Tourist registration in Andalusia in 2026: how to process it (and the moratorium in Malaga)

If you have a holiday rental property in Andalusia, the tourist registration It's the first document they'll ask for. Without that number, you can't advertise legally on major platforms or even on your own channel, and by 2026 the process will have changed enough that much of what's circulating online will already be outdated.

Here we explain, step by step and without beating around the bush, how to apply for tourist registration in Andalusia this year, what new requirements have been introduced, what's happening with the moratorium in Malaga, and why that number, once you have it, is useful on any platform and also for Book directly with the owner no fees involved.

What is the tourist registration in Andalusia?

The tourist registry in Andalusia is managed by Andalusia Tourism Registry (RTA)which depends on the Regional Government. When you register a property for tourist purposes, the RTA assigns you a code in the format VFT/XX/00000Where XX It is the key to your province (MA for Malaga, SE for Seville, GR for Granada, and so on with the rest).

That code—what almost everyone simply calls the tourist registration number—is what you have to display in every listing, in all the documentation, and on your website. It's not just for show: platforms are required to verify the tourist registration before listing your property.

In Andalusia the figure is called holiday rental (VFT)Entire homes that are regularly rented out for tourist purposes in exchange for payment. If you rent rooms or provide hotel-type services, you fall into a different category, with its own tourist registration procedures.

Behind this verification lies a European obligation: short-term rental platforms must collect and verify the registration number of each listing. Therefore, having a valid tourist registration is no longer optional; it has become a requirement for even appearing on major portals.

How to apply for tourist registration in Andalusia step by step

Tourist registration in Andalusia is requested through a responsible statementYou declare that you meet the requirements and can begin operating immediately, without waiting for prior authorization. The procedure is Free and it's done online.

From July 1, 2025, the application must be submitted exclusively through the Single Digital Window From the Andalusian Regional Government. You need a digital certificate or Cl@ve to identify yourself and upload the documentation. These are the steps to complete your tourist registration:

1. Check that your home is suitable. It must comply with the municipality's urban planning regulations and have a minimum surface area of ​​25 m² for main use, with at least 14 m² per square.
2. Gather neighborhood consent. From April 2025, if the property is in a community of owners, you need the written agreement that allows tourist use before processing the tourist registration.
3. Enter the Single Digital Window from the Board with your digital certificate or Cl@ve.
4. Submit the declaration of responsibility with the details of the property and the owner.
5. Save your number. The RTA resolves and assigns you the code VFT/XX/00000. That is the tourist registration number that you will take to each platform.

Also have the property's technical requirements on hand—ventilation, climate control depending on the season, first-aid kit, complaint forms, and tourist information for the area—because these are part of what you declare and what an inspection may check. You can find the official details in the page of the Tourism Registry of Andalusia.

These are the key facts you should be aware of before starting the tourist registration:

VFT and other figures: don't confuse your category

Tourist registration in Andalusia isn't a one-size-fits-all process. The "VFT" category is for entire homes regularly rented to tourists, and it's the one most private owners are interested in. But there are other categories with different requirements.

• Tourist accommodation in rural areas, when the dwelling is on non-urban land and meets the conditions of the rural environment.
• Tourist apartmentsdesigned for groups of units managed in a unified way and with common services.
• Hotel-type establishments, if you provide services typical of a hotel.

Choosing the right type of accommodation before starting the tourist registration process saves you from having to repeat the procedure. If you own an entire property that you rent out by the day, then VFT (Vacation Rental Home) is almost certainly the right option.

What documents do you need for tourist registration?

Before you sit down to submit the declaration of responsibility, gather all the documents. Having everything prepared is what ensures your tourist registration goes smoothly the first time and doesn't get held up by a missing document.

• Identification of the holder and, if you are acting on behalf of a company or another person, the power of attorney or authorization that proves it.
• Cadastral and housing data: cadastral reference, full address and number of places you will offer.
• Title that enables you for tourist use: the deed, the contract or the document that proves your right to the property.
• Consent of the homeowners' associationwhere applicable, according to the rules that came into force in 2025.
• Urban planning compliance: that tourist use is permitted by the planning regulations of the municipality where the property is located.

They don't require you to upload every single technical requirement, but you do have to declare that you meet them. If a later inspection finds that this wasn't true, your tourism registration could be revoked and you could face a penalty. That's why it's best to declare only what you actually have in order.

Malaga's moratorium: what changes if your home is in the capital

Málaga is a special case within Andalusia. The City Council has activated a moratorium which freezes the registration of new tourist accommodation throughout the municipality for up to three years, at least until 2028, while it revises its urban planning. In practice, registering a new tourist accommodation property in the city is generally not feasible during that period.

The moratorium didn't come out of nowhere. It was the third step in a progressive policy: first, separate entrances and services were required for new registrations; then, registration of tourist accommodations was prohibited in the most saturated neighborhoods—those exceeding 8% tourist accommodation—which increased from 43 to 53; and finally, a general freeze was implemented.

Two important points to note if your property is in the city of Málaga. One: properties that already had their tourist registration in order before the moratorium can continue operating normally. Two: the moratorium affects the city of Málaga, not the entire province; in other municipalities in Málaga, the process continues as normal, provided that local planning regulations allow it.

If you are in Malaga city and cannot register a new VFT (Vacation Rental Home), the realistic option is to buy or manage a property that already has its tourist registration in force, always checking beforehand that the registration is active and has the correct name.

If you already have your VFT and want to get more out of it, in List your holiday property in Malaga You'll see how to compete with direct booking, and on the page of accommodations in Malaga You can see how other homeowners in the area's properties are displayed.

The tourist registration number is yours, not the platform's.

Here's the point that almost no one tells you: the tourist registration number doesn't belong to Airbnb or any other platform. It's yours, it's associated with your property, and it's valid for any channel where you advertise it, including your own website and direct contact with travelers.

That changes everything. You comply with the law just once, and with that same number, you can work through multiple channels simultaneously. Every booking you close through a direct channel is a booking for which you don't pay a platform commission: the margin that the intermediary previously took goes back into your pocket. We're not talking about lowering prices, but about recovering what you were already giving up.

Relying on a single channel also carries another risk: when a platform's rules change or its fees increase, you have no say. Having your own number gives you the freedom to distribute your bookings and build your own clientele—customers who return and recommend you without an intermediary taking a cut along the way.

With The Home Cake We publish your accommodations with your registration number clearly visible, so travelers can contact and book directly with you. You pay a monthly subscription for visibility, not a percentage per booking.

Do you already have your VFT and are still paying a commission on each booking? Add a direct channel for your accommodations and keep the margin you're currently losing to each intermediary.

List your accommodations without commissions

And does the single state registry still exist?

For months, the single state registry and the Single Rental Registry Number were discussed as if they were mandatory for everyone. The situation in 2026 is different: the Supreme Court, in its ruling 620/2026, annulled the single state registry that had been implemented in 2025.

What does this mean for you in Andalusia? That the number the platforms will actually ask for, and the one you have to show, is the autonomicThat is, your VFT (Vehicle for Travel and Tourism) registration from the Andalusian Tourism Registry. The tourism registry of your autonomous community is the one that matters. We explain this in more detail, community by community, in our guide on the tourist registration number in Spain.

The basis of all this lies in the relevant state regulations, the Royal Decree 1312 / 2024whose single registration mechanism was overturned by the Supreme Court. The obligation to identify your home with a number remains; what changes is where that number comes from.

Common mistakes that delay your tourist registration

Most problems when registering for tourism in Andalusia don't stem from the law itself, but from overlooked details. These are the most common ones:

• Taking neighborhood consent for granted. From 2025 onwards, it's not enough for anyone to complain: you need a written agreement before filing the declaration.
• Ignoring municipal planning. Although the Board keeps the tourist register, it is the City Council that decides whether tourist use is permitted in that area.
• Confusing the regional number with the national number. The one you show in the ads is the Andalusian VFT, not a single state registry that is no longer valid.
• Do not update the data. If you change the number of places, the owner, or cease activity, you must report it so that your tourist registration remains valid.

After registration: your obligations as the account holder

Obtaining the registration number doesn't end the matter; it opens it up. Once registered, the tourist registry entails certain obligations that should be kept in mind from day one:

• Show number in all advertisements and on any channel where you offer the property, including your own website.
• Identify travelers and communicate their data to the authorities, just like any other accommodation.
• Provide guest information: Complaint forms available and clear contact information.
• Maintain the stated conditions. What you declared when applying for tourist registration is what the person making the reservation should find, and, if necessary, an inspection.

Complying with all of this not only prevents unpleasant surprises: it also inspires confidence in travelers who are considering booking directly with you instead of through an intermediary.

How much can it cost to rent without tourist registration?

Renting out a property for tourist purposes without the proper tourist registration is not a gray area: it's an offense. Penalties for tourism-related offenses in Andalusia range from a few hundred euros in minor cases to much higher amounts in serious ones, depending on the conduct and whether the offense is repeated.

There's also a practical problem: without a registration number, platforms will remove or fail to publish your listing because they're required to verify your tourism registration before displaying it. Without this process, you can't even compete. Getting it done correctly from the start is much cheaper than correcting it later.

FAQ

Is tourist registration mandatory in Andalusia?

Yes. Any property regularly rented for tourist purposes must be registered with the Andalusian Tourism Registry. Advertising a property without its registration number exposes the owner to fines, and platforms do not publish listings without tourist registration.

How much does tourist registration cost in Andalusia?

Registration by submitting a declaration of responsibility through the Single Digital Window is free. The only cost you may incur is indirect: adapting your property to the technical requirements or entrusting the process to a third party if you don't want to do it yourself.

How long does it take to get the VFT number?

Since it's a self-declaration, you can operate as soon as you submit it correctly. The RTA then makes a decision and provides you with the final VFT/XX/00000 code. Therefore, it's advisable to submit all the required documentation from the beginning and keep the receipt.

Can I register a tourist property in Malaga with the moratorium?

In the city of Málaga, new registrations are generally not being accepted while the moratorium is in effect. Properties that were already registered as tourist accommodations before the freeze can continue operating. In other municipalities in the province, the registration process remains available if local planning regulations permit it.

Do I need permission from the residents' association?

In most cases, yes. Since 2025, to register a property located in a homeowners' association, you need a written agreement authorizing tourist use. Without this consent, the tourist registration cannot be completed.

Does the tourist registration number work for Airbnb and for direct bookings?

Yes. The number belongs to your property, not a platform. The same VFT (Vacation Ticket Number) allows you to advertise on any portal and also to book directly with travelers through your own website, without depending on a single channel or paying a commission for each booking.

Registering for tourism in Andalusia is the part that opens the door for you; what you decide afterwards —how many channels you work through and how much margin you leave along the way— is what makes the difference at the end of the month.

You already have the number. The next step is to stop giving away a commission on every booking. List your accommodations with direct booking and recover the margin that the intermediary currently takes.

List your accommodations without commissions