In Baja California, selling or renting other people's property for a commission is a regulated activity: you need a state license as a Professional Real-Estate Agent (Agente Profesional Inmobiliario) or, for a company, registration as a Professional Real-Estate Agency. This guide summarizes the current official requirements and links to each source.
The law and the authority
- Law: Ley que Regula las Actividades de los Agentes Profesionales Inmobiliarios en el Estado de Baja California, published in the Official Gazette on November 28, 2014, last amended November 30, 2018 (per the Congress text).
- Authority: the law names the Ministry of Economic Development; today the procedure is run by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (SEI) through the State Registry of Professional Real-Estate Agents (REAPI): agentesinmobiliarios.bajacalifornia.gob.mx.
Is the license mandatory?
Yes. Article 9 states that only licensed individuals and companies registered with the Registry may broker real estate.
- Notaries (art. 6): before formalizing a real-estate act they must check that the agent involved holds a current registration and license; if not, they will not proceed with the transaction and will notify the Ministry.
- Penalties (art. 19): anyone who poses as an agent without a current license or registration can be fined 100 to 2,000 times the daily UMA.
- Licensed agents who break the rules (art. 18): warning, admonition, fine, suspension or cancellation.
Requirements for individuals
According to the official procedure page (RETYS 1746):
- Online application, plus the signed application and letter of commitment.
- Valid official ID (foreigners: valid immigration document).
- SAT tax status certificate (Constancia de Situación Fiscal) and proof of tax address, no older than 3 months.
- Certificate of a real-estate course with official RVOE accreditation of at least 40 hours.
- Consumer contract registered with PROFECO (NOM-247-SE-2021).
- Criminal-record certificate no older than 3 months.
- Formal photo on a white background.
Requirements for companies (agencies)
Articles of incorporation registered in the Public Registry of Commerce, ID of the legal representative, tax status certificate and tax address, the 40-hour accredited course, the legal representative's criminal-record certificate and a consumer contract registered with PROFECO. The law also requires company staff who perform real-estate work to complete the training programs.
Fees, validity and renewal (2026)
| Item | Official figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration and license | MXN 5,349 (2026) | RETYS 1746 |
| Renewal | MXN 4,223 (2026) | RETYS 1747 |
| Validity | 3 years | Art. 9 of the law and RETYS |
| Response time | 45 business days | RETYS 1746 |
| Training to renew | 20 accumulated hours | REAPI site |
Fees are set every year in the state revenue law: confirm the amount on the official page before paying.
Where to apply
- Online: first time (RETYS 1746), renewal (RETYS 1747) and replacement (RETYS 329).
- SEI offices listed on the official page: Mexicali (Av. República de Honduras y Justo Sierra 377, Col. Cuauhtémoc Sur), Tijuana (Carr. Libre Tijuana–Tecate km 26.5, El Florido) and Ensenada (Carr. Transpeninsular 6500, Ejido Chapultepec), plus Tecate, Rosarito, San Quintín and San Felipe.
- REAPI contact: agentesinmobiliariosbc@baja.gob.mx · +52 686 558 1048 · +52 664 973 0424 (source).
How to check the registry
The public registry is at agentesinmobiliarios.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/padron: it shows name, type (agent or agency), license number, municipality and validity. Multilistado copies that registry daily so anyone can search for a Baja California agent by name or number.
Already licensed: next step
If you appear in the REAPI registry, you already have a Multilistado profile with the public data. Claim it for free to list on the MLS, share with other licensed agents and get your own website and email on your own domain. See your city page: Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada, Mexicali or San Felipe.
Frequently asked questions
Is a license mandatory to sell homes in Baja California?
Yes for anyone brokering real estate: art. 9 of the state law says only licensed individuals and registered companies may do it. An owner selling their own property is not a broker.
How much does the license cost in 2026?
According to the official RETYS procedure page, first-time registration costs MXN 5,349 in 2026 and renewal MXN 4,223. Confirm the current amount before paying.
How long is the license valid?
Three years. To renew it you prove continuing education; the REAPI site states 20 accumulated hours.