Spanish Customs Aligns Temporary Admission with IPR: What You Need to Know

Spanish customs have corrected a long-standing inconsistency: from early April 2025, sailing a yacht just 12 nautical miles seaward of Spain’s straight baselines—the line from which Spanish territorial waters are measured—now counts as leaving the Union Customs Territory (UCT) for Temporary Admission (TA) purposes. The same test has been unofficially accepted for Inward Processing Relief (IPR) since September 2021, but TA previously still demanded a run to Gibraltar, Algeria or another non-EU port.

By applying the same test to both Inward Processing Relief (IPR) and Temporary Admission (TA), Spain at last matches France and Italy. The benefits are clear: no diversion to Gibraltar for customs clearance, no extra bunkers or port fees, and fewer delays in the yard. A brief run beyond Spain’s straight baselines now closes and immediately renews TA, giving Palma and other Spanish shipyards a tangible scheduling edge. It is essential to capture every departure with AIS tracks, GPS screenshots and logbook entries; advise the local Aduanas office before leaving and file the evidence on return. An official circular has yet to appear, so meticulous record-keeping remains essential.