Apply for a pleasure craft license

Anyone wishing to operate a recreational craft on federal waterways requires a recreational craft license. You can apply for this together with an examination date from an examination board of your choice.

If you want to operate recreational or leisure craft on federal waterways, you need a license to do so, which you can usually prove by passing an examination and obtaining a recreational boating license.

A recreational boating license distinguishes between the area of validity of the federal waterway to be navigated, i.e. inland or maritime waterways, and the type of propulsion.

The inland motor pleasure craft license is the official license for operating pleasure craft up to 20 meters in length under motor. It is required for vessels with more than 15 HP for combustion engines and 7.5 HP for electric motors on inland waterways.

The inland pleasure craft sailing license is the official license for sailing pleasure craft up to 20 meters in length under sail. The inland sailing license is proof of practical and theoretical sailing knowledge. The recreational boating license sea is the official driving license for driving recreational boats under motor on maritime waterways. Sailing on maritime waterways does not require a license.

You can apply to take a full or partial examination to obtain a recreational boating license from an examination board of the authorized associations.

Important note: If copies are used for the application, the original document must be submitted for inspection on the day of the examination.

• Application for admission
• Medical certificate of fitness for "Sport boat license applicants"
  • A recreational boating license obtained by examination, which is not older than 1 year at the time of application, replaces the medical certificate of fitness.
• for applicants of legal age: copy of a valid motor vehicle driver's license or a certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
• current passport photo (35 mm x 45 mm, without headgear), submitted digitally

• You must prove your physical fitness and reliability.
• You have passed the relevant examinations.

For pleasure craft license under sail:

• You are at least 14 years old.

For pleasure craft license under propulsion engine:

• You are at least 16 years old.

For underage applicants:

• Consent from parents or legal guardians has been obtained.

• Contradiction
  • Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification of your application for admission to the examination.
• Appeal to the competent administrative court

You can apply for a license to drive sports and leisure craft on federal waterways online via the federal portal or by post to an examination board of the associations appointed by the BMDV.

Online application:

• Call up the federal portal using any browser. Navigate to the application for admission to the examination and application for the (first) issue of the recreational craft license (SBF) in accordance with § 3, § 4 and § 7 SpFV
• Complete the online application and upload the required files.
• Send the application digitally.
• Pay the fee in accordance with the association's instructions.

Postal application:

• Download the current application form from the association's website:
  • Deutscher Motoryachtverband e. V.
  • German Sailing Association e. V.
• Fill out the application form.
• Send the application together with the required documents by post.
• Pay the fee in accordance with the association's instructions.

If you register for the test, it will take around 1 week to process your application. Therefore, the application for admission to the test and the issue of the driving license must be submitted in full to the examination board at least 1 week before the test date.

Further expenses may be incurred in individual cases.: Fee from 127,79 EUR to 218,21 EUR (The amount is to be paid in advance) (Information on cost composition can be found here)

This application relates exclusively to the initial issue of the recreational craft license and the associated examination for the driving license. Other applications for the transfer or replacement are listed separately.