Tourism-related professions: tour guide, nature guide, and tourism information officer

Throughout the year, prior to the start of the corresponding activity.

Inform the Directorate-General for Tourism of the identifying data and other requirements established by law and regulatory provisions for the commencement and exercise of the tourism professions of Tour Guide, Nature Guide, or Tourism Information Officer.

The recipients of the prior notification for tourist guides are individuals who are licensed to work as tourist guides. 

The recipients of the prior notification for other tourism professions are individuals. 

Tour Guide: Scope and exemptions.

1. The profession of tour guide in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura is exclusively reserved for individuals who have been officially authorized by the tourism authority.
2. The following individuals are not required to hold tour guide authorization:
   • Public employees or officials when accompanying institutional or official visits to tourist sites, without receiving any remuneration for it.
   • Education professionals who, occasionally and as part of their teaching duties, accompany students to tourist sites without being paid for such activity.
   • Employees of monuments or museums who provide information about them without charging and without advertising or publicly offering such services.
   • Volunteers working in officially recognized social volunteer organizations.

Authorization requirement:  To be considered a tour guide, individuals must be properly authorized. This authorization is not a formal qualification or degree but a professional certification required for the practice of the profession.

The regional Ministry responsible for tourism will organize authorization exams at least once every two years.

For the remaining tourism professions (Nature Guide or Tourism Information Officer), authorization is not required.

Documentation to Be Submitted for Tourism Professions

1. Commencement of activity as a Tour Guide, Nature Guide, or Tourism Information Officer is subject to a prior notification system, in accordance with Articles 37.3, 38.3, and 49 of Law 2/2011, of January 31, on the Development and Modernization of Tourism in Extremadura.

For this purpose, any individual must submit the official prior notification form, duly completed and identified. The documentation proving the identity of the person submitting the notification includes:

• For Spanish nationals: Indicating the National Identity Number (NIF) on the form authorizes the Administration to verify identity ex officio, as provided in Additional Provision Eight of Organic Law 3/2018, of December 5, on the Protection of Personal Data and Guarantee of Digital Rights.
• For foreign nationals: Citizens of EU member states or EEA countries: national identity document.
• Nationals of third countries: Foreigner Identification Number (NIE), passport, or equivalent document."

If the document is already held by the Administration, the applicant may authorize it to be retrieved ex officio, specifying when and before which authority it was submitted.

2. Optional: For the activity of Tour Guide, and to assist Tourism Inspection services in verifying the authorization requirement, the applicant may submit a copy of the tour guide license, unless the authorization was issued by the competent body of the Extremadura Government, in which case it will be verified automatically.

3. The cessation of activity, whether temporary or permanent, or modification of the conditions under which the activity was registered must be communicated to the competent Ministry for inscription in the General Register of Tourism Companies and Activities of Extremadura within one month of the change.

Tour Guides Established in Other Autonomous Communities (Spain)

1. Tour guides legally established in any part of the Spanish territory may freely operate in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, as per Article 19 of Law 20/2013, of December 9, on the Guarantee of Market Unity.

2. The Ministry responsible for tourism may verify, through inter-administrative cooperation mechanisms, that tour guides from other Autonomous Communities meet the requirements of their place of establishment.

Tour Guides from Other EU/EEA Countries

1. Tour guides legally established in other EU Member States or EEA countries may establish themselves in Extremadura under Title III, Chapter I of Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (of September 7, 2005), and Royal Decree 1837/2008, of November 8, regarding the recognition of qualifications.

2. Tour guides who are legally established in another EU or EEA country and who wish to provide services occasionally or temporarily in Extremadura are not required to submit the prior notification form referred to in Article 11 of the decree regulating tour guides.

Tour Guides Authorized by Non-EU Countries

1. Tour guides licensed in non-EU countries who wish to temporarily operate or establish themselves as guides in Extremadura must obtain official authorization.

Application forms:

• model

• Law 2/2011, of January 31, on the development and modernization of tourism in Extremadura. (Official Gazette of Extremadura No. 22, February 2, 2011)
• Decree 37/2015, of March 17, regulating the professional activity of Tourist Guide in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura (Official Gazette No. 56, March 23, 2015)

• Resolution of the procedure: The Head of the Directorate-General for Tourism
• Deadline to resolve: None 
• Effect of administrative silence: Dismissive
• End of the administrative process: No
• Possibility of administrative appeal: Yes
• Applicable appeals:

  Appeal to a higher administrative authority (recurso de alzada) may be lodged with the competent Regional Ministry in the field of tourism, against the decision to close the prior notification file, or, where appropriate, against the refusal to register the prior notification in the General Register of Tourism Companies and Activities of Extremadura.

• Data Protection Clause

Consejería de Cultura, Turismo, Jóvenes y Deportes

Dirección General de Turismo

Inspección Territorial de Turismo de Badajoz

Avenida Huelva, 2

06005, Badajoz

Consejería de Cultura, Turismo, Jóvenes y Deportes

Dirección General de Turismo

Inspección Territorial de Turismo de Cáceres

Avenida Avda. Clara Campoamor, 2

10001, Cáceres