The French Recreational Boating License Adopts a New Format

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

It is often referred to as the "Pleasure Boat License". Officially, it is called the Motor Pleasure Boat Driving License or Personal Watercraft Driving License. Issued nearly 100,000 times each year by the French Ministry of Transport, it allows boaters to operate motor pleasure boats with an engine power greater than 6 fiscal horsepower, or 4.5 kilowatts.

Until early October 2024, the Inland or Sea Boat License - whether coastal or offshore - was issued in paper format. It was a three-part document, 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 support, still rectangular – this time, horizontally oriented, in "credit 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.

The switch to the new format of the boating license is an integral part of a broader modernization initiative for recreational boating procedures, led by the Minister Delegate for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture – or DGAMPA.

More practical, more robust... The arguments from the stakeholders behind the new Sea and Inland Water Permits are numerous.

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

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Like the Type B driver's license or the latest generation national identity card, the new version of the boat license features several pieces of information and elements on a secure background on both sides.

On the front:

• The mentions "Pleasure boat license" and "French Republic"
• The logo of the French Republic
• The name of the license holder
• The first name(s)
• The date of birth
• The place of birth
• The date of issue of the license
• The medical code
• The license number
• The title number
• A QR code to access the digital data associated with the title
• A photograph of the holder, protected by an optically variable device
• A Multiple Laser Image including the holder's portrait and the title number.

On the back:

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

For added security, in addition to specific security markings on the document, the 2024 Pleasure Boat License also features invisible fluorescent inks, visible under ultraviolet light.

Please note: while the medium changes, the new format of the Pleasure Boat License does not alter the conditions for issuing the document. The pleasure boat license reform of June 1, 2022, is still in effect, and all recreational boaters wishing to operate a pleasure craft with an engine power greater than 4.5 kilowatts or 6 fiscal horsepower are still required to hold the document!

A theoretical exam, a practical exam, and the purchase of a 78-euro fiscal stamp are still necessary to obtain the 2024 boat license. Finally, like the old document, the new French boat license does not have an expiration date.

Always with the aim of simplifying procedures for recreational boaters, the Ministry Delegate for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the DGAMPA, and France Titres have designed a new boat license that also allows for **hassle-free navigation abroad**.

The Pleasure Boat License for Motorboats was already valid internationally before October 3, 2024. However, until then, boaters planning to navigate internationally were responsible for obtaining an official translation of their boat license, to be presented in case of inspection by authorities in the desired country of navigation.

The **QR code** on the new boat license aims, in particular, to facilitate the boater's use of the license abroad and the conduct of at-sea inspections if necessary: it now allows authorities to access the **license data in digital format**, **translated into most foreign languages**. Information, including privileges and any medical restrictions, is thus directly accessible.

Since the new boat license came into force on October 3, 2024, the new version of the document is issued to every new holder.

But don't worry: if you have a pleasure craft license in an older format, you do not need to apply for a renewal. Your sea license or river license naturally remains valid, without any need for special procedures!

However, if you wish to exchange a paper boat license for a card-format boat license, it is possible: if you hold an old license and apply for a duplicate Pleasure Craft License, or an extension, then your license will be renewed and you will obtain the new Motor Pleasure Craft Driving License.