Changing the navigation area

In France, inland waterway navigation (rivers, lakes, etc.) is less administratively restrictive than maritime navigation. It is entirely possible to move your pleasure boat from one to the other, provided you comply with French legislation. Bateau-immatriculation.com provides an overview of the different procedures for changing pleasure boat navigation zones.

All recreational boats are allowed to navigate in French inland waters. Some must have a certificate of registration (replaces the navigation license since January 1, 2022). This is the case if:

• the hull length is between 5 and 20 meters with a light displacement (length x width x draught) of less than 100 m3; please contact us if it's over that.
• the hull length is less than 5 meters but the engine power is equal to or greater than 4.5 kW (6 HP).

Below these specifications, registration is not mandatory and remains optional.

If you were sailing in a maritime zone, or if you purchased a boat registered at sea, and you wish to transfer your pleasure craft exclusively for river navigation, you will need to complete certain administrative procedures.

Deregistration from maritime waters is the first step. Once the boat is deregistered, you can no longer navigate until it is registered in river waters.

Please note that for the payment of the DAFN (Annual Navigation Tax), any month started is due, and you must be up-to-date with all your payments. The DAFN collection office will require payment of the amounts due. For example, a boat deregistered at the beginning of the year will owe DAFN for the year already begun.

You must then contact the registration service for the river domain at one of the six instructing services in France, if your pleasure craft meets the above criteria. Bateau-immatriculation.com offers a personalized service to handle all these administrative procedures. Simplify your life, entrust them to our yachting professionals!

Upon registration, an identification number specific to the river domain will be issued to you and must be displayed on the vessel (see our article on pleasure boat lettering regulations).

  "We handle your application remotely and take care of all the procedures until we issue you a registration certificate with a registration number, whether for maritime or inland waterways "

First, you must inform the instructing department of your intention to sail at sea and request your deregistration. Then, the registration procedures depend on the type of vessel and are different from those for river areas. This registration with the DDTM (Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea) is mandatory if:

• the hull length reaches or exceeds 2.5 meters, regardless of the propulsion method
• the engine reaches or exceeds a power of 4.5 kW.

Bateau-immatriculation offers to handle all these procedures for you.

In addition to registration, some pleasure craft are subject to the annual tax on marine recreational craft (replaces the DAFN and the Passport Duty since January 1, 2022):

• hull length greater than 7 meters (sailboat, motorboat)
• engine with an administrative power of at least 22 administrative horsepower
• PWC (jet ski, personal watercraft) with a real power of 90 kW and more.

Annual payment is made to the Directorate of Maritime Affairs, and any month started is due.