Do you need a licence to charter a yacht? Country by country
3 November 2026
If you want to sail a charter yacht yourself, known as a bareboat charter, the rules depend on where you go. In much of the Mediterranean you need a recognised licence and a radio certificate. In parts of the Caribbean you don’t need a licence at all, but you still have to prove your experience. If you don’t have the paperwork, a skippered charter avoids the question entirely.
The ICC, briefly
The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) comes from a United Nations resolution adopted in 1998, and it is often the simplest way to show a foreign port authority that you can handle a yacht. In the UK, the RYA, IYT Worldwide and BSAC are authorised to issue it, and it can be issued from the age of 16, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the ICC.
The same summary notes it is generally required for the inland and coastal waters of Mediterranean countries, and generally not required in the coastal waters of northern Europe, with exceptions.
Croatia
Charter companies ask for a skipper’s licence or certificate plus a VHF radio operator licence, according to 12knots’ Croatia guide. Croatia has adopted the UN resolution behind the ICC, so the ICC is officially accepted there. The Croatian ministry publishes the full list of recognised certificates.
See our Croatia guide for seasons and charter bases.
Greece
Greece is stricter than most. According to Filovent’s Greece FAQ:
- the person in command needs a licence recognised by Greek port authorities, such as an ICC, RYA Coastal Skipper Practical or higher, or ASA 104
- RYA Day Skipper on its own has not been accepted since March 2019
- you need the original card, not a photocopy or a photo
- a second experienced adult must be on the crew list
- bareboat charter stops at 24 metres; above that, a professional captain is required
More in our Greece guide.
Spain and the Balearic Islands
Spain has not formally adopted the ICC resolution but is likely to ask visiting skippers for one, according to Wikipedia’s ICC summary. Check with your charter company which national licences it accepts. Charter yachts there must be Spanish-flagged with a charter licence, according to Boatbookings’ Spain FAQ.
See the Balearic Islands guide.
British Virgin Islands
No licence is required to bareboat in the BVI, according to Virgin Island Sailing’s FAQ. Instead, charter companies want evidence that you have skippered a similar-sized yacht and can anchor, moor and navigate.
See the BVI guide.
A licence isn’t the whole story
Even where a certificate is accepted, charter companies usually ask for a sailing CV, a short record of the boats you have skippered and where. 12knots’ bareboat guide also warns that a base manager may ask for a short practical test at check-in, and that failing it can mean hiring a skipper at extra cost.
Before you book:
- Ask the charter company, in writing, which certificates it accepts for that yacht.
- Check you have a VHF radio certificate if you’re chartering in Europe.
- Write a short sailing CV with dates, boat sizes and areas.
- Bring original documents.