FILMING PERMITS
Filming permits
The processing of filming permits depends on the type of location (natural areas, beaches, roads, buildings, etc.) and the relevant authority in each case. When filming includes several locations, separate permits will only be required if each location falls under the jurisdiction of a different authority.
Applications must be submitted to the relevant administration via the official registry, allowing for the minimum advance notice (the timeframe for each administration is indicated in the drop-down menus below), and must be accompanied by:
- Project Report
- Copy of the current civil liability insurance policy covering the filming activity
- Copy of the identification document of the company or legal entity
- Safety plan, if applicable
It is necessary to provide details of the intended use of the space (traffic closures, technical installations, drones, etc.), as well as a description of the filming, technical requirements, schedule, and safety and environmental protection measures.
Production companies are advised to check the local holiday calendar before applying for filming permits, as certain holidays and public events may affect location availability and the permit application process. Additionally, some locations may have access restrictions at certain times of the year due to fire risk or adverse weather conditions.
It is recommended to inform the El Hierro Film Commission so that the office can track the status of the application with the relevant authority.
Simplify your process: Unified form
To facilitate the processing of your application, you can download the form below. This document has been validated by the relevant authorities on the island and can be submitted to the corresponding institution as an application for a filming permit.
The form must be accompanied by the documentation indicated above, as well as any other additional documentation that may be required by each department or depending on the type of activity or event, as detailed in the following sections.
Request for Permits and Contacts
Protected Natural Areas
If filming takes place within a protected natural area, it will be necessary to obtain an environmental report or authorization from the Island Council. If, in addition, it affects the road (traffic, closures, road occupation, parking, signage, etc.), authorization must be requested from the Roads Department of the El Hierro Island Council.
Department of the Environment of the Cabildo of El Hierro
The technicians responsible for the area will issue a report specifying the restrictions applicable to each site.
To view the protected areas in the Grafcan viewer , apply the “Protected Areas” filter under Content, and then select “Canary Network of Protected Natural Areas.”
Contact: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Domínguez | mrodriguez@el-hierro.org | (+34) 922 553 400 ext. 1721
Department of Infrastructure, Maintenance, Works and Roads of the Cabildo of El Hierro
Contact: Jose Gavilan | jgavilan@elhierro.es | (+34) 922 553 400 ext. 1516.
Estimated time: 2 months
Coastline and Beaches
Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Directorate General of Coasts and Management of the Canary Islands Maritime Space of the Government of the Canary Islands
Permit Application
To apply for the permit, follow the procedure below:
- Descriptive report of the activity; you can use this form. It must include:
- Economic report: estimate of the economic investment to be made in that location, defining expected management expenses, calculation of income and profits
- A plan or orthophoto showing the area to be used for filming. Normally at a scale of 1:1000. You can use the Grafcan viewer: https://visor.grafcan.es/mobile/
- Beach/coast conservation declaration: the production company undertakes to immediately remove all installations once the occupation is finished, as well as to carry out a complete cleaning of the area used and any other action necessary to guarantee the full conservation of the space.
Valid civil liability insurance certificate , with sufficient coverage to cover potential property damage, personal injury, and losses that may be caused to third parties during the course of the activity. Download template
- Declaration of compliance with Article 44.7 of Law 22/1998, of July 28, and Article 97.1 of the General Coastal Regulations, approved by Royal Decree 876/2014 of October 10, signed. Link to the document here.
- Payment of fee 163 using form 700: Select "163 - Fee for reports and other optional actions" and "1 - AUTHORIZATIONS PROVIDED FOR IN ART. 49…" (Approximate price €55.00)
- Declaration of responsibility for compatibility with marine strategies, if buoyage is installed. Download template
Payment of Fees and Charges
Once the application has been processed by the Coastal Authority and the authorization issued, this agency will require payment of two fees—a deposit and an occupancy fee—before issuing the final decision. At that point, the following steps must be taken:
- Deposit the guarantee at the Canary Islands Autonomous Community Deposit Fund (link to the procedure). You must be registered as a third party with the Government of the Canary Islands (procedure for individuals or, if a legal entity, "creditors acting as representatives").
- Registration as a third party with the Government of the Canary Islands: See the procedure here.
- Payment of the occupancy fee, as indicated in the resolution. This is calculated on the estimated net profit of the activity—usually between 30% and 35% of the budget—applying 8% to this amount to determine the final sum.
- Deposit the guarantee at the Canary Islands Autonomous Community Deposit Fund (link to the procedure). You must be registered as a third party with the Government of the Canary Islands (procedure for individuals or, if a legal entity, "creditors acting as representatives").
Refund of Deposit
Once the project is completed, the deposit must be refunded by submitting a general application to the Government of the Canary Islands, preferably through the electronic office of the Western Coastal Management Agency. The following documentation must be included:
- Request for refund of the deposit.
- Resolution authorizing filming in Costas.
- Proof of deposit of the bond.
If filming takes place within a Protected Natural Area, it will be necessary to process in parallel the request for a favorable report from the Environment Department of the Island Council.
Likewise, the competent City Council must be notified of the planned action in the public maritime-terrestrial domain.
Contacts
Payment of Fees
Servicio Provincial de Costas de Santa Cruz de Tenerife del Ministerio de Transición Ecológica y Reto Demográfico
bzn-costastenerife@miteco.es | + 34 922446400
Authorisations
Dirección General de Costas y Gestión del espacio marítimo canario
costas@gobiernodecanarias.org | +34 922922424 / 922924889 / 922924896 / 677981408
Public Spaces and Roads
For roads, permits must be requested from the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) and the relevant Island Council or Town Hall. If using a public space, such as a square, the application must be submitted to the corresponding Town Hall.
DGT (General Directorate of Traffic)
To carry out filming that affects roads, it is necessary to request authorization from the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) through its electronic headquarters.
Required documentation:
- Application for filming authorization duly completed (dates, times, roads affected, type of road occupation, traffic closures, etc.).
- Identification document: ID card, passport, residence card or CIF (in the case of a company).
- Representation document, if the application is made on behalf of a legal entity.
- A report or descriptive document that includes:
- Project description.
- Start and end dates.
- Routes to be used, kilometer points, type and duration of occupation or closures.
- Human and material resources planned.
Payment of fees:
- Rate 1.4 (approximately €20).
- Companies must pay the fee through the DGT's electronic office.
- Individuals can make the payment online or by bank transfer (form 791). In the latter case, they must provide proof of payment (“copy for the Administration”) duly signed.
Contact: tirce.jpttf@dgt.es | (+34) 922 227 840 ext. 473828 / 473834
El Hierro Island Council: Department of Infrastructure, Maintenance, Works and Roads
For filming that affects roads under island ownership, it is necessary to process the corresponding authorization with the Cabildo of El Hierro, through its electronic headquarters.
Documentation and requirements:
- Report on the performancewhich must include:
- Dates, times and expected duration of the occupation.
- Identification of the affected road(s), indicating their official name and the starting and ending kilometer points.
- Need for occupation of additional spaces, if applicable.
- Detailed report of the safety measures available for filming, whether human resources, signage or both, at each cut or node (link, intersection, connection, access…) that is affected.
- Insurance: proof of contracting a civil liability insurance (and, where applicable, accident insurance), which covers possible damages to third parties and to the public domain.
- Applicant documentation: National identity card, passport, residence card or tax identification number of the promoter (attach a copy if the application is submitted manually).
Contact: Jose Gavilan | jgavilan@elhierro.es | (+34) 922 553 400 ext. 1516.
Estimated time: 2 month
Town halls (public roads, squares, etc.)
Council of Valverde
Contact: (+34) 922 55 00 25
Estimated time: 30 days.
Council of La Frontera
Contact: (+34) 922 555 999
Estimated time: 15 days.
Council of El Pinar
Contact: (+34) 922 558 085
Estimated time: 30 days.
Drones
The use of drones in El Hierro is subject to the regulations of the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) and the airspace regulations managed by ENAIRE, due to its status as a Biosphere Reserve and the existence of areas with flight restrictions.
Before any operation, it is essential to consult the airspace zoning on the ENAIRE Drones platform, where permitted, restricted or conditional areas are identified.
Operating requirements (AESA)
The operation must comply with current AESA requirements, including:
– Registration as a UAS operator in AESA
– Pilot training and accreditation according to standard STS scenarios (if applicable)
– Valid civil liability insurance specifically for drones (minimum €1,000,000).
Permits based on location
Depending on the filming location:
- Protected natural areas:
- Prior authorization from the Environment Department of the El Hierro Island Council
- Other environments (depending on the area affected):
- Relevant sectoral permits (coasts, roads, urban areas, etc.)
Flight plan and technical documentation
Every transaction must include:
- GPS coordinates of the flight zone
- Maximum operating radius (usually ≤ 100 m)
- Take-off and landing points
- Drone model
- Dates, times and duration of the operation
- Description of the operation and purpose of the filming
- Security measures and risk mitigation
Additional coordination (when applicable)
Prior notification to the Ministry of the Interior at least 5 days in advance if flying:
- In urban areas (presence of elements such as streetlights, pedestrian crossings or water channels)
- Regarding gatherings of people
- Areas where there is a possible impact on public safety
- Operations that may require coordination with Security Forces and Agencies
Operational limitations
Flight conditions (altitude, distances, specific restrictions) will be determined by AESA and ENAIRE regulations and the applicable sectoral authorizations in each case.
Consult ENAIRE zoning
Contact: drones@enaire.es
Competent institutions
Protected natural areas
Department of the Environment of the Cabildo of El Hierro
Contact: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Domínguez | mrodriguez@el-hierro.org | (+34) 922 553 400 ext. 1721
Public Spaces and Roads
Cabildo + DGT: For applications and contact information, see the previous section on Public Spaces and Roads
Coastline and beaches
Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, Directorate General of Coasts and Management of the Canary Islands Maritime Space of the Government of the Canary Islands
Email: costas@gobiernodecanarias.org
Phone: (+34) 922 922 424 | 922924889 | 922924896 | 677981408
Urban/municipal areas
Corresponding City Hall: For application and contact information see the previous section Public Spaces and Roads
Mar de Las Calmas Marine Reserve
Flying over the Mar de Las Calmas Marine Reserve is prohibited without specific fishing authorization.
Ministry of the Interior
AESA (State Aviation Safety Agency)
Contact: drones.aesa@seguridadaerea.es
Phone: (+34) 91 396 84 50
Estimated time: 15-30 days.
Airport
To film or take photographs at El Hierro Airport, it is essential to request a permit.
Email: dahierro@aena.es
Phone: (+34) 922 553 700 | (+34) 913 211 000
Estimated time:20-30 days.
Port and Water Filming
To carry out any audiovisual activity in ports, it is necessary to request the corresponding authorization through its electronic headquarters.
The following documentation must be attached to the application:
- Copy of the ID of the signatory and the CIF of the production company.
- Document proving the representation of the person signing the application or sufficient power to act on behalf of the company.
- Descriptive report of the activity, indicating means to be used, period of occupancy, schedules, expected capacity and technical equipment.
- Site plan and sketch of the area to be occupied, indicating its main dimensions (width, depth, etc.).
- Estimated budget for the activity, detailing income, expenses and expected net profits before taxes for the use of the requested public domain.
- Certificate of the current civil liability insurance policy, covering possible incidents or accidents in the port area.
In the case of aquatic filming, authorization is required from the Ports of Tenerife and the Maritime Authority.
Hiring certified divers is mandatory.
Port of La Estaca
Managed by Ports of Tenerife.
Email: dominiopublico@puertosdetenerife.org | plae@puertosdetenerife.org
Phone: (+34) 922 605 400
Port of La Restinga
Managed by Canarias Ports.
The rates applicable to the Port of La Restinga can be found at this link.
Email: puertolarestinga@puertoscanarios.es
Phone: (+34) 822 280 065 | (+34) 828181 140
Maritime Authority of the Port of La Estaca and La Restinga
Phone: (+34) 922 550 903, Port Authority | (+34) 922 551 254, La Estaca | (+34) 822 280 065, La Restinga
Direction: Edificio Nueva Terminal 1ª plta
Puerto de la Estaca s/n
38910 Valverde
Landmark buildings
N/A
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