Is My Airbnb Legal in Spain?
Before you pay a deposit, check that the advert shows a tourist registration number and that the number matches the property you are booking.
Enter the regional tourism registration shown on the accommodation listing, exactly as it appears. If you enter a recognised national ESFCTU identifier, we’ll explain what type of number it is. Different registration types have different levels of public-data availability, so a “not found” result does not necessarily mean the accommodation is unregistered.
Four checks before you pay
- Find the registration code in the Airbnb, Booking.com or agency listing.
- Copy it exactly as written — do not correct letters or separators.
- Search it here if the property is in Málaga province, or in the relevant regional tourism register elsewhere in Spain.
- Compare the municipality, category and guest places against what the advert promises.
What a registration number looks like by region
- Andalucía (incl. Costa del Sol) — VUT/MA/00000 — older adverts may show VFT
- Catalonia — HUTB-000000 / HUT-000000
- Valencian Community — VT-00000-A
- Madrid — VT-0000.00000
- Balearic Islands — ETV/0000
- Canary Islands — VV-00000
Warning signs
- No registration code anywhere in the listing.
- The host will not confirm the code in writing before payment.
- The code belongs to a different municipality or accommodation category.
- The registered guest capacity is lower than your booking.
- You are asked to pay off-platform to "avoid fees".
About the ESFCTU single identifier
Some listings show an ESFCTU-style identifier. Following the Supreme Court's 2026 annulment of Royal Decree 1312/2024, this code should not be treated as mandatory or as proof of authorisation. The practical reference remains the regional tourism register and municipal rules.
Next steps
Read how to check a licence step by step, find out what a VUT number means, or browse Costa del Sol coverage by municipality.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a Spanish holiday rental have to show a licence number?
- Yes. Regional tourism rules require the accommodation's registration code to appear in the advert. In Andalucía this comes from Decreto 28/2016, and other regions have equivalent obligations.
- What does a valid Spanish rental registration number look like?
- It depends on the region: VUT/MA/00000 in Andalucía (older adverts may show VFT), HUTB-000000 in Barcelona, VT-00000-A in Valencia, ETV/0000 in the Balearics and VV-00000 in the Canaries.
- What should I do if the advert has no registration number?
- Ask the host in writing for the code before paying anything. A refusal is a warning sign: unregistered accommodation can be cancelled at short notice or inspected, and you may have little protection if you paid outside the platform.
- Does a registration number mean the rental is fully legal?
- No. Registration is an indicator, not a complete authorisation. The property must also comply with municipal planning rules and its community-of-owners rules, and the registration must still be current.
- Is an ESFCTU code proof that a rental is authorised?
- No. The ESFCTU identifier came from Royal Decree 1312/2024, which the Supreme Court annulled in 2026. It should not be presented as mandatory or as proof of authorisation — the regional tourism register and municipal rules remain the reference.
- Which areas can I check here?
- Our searchable database currently covers Málaga province and the Costa del Sol using public data published by the Junta de Andalucía. For other regions we explain the code format and where to check officially.
Spain Rental Licence Check is an independent information service and is not an official government website. See our data sources.