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Recreational craft license; application for transfer of registration

If you want to operate a recreational craft on federal waterways, you need a recreational craft license. If you already have a specific official driving license, this can be rewritten if necessary.

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Online services

Responsible for you

Street address

Vinckeufer 12-14
47119 Duisburg

Postal address

Vinckeufer 12-14

47119 Duisburg

Email

info@dmyv.de

Website

www.dmyv.de

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Street address

Gründgensstraße 18
22309 Hamburg

Postal address

Gründgensstraße 18

22309 Hamburg

Email

info@dsv.org

Website

www.dsv.org

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Procedure details

If you want to operate a sports or leisure craft on federal waterways, you need a driving license. This license is usually evidenced by a recreational boating license.

If you have one of the following documents, you can have it converted into a recreational boating license for the respective area of validity and type of propulsion:

  • Driving license for goods and passenger shipping,
  • recognized official service authorization certificate from the German Armed Forces, fire department or another public institution,
  • other driving license that has been officially recognized by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport.

The recreational craft license is issued as an international certificate within the meaning of UNECE Resolution No. 40 as a driver's license card.

  • existing driving license or officially recognized authorization to drive watercraft on federal waterways

or

  • Examination certificate from the vocational school on successful completion of vocational training as an inland navigation skipper in accordance with the applicable vocational training regulations by 07/2022

or

  • Confirmation from the vocational school of successful completion of the intermediate examination in the vocational training course for inland navigation skippers and captains in accordance with the applicable vocational training regulations from 08/2022 onwards

  • Required document/s
    • certified copies of existing driving licenses on waterways or officially recognized authorization to drive watercraft on federal waterways

    or

    • Examination certificates from the vocational school on successful completion of vocational training as an inland navigation skipper in accordance with the applicable vocational training regulations by 07/2022

    or

    • Confirmation from the vocational school of successful completion of the intermediate examination in the vocational training course for inland navigation skippers and inland navigation captains in accordance with the applicable vocational training regulations as of 08/2022

    additionally:

    • a current passport photo (35 mm x 45 mm, without headgear), submitted digitally
    • completed SEPA direct debit mandate for the issuing fee, plus foreign postage if applicable
    • medical certificate for recreational craft license applicants, if applicable

You can apply online or by post to the offices of the associations authorized by the BMDV for the issue of your driver's license to operate sports and leisure craft on federal waterways on the basis of an official qualification/authorization.

Online application:

  • Call up the federal portal via .
  • Select the application for transfer of the recreational craft license.
  • Complete the application and upload the required files.
  • Send the application digitally.
  • The fee will be collected by SEPA direct debit.

Postal application:

  • Download the current application form from the association's website:
    • Deutscher Motoryachtverband e. V.
    • German Sailing Association e. V.
  • Complete the application form.
  • Send the application with the required documents by post.
  • The fee will be collected by SEPA direct debit.

If your application has been approved, you will receive your license by post. In all other cases, the authorized association will contact you directly.

The costs relate to the transfer. The costs may vary if further services are required, for example for shipping abroad.
Fee: EUR 41.59

Prepayment: yes

There is no deadline.

Depending on the seasonal workload, processing by the office may take longer. Please note that the driving license will be sent to you directly by the Bundesdruckerei. Processing there usually takes 6 working days. The processing office can only provide information about the processing status in its own office. (3 to 5 weeks)

In the event of loss of a recreational craft license, change of name or change of conditions, the application for replacement copies applies.

  • Objection
    • You will find further information on how to lodge an objection in the notification of your application for transfer.
  • Legal action before the competent local administrative court

Status: 23.02.2025
Editorial responsibility Bundesministerium für Verkehr
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