Operating a motor boat with a foreign licence in French waters

To operate a motor boat in France, boaters of French nationality generally take the Licence for operating motor pleasure boats: an exam made up of theory and practical tests, more commonly known as the "permis bateau" (boating licence).

Candidates choose an operator certificate corresponding to inland waters, the coastal zone or the offshore zone, depending on their possible vessel, their wishes and their sailing plans. They sit the exam and then obtain a licence that allows them to sail while complying with the regulations.

But what about the foreign boater, recently settled in the country or on holiday on the French coast, who obtained their boating licence abroad? To what extent are they entitled to sail in these waters?

Sailing with a foreign licence

Authorisation to sail depends on two factors: the boater's nationality and the origin of the operator certificate.

• If you are of French nationality or a national of a European Union (EU) member country and you obtained an operator certificate in any EU country, you are authorised to operate a motor boat in French waters.
  Be careful, however: sailing must take place within the limits defined by your boating licence which, in the event of an inspection, must be the original, valid, and have been translated by a sworn professional.
• If your nationality is that of a country outside the European Union and you hold an operator certificate obtained in your country, or within the EU, the same conditions apply.
• On the other hand, if you are not a European national and you only hold a licence from a country that is not part of the European Union and is not your own, you are not authorised to operate a motor boat in French territorial waters.

Article 2, Part One, Decree No. 2007-1167 of 2 August 2007

In maritime waters, operating sailing pleasure boats, even those fitted with an auxiliary engine, is not subject to holding a licence
In inland waters, operating sailing pleasure boats fitted with an engine with a power above 4.5 kilowatts is subject to holding an operator licence valid in inland waters and corresponding to the boat's length.

Obtaining equivalence of the French boating licence

Have you already been granted a motor boat operator licence in a country other than France? Be aware that it is generally easier and quicker to obtain equivalence of the French licence than to retake all the tests.

If you are of French nationality or a national of a European Union member country, or a national of a non-EU country holding a licence obtained within the EU, you may be eligible for a French licence by equivalence.

You will need to send an application file to the Departmental Directorate for Territories and the Sea (DDTM) of Seine-Maritime or to the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Navigation Service, depending on whether you wish to obtain the boating licence with the "Coastal" option or the "Inland waters" option.

The application file for the issue of an operator certificate is made up of several documents depending on your situation: form to fill in, original operator certificate accompanied by its translation, exam syllabus possibly as supporting evidence, copy of identity document and of certificates held, medical certificate less than 6 months old, tax stamp, envelope stamped at the registered mail rate, etc. For more information, you will need to contact the competent services in your locality, in France. The issue of the coastal licence by equivalence may require additional certificates or exams:

• If your boating licence was obtained in a European Union member country, you will also need to provide proof of a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Certificate or an equivalent title.
• If it was awarded to you outside the EU, you will have to sit the theory tests of the French boating licence, "Coastal" or "Inland waters" option: a 40-question multiple-choice questionnaire on the subject of navigation, which you will have to answer with a minimum of 35 correct answers.

Finally, if you are not a European national and your boating licence was not obtained in the EU, you will not be eligible for a French operator certificate by equivalence. You will then have to sit all the boating licence tests in France, theory and practical, to obtain a French motor pleasure boat operator Licence.

Using a VHF without a French boating licence

To use a VHF marine radio, to communicate with other vessels, listen to weather bulletins or contact coastal operators, the French boating licence obtained by equivalence is therefore very important. It will allow you to be in good standing, but also safe.