NRUA Spain: The Complete Guide to Spain's Short-Term Rental Registration Number (2026)

If you rent out a property in Spain - or plan to - there is a mandatory registration requirement you cannot afford to ignore. Since July 1st 2025, every short-term rental property in Spain must display a Rental Registration Number (NRA) on all online listing platforms. Without it, your online listing will be removed. And based on the latest government data, one in five applications is currently being rejected.

This guide explains exactly what the NRA is, why it matters, what the latest compliance data shows, and the simplest ways to obtain yours.

What Is the NRA - Spain's Rental Registration Number?

The NRA (Número de Registro de Alquiler) - also referred to as NRUA - is a unique identifier that every property used for short-term rental in Spain must obtain and display on all booking platforms. It was introduced under Royal Decree 1312/2024, which came into force on 1 January 2025, with mandatory compliance from 1 July 2025.

The NRA is issued by Spain's national Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad) through the Registro Único de Alquileres. It applies to all types of tourist rental accommodation: entire properties, individual rooms, and even boats used for paid overnight stays.

Once obtained, this number must be displayed visibly on every online platform where the property is listed - Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Holidu or any other holiday rental website involved in the booking, payment and management of stays. 

Is the NRA the Same as a Tourist Licence?

No - and this is one of the most common points of confusion. They are two separate, complementary obligations.

The tourist licence and the NRA (Rental Registration Number) serve different but complementary purposes.

The tourist licence is an authorisation granted by the regional government that allows you to use a property for holiday rentals. In other words, with this licence you can legally operate the property as tourist accommodation, host short-stay guests and comply with regional requirements (registration, property conditions, local regulations, etc.). However, this licence alone is not sufficient to advertise the property on platforms such as Airbnb, Booking or Vrbo. 

To be able to list it on these sites, you also need the NRA, which is a mandatory national registration number. This number identifies the property within a single system and allows the authorities to monitor all short-term rentals, ensuring their traceability and regulatory compliance.

In summary: the tourist licence authorises you to operate legally as a holiday rental, whilst the NRA is the mandatory requirement for advertising that property on online platforms and for the listings to be accepted. Without an NRA, even if you have a tourist licence, you will not be able to list the property correctly on these platforms.

The 2026 Compliance Picture: Why Getting It Right Matters

New data from the Registro Único de Alquileres makes the scale of the enforcement challenge clear - and emphasises why the application process needs to be handled correctly.

Between January 2025 and March 2026, over 100,000 short-term rental listings were removed from platforms across Spain following unsuccessful NRA applications.

An additional, approximately 8,000 applications provisionally approved in the first quarter of 2026 are still under review, which means there is a risk that they may ultimately be rejected and that the initial rental registration numbers granted may subsequently be revoked.

The rejection rate has been consistent: roughly one in five applications does not succeed, most commonly due to errors in the application itself or properties that do not meet the legal requirements for rental activity - particularly where community statutes prohibit short-term lets.

Where Rejections Are Concentrated

The same four autonomous communities dominate rejection figures in both periods:

Together, these four regions account for approximately 75% of all rejections nationally - and they are also home to the vast majority of British and Northern European-owned holiday properties in Spain. If your property is in one of these areas, the message is clear: enforcement is active, the registration requirement is being applied rigorously, and non-compliance carries a growing risk of listing removal.

What Happens If You Don't Have a Valid NRA?

The consequences are immediate and practical:

• Listing removal: From August 2025, platforms such as Airbnb and Booking submit monthly reports to the Ministry of Housing including national and regional registration numbers. As agreed, any listings that do not comply with registration requirements will be removed within 48 hours.
• No new bookings: Properties without a confirmed NRA cannot receive new reservations on any digital platform, including Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo.
• Regional fines: Operating a short-term rental without the required registration exposes owners to financial penalties, the severity of which varies by autonomous community.
• Revocation risk: Provisional NRAs can be revoked if supporting documentation is found to be incomplete or inaccurate during final review.

How to Obtain Your NRA

Before you apply, you should be aware that each property requires its own NRA and that the Land Registry charges a fee of €32.73 per application, per year.

In addition, you must submit an annual information return detailing all rental stays formalised during the year in which the NRA is obtained, which also incurs a fee of €32.73. This return is necessary to keep the NRA active each year.

Online via the Colegio de Registradores Portal

The procedure must be carried out within the Land Registry’s own portal; in addition to a digital certificate, you must be registered with the Registrars’ Portal itself.

In Person at the Registro de la Propiedad

By submitting all the documentation directly to the registry corresponding to the property’s location, including the completed official form, the tourist licence (if applying for a tourist NRA), the deed of sale or Nota Simple for the property, and proof of identity.

Online with IberianTax - No Digital Certificate Required

IberianTax manages the complete NRA application on your behalf, directly with the Property Registry - fully online, in English, and without requiring you to be in Spain or hold a Spanish digital certificate. You simply need to send us the necessary documentation and we will take care of the entire procedure, entirely online.

Our service includes:

• Document review and preparation to minimise rejection risk
• Direct submission to the relevant Registro de la Propiedad
• Regular updates on the status of your NRA application at all times via your IberianTax account, plus automatic email updates at every stage of the process
• Expert follow-up until the process is complete

You can expect to receive your provisional NRA within 7 business days, and your final NRA within 1 to 2 months, depending on the Land Registry.

We offer a one-time payment of €249.95 (VAT included), covering all official fees - no hidden costs. This service is valid throughout Spain and is designed specifically for non-resident property owners, making compliance easy without the need to be physically in the country.

Over 500 rental property owners have already trusted us to obtain their NRA. Join them and secure the legality of your holiday rental.

For more information or to start your application, visit our dedicated page on the Rental Registration Number (NRA) in Spain.

Frequently Asked Questions: NRA Spain

What is the NRA in Spain?

The NRA (Número de Registro de Alquiler) is a mandatory national registration number that all short-term rental properties in Spain must obtain and display on online rental listing platforms. It was introduced under Royal Decree 1312/2024 and became compulsory from 1 July 2025.

Do I need an NRA if I already have a tourist licence?

Yes. The NRA is a separate national requirement issued by the Land Registry and must be obtained in addition to any regional tourist licence. Both numbers must appear on your listing.

What if I don’t have the CRU/IDUFIR code?

If you don't have the CRU/IDUFIR code, we would need to request a Simple Note from the Land Registry, as this code is a 14-digit numeric code that identifies your property in the Land Registry and is mandatory to include in the NRA application. This service has for a small additional fee. 

How long does it take to get an NRA in Spain?

A provisional NRA is typically issued within 7 business days of a complete application being submitted. The final, definitive NRA is confirmed within 1 to 2 months, depending on the workload of the relevant Land Registry.

What if my NRA application is rejected?

Rejection is most commonly caused by errors in the application or community statutes that prohibit short-term rentals. In many cases, corrections can be made and the application resubmitted. IberianTax includes document review to minimise this risk before submission.

What is the annual NRA report?

Under Orden VAU/1560/2025, all NRA holders must file an annual activity report every February covering the previous year's rental activity - even if the property had no guests. Failure to file results in NRA revocation.

Can I apply for an NRA without a Spanish digital certificate?

Yes. IberianTax can process the application entirely on your behalf without you needing a digital certificate or being physically present in Spain.

 

For more information or to start your application, visit our dedicated page on the Rental Registration Number (NRA) in Spain.