ETV Tourist Rental Licences in Mallorca: Complete Guide 2026

What Is an ETV Licence?

ETV stands for Estancia Turística en Vivienda — a tourist stay in a private dwelling. It is the Balearic Islands-specific tourist rental licence that authorises a residential property to be let to tourists for short stays (under one month).

ETVs are governed by the Balearic Tourism Act (Llei de Turisme de les Illes Balears, Law 8/2012) and its subsequent amendments, primarily Law 6/2017 and the 2022 modifications. The Consell de Mallorca and the Govern Balear share regulatory responsibility.

Without an ETV, advertising a private property for tourist stays on Airbnb, Booking.com, or any other platform is illegal under Balearic law.

The Moratorium: Why New Licences Are Essentially Impossible

In 2018 the Balearic government imposed a moratorium on new ETV licences in what are called Zonas de Excepción — which covers the vast majority of built-up and tourist-facing areas in Mallorca. The moratorium has been extended and, in practice, has become permanent policy in most zones.

As of 2026, new ETV licences are available only:

• In detached single-family homes (unifamiliares aisladas) in certain rural or urbanisation zones explicitly outside the moratorium areas
• In a small number of remaining plazas turísticas (tourist bed allocations) that may be purchased or transferred from other properties — but this supply is extremely limited

In practice: if you are buying an apartment, townhouse, or property in any of the main tourist municipalities of Mallorca (Palma, Calvià, Pollença, Alcúdia, and most others), there is effectively no route to obtaining a new ETV licence.

Existing Licences: What You Need to Know

If a property already holds an ETV licence, that licence is attached to the property — but its transferability on sale depends on when and how it was granted:

• Licences granted before the 2017 law: generally transferable with the property, but the new owner must apply within three months of purchase to have the licence registered in their name
• Licences granted after 2017: may be subject to specific conditions on transfer; some are tied to the original owner and not automatically transferable
• Licences for apartments in a building: the entire building must have the required percentage of owners' consent for tourist rentals — check the community statutes carefully

Fines for Illegal Tourist Rentals

The Balearic Islands applies some of the strictest enforcement in Spain against illegal tourist rentals. Fines are classified as:

Enforcement comes from both the regional tourism inspectorate and municipal police. Platforms including Airbnb are required to share listing data with Spanish authorities. Properties discovered operating without a licence may also be ordered to cease immediately.

Fines are not merely theoretical — the Balearic government has substantially increased enforcement activity since 2022 and publishes statistics on sanctions issued.

What You CAN Legally Do Without an ETV Licence

Not all rental income requires an ETV. The moratorium applies specifically to tourist short-stay rentals. The following are permitted without an ETV:

• Long-term residential rentals under the Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos (LAU) — contracts of five or seven years (for individuals and companies respectively) are entirely separate from tourist rental rules
• Medium-term rentals (one month to eleven months) — these fall outside the tourist rental framework provided they are structured as residential lets, not tourist accommodation. This is a popular route for non-resident owners who want seasonal income but cannot obtain an ETV
• Renting to students or workers under seasonal employment contracts

The critical distinction is between alojamiento turístico (tourist accommodation, regulated by the Tourism Act) and arrendamiento de vivienda (housing rental, regulated by the LAU). The former requires an ETV; the latter does not.

The ETV Application Process (Where Still Available)

For those in the rare circumstances where a new ETV application remains possible:

1. Confirm eligibility with the Consell de Mallorca's tourism department
2. Obtain a valid cédula de habitabilidad and energy performance certificate
3. Ensure the property meets minimum standards (floor area per bed, fire safety, etc.) under the 2017 regulations
4. Obtain community owners' consent if the property is in a building with shared elements
5. Submit the application via the Seu Electrònica with all required documentation
6. Pay the applicable registration fee

Processing times, when applications are accepted, typically run to several months.