need to be in Spain!

To register for your free account and receive tax reminders, click here!