The French Pleasure Craft License adopts a new format

It was unveiled by Fabrice Loher, Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries, at the Grand Pavois maritime festival: the new format of the boat license has been in effect since October 3, 2024. In this article, the team at Bateau-immatriculation.com presents it to you.

We often talk about the "Pleasure Craft License". Officially, it is called the License to operate motorized pleasure craft or License to operate personal pleasure watercraft. Issued nearly 100,000 times each year by the French Ministry in charge of Transport, it allows pleasure boaters to operate motorized pleasure craft with an engine power greater than 6 fiscal horsepower, or 4.5 kilowatts.

A new boat license to modernize pleasure boating

Until the beginning of October 2024, the license to operate boats in inland waters or at sea - whether it was the coastal license or the offshore license, was issued in paper format. It was a document with three panels, representing a vertical rectangle of 100 mm by 70 mm when folded.

Since the end of 2024, the boat license has been presented on a new, more compact, more resistant, and more durable medium, still rectangular – this time, in a horizontal orientation, in a "bank card" format.

Now measuring 85.6 mm by 53.98 mm and made of plastic, the boat license joins the secure documents and titles produced by France Titres and the Imprimerie Nationale – or IN Groupe.

Why this change?

The transition to the boat license in its new format is an integral part of a broader modernization initiative for procedures related to pleasure boating, led by the Ministry Delegate in charge of the sea and fisheries and the General Directorate for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture – or DGAMPA.

A more suitable pleasure craft license

More practical, more robust… The arguments from the stakeholders behind the new sea and inland waters licenses are numerous.

For the Bateau-immatriculation.com team, the difference is noticeable, first of all, in terms of ease of use: the new "credit card" type medium is, in fact, easier to store in a wallet and more resistant to the elements. No more excuses for the navigator who doesn't have it on them, in the event of a check while sailing!

To go further: Administrative boat offenses: what are the risks?

A secure pleasure craft license that includes all the information

Like the car license (Permis B type) or the latest generation national identity card, the new version of the boat license displays several pieces of information and elements on a secure background on both sides.

The boat license in its new format

Front side:

• The phrases "License to operate motorized pleasure craft" and "French Republic"
• The logo of the French Republic
• The name of the title holder
• First name(s)
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Date of issue of the license
• Medical code
• License number
• Title number
• A QR code to access the digital data associated with the title
• A photograph of the holder, protected by an optically variable mark
• A Multiple Laser Image including the holder's portrait and the title number.

Back side:

• The details of the options and extensions held by the title holder - or prerogatives: the Coastal option, the Offshore extension, the Inland waters option and/or the Inland waters large pleasure craft extension
• The effective dates of the options and extensions
• The issuing authorities
• A secure code containing the portrait image.

A secure pleasure boating title

For added security, beyond the specific marks used to secure the document, the 2024 sea license is also equipped with invisible fluorescent inks, visible under ultraviolet light.

A theoretical exam, a practical exam, as well as the purchase of a tax stamp worth 78 euros are still necessary to obtain the 2024 boat license. Finally, like the old document, the new French boat license does not include an expiration date.

A new boat license designed for international use

Still with the desire to facilitate procedures for cruising boaters, the Ministry Delegate in charge of the sea and fisheries, the DGAMPA, and France Titres have devised a new boat license that also makes it possible to sail without difficulties abroad.

The License to operate motorized pleasure craft was already valid internationally before October 3, 2024. However, until then, boaters planning to sail internationally were responsible for obtaining an official translation of their boat license to be presented in the event of a check by authorities in the destination country.

The QR code of the new boat license aims, in particular, to facilitate the use of the license by the boater abroad, and the conduct of sea checks if necessary: from now on, it allows authorities to access the title data in digital format, translated into most foreign languages. Information, including prerogatives and any medical restrictions, is thus directly accessible.

Obtaining the pleasure craft license in its new format

Since the launch of the new boat license on October 3, 2024, the new version of the document has been issued to every new holder.

But don't worry: if you are in possession of a pleasure craft license in an old format, you do not need to make a renewal request. Your sea license or inland license remains valid, of course, without the need to carry out any particular procedure!

However, if you wish to change a paper boat license for a card-format boat license, it is possible: if you hold an old license and you make a request for a duplicate Pleasure Craft License, or an extension, then your title will be renewed and you will obtain the new License to operate motorized pleasure craft.