Boat licence for chartering in Croatia: which licences are valid

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Which boating licence is sufficient for chartering in Croatia depends on the length of the yacht, her flag and whether you're skippering yourself or sailing with a skipper. An overview of the German licences Croatia recognises, the ICC, the radio certificate, the Croatian Küstenpatent and the documents at handover (as at October 2026).

Which boat licence is valid in Croatia for charter?

For charter yachts under the Croatian flag, the German licences listed by the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in its recognition list are valid. For Germany there are four: Sportbootführerschein See, Sportküstenschifferschein (SKS), Sportseeschifferschein (SSS) and Sporthochseeschifferschein (SHS).

The Ministry publishes the official list of recognised foreign licences in Croatian and English. It applies to private yachts and to yachts chartered without crew — in other words, bareboat charter.

Sportbootführerschein See and SKS: up to 18 metres

With either of these two licences you may skipper boats and yachts under the Croatian flag up to 18 metres, privately or chartered. The sailing area is Croatian coastal waters up to the territorial waters limit. For a week's sailing trip between the mainland and islands, that's sufficient. If you wish to leave Croatian territorial waters — for instance on a side trip to Italy or Montenegro — check beforehand whether your licence covers it.

The list doesn't specify which length counts towards the 18‑metre limit. For yachts close to that mark, it's best to ask the charter company.

SSS and SHS: larger yachts and passages across the Adriatic

The SSS is valid for yachts up to 500 GT (Gross Tonnage, a measure of a ship's size) and permits passages across the border within the Adriatic. The SHS has the same size limit but no restriction on sailing area. This becomes important for yachts over 18 metres, for deliveries and for sailing trips to Italy or Montenegro.

What applies to yachts under another flag?

The recognition list concerns only yachts under the Croatian flag. Chartering in Croatia is also possible with yachts under the flag of another EU or EEA state. In that case the requirements for the crew follow the law of that state.

Anyone skippering a yacht under a foreign flag needs a licence valid under the law of the flag state. If that state does not require a licence, a licence meeting Croatian requirements is necessary in Croatia. In this case, ask the charter company before your trip which licence will be required on board.

What is the ICC?

The ICC is an internationally recognised certificate of competence for leisure skippers. The abbreviation stands for "International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft".

It's based on Resolution No. 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This sets minimum requirements, such as a minimum age of 16 and an examination covering collision regulations, navigation and boat handling. States that apply the resolution recognise such certificates from other countries. The certificate shows whether it's valid for inland waters, coastal waters or both, for motor or sailing boats and up to what boat size.

The benefit: abroad hardly anyone knows the German Sportbootführerschein; the standardised format shows authorities and charter companies at a glance what you're qualified to skipper.

How do you obtain an ICC in Germany?

If you hold the Sportbootführerschein as a card, you already have it: the official Sportbootführerschein is issued as a licence card in ICC format. You can exchange an older paper licence for a card. The issuing bodies are the Deutscher Segler-Verband and the Deutscher Motoryachtverband on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Transport. The SKS is also designed as an International Certificate, valid for coastal waters up to 12 nautical miles.

What does this mean for Croatia?

Croatia accepts any ICC for yachts under the Croatian flag, private and bareboat, if "Coastal waters" is entered on it. All restrictions on the certificate, such as propulsion or boat size, continue to apply.

With a Sportbootführerschein See or SKS you do not need an additional ICC, because both licences are already on the Croatian list. The ICC rule mainly helps sailors whose national licence is not listed there.

What is the Croatian coastal licence?

The Croatian coastal licence is the boat licence that Croatia itself issues. In Croatian it is called "Voditelj brodice", which means boat operator. The certificate is bilingual, Croatian and English. For recreational sailors, category B is the important one.

Which categories are there?

• Category A: small boats up to 7 metres in length and 15 kW engine power close to the coast, from age 15.
• Category B: private boats and yachts up to 18 metres, also for bareboat charter, up to 12 nautical miles from the mainland and islands. The examination is possible from age 16, but you may only operate boats with more than 15 kW engine power from age 18. This applies to almost every charter yacht.
• Category C: for commercial operation, for example with paying guests, and for voyages further out. Requirements are a course, a medical certificate for vision and hearing and a minimum age of 18. The certificate is valid for five years.

For larger yachts there is additionally the certificate as yacht skipper in two levels. For this Croatia requires a course and practical experience.

How and where do you take the examination?

The examinations are conducted by the harbour master's offices, the harbour authorities on the Croatian coast. For categories A and B no course is required, only passing the examination. For category C a course at an approved maritime school is mandatory. For C a practical examination with a voyage is included, for A and B it is not. For categories B and C, marine radio is part of the examination syllabus.

Anyone who holds category B or C can additionally apply for an ICC. It is best to enquire about examination dates, examination language and current fees directly from the harbour master's office.

For whom is the coastal licence worthwhile?

For everyone who wants to skipper a yacht in Croatia themselves and does not have a recognised licence, for example because their national licence is not on the list. Anyone who skippers a yacht under a flag whose state does not require a licence also needs a licence according to Croatian regulations in Croatia.

With a Sportbootführerschein See, SKS, SSS or SHS you do not need the coastal licence. Croatia recognises these licences directly for yachts under the Croatian flag. More important then is whether you have a suitable radio certificate.

Do I need a radio operator's certificate in Croatia?

With a German licence yes, as soon as a VHF radio is installed on board. The Croatian recognition of all four German licences only applies under this condition.

A valid German or foreign certificate for the operation of this radio installation is required, such as the SRC (Short Range Certificate) for VHF marine radio. Whether the charter yacht has a radio is stated in the equipment list of the charter company. Without a suitable certificate the licence is not sufficient in this case.

Bareboat or charter with skipper: who needs the licence?

For bareboat charter the person who takes over the yacht as skipper needs a recognised licence. For charter with skipper the skipper brings the proof, and the guests do not need one.

Bareboat means: the crew takes over the yacht without crew from the charter company. One person is responsible as skipper. Their licence is checked at handover and must be on board throughout the entire trip.

On yachts with skipper every crew member must be trained for their task and possess proof of this. The guests sail along and help with manoeuvres, but bear no responsibility for skippering the vessel. This also applies to cabin charter when several guests share the bunks.

Must a second person hold a licence on bareboat charter?

The Croatian charter regulation does not specify a fixed number. It requires a minimum crew with appropriate qualification, which is determined by the law of the flag state.

Whether a second person with a licence must be on board for a particular yacht, you should clarify definitively with the responsible harbour master's office. Charter contracts can also contain their own requirements regarding crew experience. From a seamanship perspective a second person with a licence is sensible anyway, in case the skipper becomes incapacitated.

Which documents must be on board at handover?

At handover the charter company checks whether the skipper is permitted to operate the yacht, and hands over the ship's papers. During the trip the skipper's licence, the handover protocol and proof of seaworthiness and liability insurance must be on board, among other things.

Handover includes a function test of onboard systems and equipment, instructions on safety and the environment, the telephone numbers of sea rescue and information on weather reports. A protocol is signed in duplicate for this, one copy remains on board. If the charter company offers overnight accommodation on board, they report the crew list electronically to the ministry, at the latest when setting sail.

In practice this means for you:

• Licence of the person commanding the yacht
• Radio certificate, if the yacht has a VHF set
• Details of all persons on board for the crew list
• Allow time for handover and read the protocol before signing

Where do you get authoritative information?

The ministry in Zagreb is responsible, on the coast the harbour master's offices. Questions about German licences are answered by the Deutscher Segler-Verband and the Deutscher Motoryachtverband.

The ministry updates its recognition list from time to time. Therefore check the current version shortly before the trip on the English-language page of the ministry for watersports enthusiasts.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sportbootführerschein See sufficient for a charter yacht in Croatia?

Yes, for bareboat yachts under the Croatian flag up to 18 metres in Croatian coastal waters. If the yacht has a VHF radio, you additionally need a suitable radio certificate.

Do I need an ICC for Croatia as well?

No, if you have one of the four German licences from the recognition list. The Sportbootführerschein See is already issued in ICC format anyway. For yachts under the Croatian flag Croatia accepts any ICC that is valid for coastal waters.

Do I need the Croatian coastal licence if I have a German licence?

No. Sportbootführerschein See, SKS, SSS and SHS are directly recognised for yachts under Croatian flag. The Küstenpatent is intended for sailors who do not hold a recognised licence.

Which licence do I need for a yacht over 18 metres?

The Sportseeschifferschein or the Sporthochseeschifferschein. Both are valid in Croatia for yachts under Croatian flag up to 500 GRT, with a VHF radio on board only together with a radio operator's certificate.

Do I need a licence if I charter with skipper?

No. As a guest you do not need your own licence; the skipper brings the required qualification.

Suitable trips and courses

If you would like to get to know Croatia first without your own licence, you will find cabin charter offers on Törnfinder for Sailing in Croatia. Anyone embarking in Trogir will find an overview of the Marinas around Trogir. How you progress from licence to first self-skippered trip is described in the article From sailing licence to your first independent sailing trip. Courses for licences and radio certificates can be found under Courses & Seminars.