Bundesportal | Apply for a flag certificate for pleasure craft

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Publisher

Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV)

Last update or date of publication

March 21, 2022

Contact

The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.

Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).

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Government service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.

A flag certificate serves as proof of authorization to fly the German flag on a seagoing vessel or a seaworthy pleasure craft.

You can apply for the flag certificate for a recreational craft with a hull length of less than 15 meters, among other things. It is issued for natural persons, partnerships or legal entities. You must have a place of residence or registered office in Germany and either be a German citizen or a citizen of the European Union (EU).

completed (online) application
Identity card or passport (copy)
Purchase contract (copy)
Confirmation of full payment (copy of corresponding receipts)
Proof of technical data (brochure, construction drawing, boat certificate)
Photos of the boat
Copy of the first page of the radio license certificate, if applicable
Copy of the certificate of registration, if applicable
If applicable, joint ownership agreement with proof of the personal details of the respective owners (copy)

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: Yes

Antrag auf Ausstellung eines Flaggenzertifikates für Seeschiffe mit einer Rumpflänge bis 15m (nach § 3 Flaggenrechtsgesetz)

Preconditions

It must be a seagoing vessel, i.e. a vessel intended for seafaring. Among other things, it must be suitable for seafaring due to its design, superstructure and dimensions. The following criteria in particular are used to assess whether this requirement is met:
- Is the vessel certified as CE-compliant in classes A or B?
- Does the vessel have a watertight deck and enclosed cabin superstructures for a longer stay at sea?
- Note: Open motorboats, inflatable boats and rigid inflatable boats are not classified as seagoing vessels!

Ships flying the German flag must have a German home port. This must be the independent municipality or town to which it belongs and which is located on a navigable body of water (coast, sufficiently large river, canal or inland lake).
- If the ship has no actual German home port, it is assumed that the ship is operated from the owner's place of residence or registered office. Alternatively, the port of registry - the location of the shipping register responsible for the (domicile) registered office - is to be listed as the home port.
- Both the home port and the ship's name must be clearly visible and firmly attached to the ship, with the home port at the stern and the ship's name either on the side or at the stern.

If a flag certificate is to be issued for a sea-going vessel, it must not be entered in a ship register (register of sea-going vessels, register of inland waterway vessels or foreign register).

You must pay the fee in full in advance.
Fee
107.00 EUR
Advance payment
yes

Basis for legal action

§ 22 Flaggenrechtsgesetz (FlaggRG)

§§ 14 und 16 Absatz 1 Flaggenrechtsverordnung (FlRV)

Legal Remedies

Appeal against rejection notice

Procedure

You can apply for a flag certificate from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH):

On the BSH website you have the option of submitting the application online or by post.
To apply online, go to the BSH's "Flag certificate" website and follow the instructions. You can upload supporting documents in various formats.
To apply by post, you can complete the application form as a PDF file on your computer and print it out or download it and complete it by hand.
Send the completed application form together with the required documents and evidence by post to the BSH.

Explanations of the application and information about the flag certificate can also be found on the BSH website.

Deadlines

Period of validity
8 years
You must submit a renewal application for an extension.

Processing time

2 weeks
The processing time depends on the season and the individual application.

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