Shore Fishing Licence (Saltwater)

You’ll need a shore fishing licence to fish in Spain. All regional governments of the autonomous regions of Spain can issue licences. If you already have a licence for fishing in the sea issued by any of them, you can fish in the rest of the country. For example, if you have an Andalucia sea fishing licence, you can fish around the shoreline of Barcelona or Valencia. Licences from outside the country aren’t valid. Please click here to read more about the reciprocal agreements between the different Spanish regions.

Shore Fishing Licence: Which One to Order?

Okay, so you’ve decided to order online and want to know which licence is best for you. Here are our suggestions:

0-13 years old: Don’t hesitate to contact us and tell us what area of Spain you will be fishing in. Many will let the adults share rods with their children. The Canary Islands government doesn’t allow this, so please choose this licence if you want to fish there.

14-17 years old: Choose our teenager’s licence. All the other ones require unreasonable paperwork to prove you’re the parent, etc.

18-64 years old: You can choose the licence issued by the Canary Islands, Cantabria, or Balearic Islands governments.

65 years and over: Please go for our 24.99 euro deal. Click here to read more

Canary Islands vs. Balearic Islands Fishing Licences: Similarities

Both licences are almost identical, even though different governments have issued them. Both:

• Allow nationwide shore fishing
• It will allow you to fish for 3 years from the issue date
• Are printed on normal A4 paper and can be easily sent by e-mail

Differences between the Licences issued by the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and Cantabria governments

Documents

You don’t need to send documents if you apply for the Balearic Islands or Cantabria fishing licence.  You only need to supply basic details (Name, nationality, passport or national ID card number, and date of birth). It takes a couple of days to process.

The Canary Islands’ shore fishing licence requires manual verification by the fishing authorities. We require a copy of your national ID card or passport, which must be submitted after placing your order.

Size

The Balearic Islands and Cantabria fishing licences are printed on an A4 sheet of paper.

The Canary Islands government prints its fishing licence on regular paper. After you print it, you can cut it out. It easily fits in your wallet. It’s about the size of a business card.

Speed

The Cantabria fishing licence is issued on the same day or the next day, depending on when you order. The Balearic Islands’ fishing licence can take a day or two to process.

The Canary Islands fishing licence takes about three working days to process (updated March 2025) because of the summer rush at the fishing office. Please choose the Cantabria fishing licence if you’re in a hurry.

Still don’t know which one to choose? Here’s a summary of each one: