Blog / Guide
Filming permits for a corporate video in Madrid: what to ask for and when
Which permits you need to shoot a corporate video in Madrid: public streets, private spaces, drones and third-party buildings, and how far ahead to apply.
When a company asks me to shoot a corporate video, almost nobody asks about permits. It's taken for granted that if I own a camera I can film wherever I like. That's not how it works. Some of the shoots I plan need some kind of authorisation, and getting it takes time.
What follows is how I handle it in pre-production. It isn't legal advice: the rules change depending on the space and the moment, and I always confirm with the authority or the owner before quoting a deadline.
What a filming permit is and why it matters
A filming permit is the authorisation, from whoever controls a space, to shoot there with professional equipment. That can be the City Council, the owner of a venue, a building's residents' association or the management company of a shopping centre.
It matters for two reasons. The first is practical: if a security guard or the local police stop you with the equipment set up, the shoot halts and the client pays for the day anyway. The second is about later use: a video shot without authorisation may end up impossible to publish on a website or in campaigns.
What makes the difference is the gear. One person with a phone is not the same as a tripod, lights and a three-person crew taking up a pavement. The more equipment and the more space you occupy, the more likely a permit is needed.
How to do it properly
Public streets and municipal spaces
If the shoot occupies the street, blocks the way or uses lights and tripods for a sustained period, I apply through the City Council before the shoot. I state the location, schedule, number of people and equipment. I do it weeks ahead, not days, and I carry the printed authorisation on the shooting day.
Private spaces open to the public
Shopping centres, stations, museums and hotels are private even though anyone can walk in. Here the permit comes from the management company, usually by email, and they often ask for public liability insurance and a list of who will be entering. I request that authorisation in writing and keep the reply.
Drones and third-party buildings
Drones have their own regulations, and in Madrid some areas are restricted because of air traffic. If the plan includes one, I check from the very start with a licensed operator, because sometimes the answer is that the shot can't be done. To film in someone else's office building, besides the client company you also need to speak to the building's owner or management.
Common mistakes
- Asking for the permit the week of the shoot, when deadlines can no longer be met.
- Accepting a verbal permit from a manager who later can't confirm it in writing.
- Forgetting that a building's residents' association or owner decides separately from the tenant company.
- Not carrying a copy of the authorisation on the shooting day.
- Filming recognisable people in a public space without a plan for those who don't want to appear.
- Not asking about the public liability insurance the venue requires.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to film on the street with a small crew?
It depends on how much space you take up and for how long. Handheld and without blocking the way is usually tolerated, but with a tripod, lights or several crew members it's best to apply. When in doubt, I check with the authority before shooting.
How far in advance should I ask for permits?
I start as soon as the locations are locked, a few weeks before the shoot. Private spaces can be sorted in days, but for public streets or drones I prefer not to cut it close.
Who handles the permits, the client or the filmmaker?
We agree it in the quote. On the client's own premises the client handles it, since they know the owner. On public streets or third-party spaces I usually take care of it, with information the client gives me.
What happens if I can't get the permit in time?
I always have an alternative location planned during pre-production. If there's no permit, I change location rather than risk the shoot or the later publication of the video.
If you're going to film in Madrid and aren't sure what your location needs, write to me via /en/contact and we'll review it before locking the shooting date.