Skipper License Croatia

Skipper License Croatia

Do you need a skipper license in Croatia?

Yes—if you want to drive a motorboat or rent a boat without a skipper, at least one person onboard must have:

  • A valid boating (skipper) license
  • A VHF radio certificate (sometimes included) 

Without it, you cannot legally charter a boat. 

 

Nautical & VHF License Requirement for Boat Charter in Croatia

In accordance with Croatian law, at least one person on board must hold a valid nautical and VHF (Very High Frequency) radio license. This requirement ensures safety and proper communication while navigating Croatian waters.

If you choose to charter a boat without hiring a skipper, you must possess the necessary licenses in addition to having the required sailing experience. This ensures you are fully equipped to handle the vessel safely and comply with local regulations.

In Croatia, Nautical and VHF licenses are issued by the Port Authorities. If your license was issued in a foreign country, we recommend you verify its validity for Croatian territorial waters to ensure compliance with local regulations.

How to Obtain a License

To obtain these licenses, you’ll need to attend theoretical and practical courses and pass an exam. The process ensures you have the knowledge and skills necessary to sail safely in Croatian waters.

Bareboat Charter Requirements

If you wish to charter a boat without a skipper, you must provide copies of your Nautical and VHF licenses in advance for us to confirm your booking. Should there be any issues with your documents, we’ll notify you promptly to avoid any last-minute surprises.

Important Note: Bring Your Originals

It is crucial that you bring the original copies of your licenses with you when boarding the boat. Croatian laws are strict about documentation, and without all the necessary papers, chartering a boat is not possible. Be sure not to forget your original licenses to ensure a smooth sailing experience.

 

BOAT LIDER CATEGORY C (International licence recognized worldwide)

Join our intensive 7-day theoretical and practical course designed to fully prepare you for the Boat Skipper Category C licence exam—an internationally recognised qualification for both commercial and private navigation.

Scope (Target audience) : The course is conducted in accordance to the requirements of article 53. of the Regulations of boats and yachts (National gazette NN #57/2006).

Objective : After successful completion of the course the trainees will be competent to:

  • Operation of all boats and yachts up to 18 meters in length
  • Operation of vessels for private and commercial purposes (charter, bareboat rental, commercial activities)
  • Transport of passengers, cargo and equipment
  • Commercial navigation, tourist cruises, workboats and fishing operations
  • Navigation without zone limitation, in accordance with vessel registration
  • Navigation in internal sea waters, territorial sea and waters accessible from the sea
  • Command of the vessel and management of the crew
  • Responsibility for the safety of the vessel, passengers and crew
  • Handling of navigation, safety and communication systems (VHF/DSC)

Course content:

  • Maneuvering the boat in real conditions
  • Docking stern to, along side, undocking
  • Basics of sailing
  • Navigation
  • Basic knowledge marine engine
  • Maritime law, meteorology and first aid
  • Boat maneuvering and collision avoidance
  • Maritime radio communication service VHF
  • Safety at sea

Duration: 7 days

Prerequisite:

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Identification card or passport
  • 2 passport size colored photographs
  • Medical exam issued by Occupational health practice in Republic of Croatia (*optional we can organize for group-last for few hours).

Approved by :

  • MINISTRY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF REPUBLIC OF CROATIA CROATIAN
  • REGISTER OF SHIPPING

Note to client : After successful completion of the course and examination at the Harbour Office candidates will receive a Boat Leader’s Licence Category C a issued by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of Republic of Croatia. *This licence is recognized worldwide.

Validity of the Certificate: With a Boat Leader’s Licence Category C, all boats can be operated, as well as yachts up to 30 gross tons (and for comercial purposes), and are issued for a period of 5 (five) years. It is renewed with a valid certificate of healthworthiness of a member of a crew of naval vessels, boats and yachts issued by a licensed physician.

How to get licence:

*On our course you will obtain all necessary theorectical and practical knowledge needed to access an exam which is obligatory and consists only of the theoretical part.The exam is held near our base in the building of the Port Authority Sibenik, located in front of the dock for boats where exam participants-our atendees show their docking skills on academy training boat. The entire administration and exam procedure lasts for a couple of hours, depends on the number of exam participants.

*With the assurance category C licence you can manage your own or a rented boat / yacht in charter worldwide. In renting a charter agency will check what your "licence" offers from your boat's offer. In practice, they are almost all sizes of the most common sailboats in the charter up to 55 ft, like Elan Impression 45, Hanse 508. Also catamarans are very popular, so you can rent Lagoon 42, Bali 4.2 or similar models.

Price per person: 1950.00 EUR

PRICE INCLUDES: Theoretical lecture, course materials, practical lecture on a sail boat, professional skipper instructor, boat, fuel, marina fee, accomodation on boat-double shared beds, bedlinen, gas for the kitchen, safety equipment, inflatable dinghy, outboard engine, final cleaning, exam, Medical, organization-paperwork, tourist tax, 25% VAT.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: food and beverages, personal insurance, 2 passport size colored photographs

BOAT LIDER CATEGORY B (Only for teritorial waters of Croatia)

Scope (Target audience) : The course is conducted in accordance to the requirements of article 52. of the Regulations of boats and yachts (National gazette NN #27/2005).

What a Category B holder is allowed to do

  • Operation of a boat for passenger transport – 3 NM from the mainland or island coast
  • Authorisation to use a VHF radio station
  • Operation of a boat for personal purposes, navigation up to 12 NM from the mainland or island coast
  • Operation of a boat for personal purposes with propulsion power greater than 15 kW (min. age 18)
  • Operation of a boat for cargo transport and fishing vessels, navigation in internal sea waters, waters accessible from the sea and the Adriatic Sea
  • Operation of yachts up to 18 meters chartered without crew (bareboat) in areas III and IV
  • Operation of yachts up to 18 meters for personal purposes (areas III and IV)

Serve as crew

  • Be a crew member on boats (private or commercial) in areas III and IIIa
  • Be a crew member on passenger vessels in areas I and II
  • Be a crew member on yachts over 18 m, regardless of navigation area

 Course content :

  • Navigation (sailing)
  • Basic knowledge of marine engine
  • Maritime law and meteorology
  • Boat manoeuvring,
  • Safety and first aid
  • Maritime radio communication service

Duration: 5 hours theoretical + practical course 12h

Prerequisite :

  • At least 16 years of age
  • Identification card or passport
  • 2 passport size colored photographs

Approved by :

  • CROATIAN REGISTER OF SHIPPING

Note to client : After successful completion of the course and examination at the Harbour Office candidates will receive a Boat Leader’s License Category B issued by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Croatia.

How to get licence

*On our 3 day course, 4th day exam you will obtain all necessary knowledge needed to access an exam which is obligatory and consists only of the theoretical part. The exam is held near our base in the building of the Port Authority Sibenik, located in front of the dock for boats where exam participants-our atendees show their docking skills on academy training boat. The entire administration and exam procedure lasts for a couple of hours, depends on the number of exam participants.

*So, with the assurance category B licence you can manage your own or a rented boat / yacht in charter only in teritorial waters of Croatia. In renting a charter agency will check what your "licence" offers from your boat's offer. In practice, they are almost all sizes of the most common sailboats in the charter, like Elan Impression 45, Hanse 508. Also catamarans are very popular, so you can rent Lagoon 42, Bali 4.2 or similar models. For motor boats, we can offer Merry Fisher.

Price per person: 1250.00 EUR

PRICE INCLUDES: Theoretical lecture, course materials, practical lecture on a sail boat, professional skipper instructor, boat, fuel, marina fee, accomodation on boat, bedlinen, gas for the kitchen, safety equipment, inflatable dinghy, outboard engine, final cleaning, exam, Medical, organization-paperwork, tourist tax, 25% VAT.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: food and beverages, personal insurance, 2 passport size colored photographs

 

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Info@yachtingincroatia.com

CONTACT PERSON: Mario Kundih, +38591 5701101

Head of our Yachting in Croatia Academy is Mario Kundih, who holds a degree from the Faculty of Kinesiology, is a professional skipper with more than 25 years of experience and a sailing instructor, holds an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certificate from the Royal Yachting Association, and has also earned a Certificate of Completion of the Professional Development Program for Sailing Coach at the Olympic Academy in Croatia.