The Benefits of Having a Tourism Licence in Menorca: Your Gateway to a Smart Investment

Having a tourism licence in Menorca has become one of the most exclusive and profitable investment opportunities in the Balearic property market. With the new regulatory framework coming into force and the creation of the innovative quota system by the Island Council, the holiday tourism landscape has changed radically. These authorisations are now high-value assets that require specialised professional advice to maximise their potential.

Why is a tourism licence more than just a simple authorisation?

A tourism licence in Menorca is not just an administrative document: it is your key to access an exclusive market that generates recurring income whilst your property increases in value. On an island where new licences have been completely restricted since 2022, possessing a valid authorisation makes you part of a select group of owners who can legally profit from their property investments.

The natural beauty of Menorca, along with its status as a Biosphere Reserve, attracts high-quality tourists willing to pay premium prices for unique and well-managed accommodations. A property with a tourism licence not only generates income: it becomes a strategic asset whose market value constantly increases due to the scarcity created by regulatory restrictions.

The new quota system: The only current opportunity

The Menorca Island Council has revolutionised the system with the creation of the temporary tourism placement quota, the only current way to obtain a new licence on the island. This system, approved in June 2025, works through a 1:1 exchange that keeps the total number of placements stable without allowing growth.

The price per placement is 2,500 euros for standard holiday homes and 800 euros for the primary residence rental category. Available placements come only from properties that have been deregistered due to inactivity for three consecutive years, by express withdrawal of their owners, or due to non-compliance with requirements stemming from a lack of foresight or a defective DRIAT.

The system is extremely competitive: in less than two weeks since its launch, nearly 225 owners had already formalised applications for holiday homes. The allocation is done on a strict first-come, first-served basis, turning each application into a race against time.

Buying a property with an existing licence: The dangers of ignorance and hidden risks

Not all tourism licences are equal, and acquiring a property with an apparently valid licence can turn into a nightmare without the proper technical and legal verifications. The Island Council's verification system allows you to check the registration status, but this basic query does not reveal the structural problems that may threaten the licence.

Common risks with existing licences

Initially poorly submitted DRIAT: A defective Responsible Declaration from the outset can invalidate the entire licence, even years after it was granted. The most common errors include incomplete documentation, expired certificates, or unfulfilled property owners' association requirements.
Loss due to inactivity: The new Decree-Law 4/2025 establishes that properties not exploited for 3 consecutive years will be automatically removed from the tourism registry before 16 April 2027. Many buyers are unaware of the property's actual activity history.
Non-compliance with technical requirements: Expired energy certificates, insufficient civil liability insurance, or undeclared architectural modifications can generate cancellation proceedings due to the impossibility of obtaining the habitability certificate. The regulations require a minimum energy rating of "F" for properties built before 2007 and "D" for those built after.
Property owners' association problems: Changes in the bylaws that subsequently prohibit tourism activity or agreements not properly registered in the Property Registry. These conflicts can arise years after purchase and result in the definitive loss of the licence.

The sanctions: A real economic risk

The new sanctioning framework of Decree-Law 4/2025 has increased fines by 25%, establishing penalties that can reach up to 500,000 euros for very serious infringements. Marketing without a licence constitutes a very serious infringement that can ruin any property investment.

Image that shows a Mediterranean setting with a mares stone tile terrace and two sunbeds that overlook an infinity swimming pool. In the background one can see a pristine green lawn with an imposing olive tree in the middle. The garden is surrounded by pine trees.

MARES Solutions: Your strategic partner in the Balearic tourism ecosystem

In this complex and highly competitive regulatory environment, having specialised professional advice is not a luxury: it is an absolute necessity. MARES Solutions positions itself as the ideal strategic partner to successfully navigate the Menorcan tourism market.

Specialised services to maximise your investment

Comprehensive verification of existing licences: Before any acquisition, our team conducts a complete audit of the legal and technical status of the licence, identifying hidden risks and ensuring that your investment is protected.
Comprehensive management of the quota system: As local specialists, we constantly monitor available placements and manage the entire application process to maximise your chances of success in this highly competitive system.
Hassle-free licence updating and acquisition: We handle all DRIAT processing, from document collection to final follow-up, ensuring that your property pays for itself when you're away.

Competitive advantage: Local knowledge and multidisciplinary experience

MARES Solutions combines legal, technical, and real estate knowledge in a single point of contact. Our specialised and multilingual local team offers included technical and legal advice, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple professionals and minimising both costs and risks.

Stress-free operations: We handle all bureaucratic management, from initial paperwork to final formalisation, allowing you to focus on the strategic aspects of your investment. We are a single point of contact that coordinates all aspects of the project, from finding opportunities to launching the tourism activity.

The perfect time to act

The current market presents a unique window of opportunity that will not be repeated. The combination of the new quota system, current restrictions, and increased administrative control creates a scenario where only well-advised investors who are agile in decision-making will gain access to this exclusive market.

The few placements that enter the quota are quickly exhausted: in just six weeks since its launch, the Council has already collected 65,000 euros from the sale of 26 placements. This dynamic confirms that demand far exceeds supply, turning each licence obtained into an asset that immediately gains value.

Conclusion: Invest with intelligence, not with haste

A tourism licence in Menorca represents much more than an administrative permit: it is your entry into an exclusive and highly profitable market. However, the regulatory complexity, the competitiveness of the new quota system, and the risks associated with poorly managed licences make it essential to have proper advice from the very beginning.

MARES Solutions offers you the peace of mind of knowing that your investment is in expert hands, maximising opportunities while minimising risks. In a market where every detail matters and every day lost can mean missing a unique opportunity, having the right partner makes the difference between success and frustration.

Are you ready to become part of the select group of owners who have turned their property investment in Menorca into a constant and growing source of income? The time to act is now, and MARES Solutions is here to accompany you every step of the way.

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