Tutorial guide to get your amateur radio license in Spain
That in the middle of 2026 there is people interested in obtaining the amateur radio license may seem surprising. For many it is something “from 40 years ago”, but reality is that it still exists and, like almost everything that goes through public administration, sometimes results more complicated to complete the procedures than prepare the exam.
I am Dani MR, EA4IVK.
To facilitate the path to whoever is thinking about taking the step to obtain the amateur radio license, and based solely on my recent experience, I will explain step by step what needs to be done, as a practical guide.
Prepare the syllabus and the amateur radio exam
The goal is to pass a test-type exam with two parts:
- Radiotelegraphy
- Regulations
The way to prepare it depends on the time and the willingness of each one. As usually happens, what is learned to pass the exam has little to do with what is needed to be a good radio operator, although there are basic concepts that it is convenient to know.
But since the goal is to pass, this was my strategy.
During the 3–4 months prior I limited myself to doing some of the many online tests available:
URE
Radio Club Utiel
Radio Club Quijotes
FEDI-EA
Without pressure: dead time, on the bus, in the bathroom, when I remembered.
From the beginning it became clear that passing was relatively simple: enough to get right the 50 % of the questions (15), mistakes do not subtract and, except exceptions, the exams came out passed.
At the beginning the tests of regulations cost more than those of radioelectronics, but with time the opposite happened, since the regulation questions are repeated much more often.
Later it fell into my hands a summarized syllabus based on the URE book. After reading it a couple of times with attention, the percentage of correct answers went up clearly and rarely dropped below 80 %. At that point I decided to request exam date, with a month of margin. During that last month I increased the pace, doing two complete exams every night.
Request exam date and pay fees
To request exam date it is essential to have any digital identification system: digital certificate, Cl@ve firma or electronic DNI. Without that, it is not possible to do the procedure.
The process starts on the web of the Ministry.
There appear two options here: complete form 790 and complete the request. The order matters.
Payment of exam fees (form 790)
First one has to pay the fees via the form 790.
One has to mark the point 8:
For the presentation to the training exams for operating amateur radio stations
The current amount is 23,67 €. The data are filled, access to the payment gateway and it is paid. After that, it is convenient to download the receipt and save the NRC number, which will be necessary later.
Request for participation in the exam
Next access to the request for participation in tests of exam.
Here the data are completed, it is requested the desired date (only the date, not the time), the NRC number is entered and the payment receipt is attached.
An alert may appear indicating that the NRC does not correspond to any payment. It happened to me. I simply tried it the next day and it worked without problems.
Once everything is sent, only remains to wait for confirmation by email. Depending on the provincial office and the chosen day, they may confirm that date or propose an alternative. In my case they confirmed the requested day, with a month of advance. The time: 09:00.
How is the amateur radio exam
On the exam day you present yourself at the indicated time in the headquarters that corresponds to you. In my case, Madrid. You identify yourself, they put a visitor sticker on you and you pass the security check.
The ‘exam room’ is nothing more than an office with one or two computers. We were two people.
The official explained the procedure, which is very simple: you enter your data and on screen appear the test-type questions. First one completes a part (I remember that it was radioelectronics). You have up to 45 minutes and you can review answers before confirming.
Once the first part is validated, you notify the official, who opens the second, and the process repeats. At the end, the official validates the exam and at that very moment notifies you if you are fit, although it is not yet official.
As a curiosity, they provide you with a pencil and sheets of paper in case you need to do some calculation or use mnemonic rules.
Wait for the exam results
After the exam only remains to wait. In a few days (in my case, 8 natural days) several emails from Telecommunications will arrive.
One confirms that you have passed and another includes the HAREC certificate.
And no, you haven’t finished yet: you still don’t have the authorization and cannot transmit.
I already have the HAREC, so now what?
With the HAREC certificate, the next step is to request the amateur radio authorization. The process is very similar to the previous one.
Payment of fees for the authorization (form 790)
Again, form 790.
This time one has to mark the point 7:
For the processing of the individual authorization for special use of the public domain radio spectrum
The current amount is 114,36 €. The payment is made, the receipt is downloaded and the NRC number is saved.
(“Exemption: Pensioners, those over 65 years and people with a disability equal or higher than 33% are exempt from payment of this fee.”)
Request for new amateur radio authorization
After access to the request of “New administrative authorization for amateur radio“.
The data are filled, the NRC is entered and the payment receipt and the HAREC certificate are attached.
In my case the warning of invalid NRC appeared again. Again, the next day it worked without problem.
Finally, the amateur radio license
If everything has gone well, in a few days you will receive several emails with the information of your authorization and, finally, your badge (the famous “letters”).
Do not expect a card in good condition: what they send you is a PDF that you can print, cut and laminate. If you want something more dignified, you can always make yourself a PVC card on your own.
And now yes: you are already amateur radio and you can start to operate… although the knowledge acquired during the process serves you for quite little.
We hear each other.
73
— Dani MR —