Canary Islands
VV License (Vivienda Vacacional)
Required to legally operate a holiday rental in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and the wider Canary Islands.
What is a VV License?
A Vivienda Vacacional (VV) licence is the official permit required to legally list and rent out a residential property as a short-term holiday rental in the Canary Islands. Without one, advertising your property on platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com is not permitted, and operating without a licence can result in substantial fines.
VV licences are issued by the relevant island council (Cabildo) and are governed by regional tourism law. Each island has its own specific requirements, although the core framework applies across Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife.
In Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, VV licences are particularly sought after because these islands have long been popular with UK, German, and Scandinavian holiday rental owners. However, the regulatory environment is changing significantly in 2025 and beyond.
What Do You Need Before Applying?
Modelo 400 (IGIC Registration)
You must be registered for IGIC — the Canary Islands equivalent of VAT — before submitting a VV licence application. This is done via Modelo 400 with the Agencia Tributaria Canaria.
NIE Number
A valid Spanish NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is required. Non-resident owners without a NIE must obtain one before proceeding.
Property Title Deed (Escritura)
You must be the registered owner of the property. A copy of the escritura (title deed) is required as part of the application.
Habitation Certificate (Cédula de Habitabilidad)
The property must hold a valid habitation certificate confirming it meets residential occupancy standards.
Classified Activity Permit
Under the 2025 law, this permit has become critically important. Many councils have historically not issued these proactively — see the law change section below.
The November 2025 Law — What Has Changed?
New restrictions on VV licences from November 2025
On 12 November 2025, the Canary Islands Parliament approved the 'Law on the Sustainable Management of Tourist Use of Housing.' Once fully in force, this law significantly restricts the ability to obtain new VV licences — particularly for properties not clearly included in municipal urban plans as tourist-use properties.
The central issue is the Classified Activity permit (Actividad Clasificada). Only owners who can demonstrate they held all required documentation — including this permit — before the law came into force may be able to consolidate their rights and continue operating long term.
After the law is published in the official bulletin, municipalities will receive a list of all registered holiday rentals and have eight months to verify documentation. Island councils will have six months for their own review. This means owners who have been operating legally under existing VV rules may now face additional scrutiny over documentation they were never previously required to produce.
The impact varies by island and municipality. Not every council has been issuing Classified Activity permits for holiday rentals, which means a large number of owners are in a legally uncertain position through no fault of their own.
What Are Your Options?
Act Now — Pursue the Classified Activity Permit
Some owners are choosing to submit at least a preliminary application for the Classified Activity permit before the law is fully implemented. The goal is to create a documented record showing active compliance efforts. This approach has uncertainty — there is no guarantee of success — but it may strengthen your position when municipalities begin their reviews.
Wait and Monitor
Other owners are choosing to continue operating under their current VV licence and wait to see how enforcement develops in practice. This avoids a potentially complex administrative process under pressure, but carries the risk that municipalities may later view inaction as grounds for sanctions. The right choice depends on your specific property, documentation, council, and risk appetite.
How Villa Check In Can Help
Villa Check In is not a law firm and cannot guarantee legal outcomes. What we do is provide practical, hands-on support to help you understand and navigate your compliance obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a VV licence if I only rent occasionally?
Yes. In the Canary Islands, any listing on a short-term rental platform such as Airbnb or Booking.com requires a valid VV licence, regardless of how frequently you rent. The licence requirement is tied to the act of listing, not just income level.
Can I still apply for a new VV licence after the 2025 law?
Possibly, but it is significantly harder. New licences are now generally restricted to properties included in municipal urban plans as tourist-use properties. If you are considering a new application, it is important to seek specialist legal advice promptly.
What happens if I operate without a VV licence?
Operating without a valid VV licence is a serious regulatory offence in the Canary Islands. Fines can be substantial, platforms may be required to remove your listing, and you may be prevented from obtaining a licence in the future.
Is Modelo 400 registration the same as a VV licence?
No. Modelo 400 registers you for IGIC (Canary Islands VAT) and is a prerequisite for a VV licence — but they are separate obligations. You need both to legally operate as a holiday rental in the Canary Islands.
Does this affect properties outside Lanzarote?
Yes. The 2025 law applies across all the Canary Islands — Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. The practical enforcement timeline will vary by island and municipality.
What is the Classified Activity permit and why does it matter now?
The Classified Activity permit (Actividad Clasificada) was historically required for many commercial activities but was not always enforced for holiday rentals. The 2025 law has made it a key criterion. Owners who cannot demonstrate they held one before the law came into force may have difficulty maintaining or renewing their VV licence long-term.
How can I check if my property qualifies under the new rules?
The first step is to review your existing documentation and check whether your property is included in your municipality's urban plan as a tourist-use property. Villa Check In can help you gather and assess your documents, and refer you to a specialist lawyer for a formal legal opinion.
Does Villa Check In manage VV licence applications?
We assist with the compliance elements that sit within our expertise — Modelo 400 registration, guest registration via SES Hospedajes, and document review. For VV licence applications and the legal aspects of the 2025 law, we work alongside trusted specialist lawyers in the Canary Islands.
Have questions about your VV licence?
Villa Check In works with holiday rental owners across Lanzarote and the Canary Islands every day. Get in touch to discuss your situation.