The boat registration in Croatia, formerly known as the vignette (Vinjeta) and in some countries referred to as a sailing permit or arrival notifdication, consists of the vessel safety fee and the lighthouse fee. Until 2015, it also includs a fee for an information card (nautical chart of Croatian waters). These fees apply to all recreational vessels in Croatia, both Croatian-flagged and foreign boats / yachts sailing in Croatian waters. The registration is carried out through the harbor master’s office (official document)

In Croatia, every foreign watercraft must be registered if it is longer than 2.50 meters and/or has more than 5 kW engine power. This also applies to DINGHIES! By registering your boat online, you save waiting time at the harbor master’s office and conveniently receive all documents by email.

The online boat registration is valid for the entire Croatian coastal waters and is not limited to the jurisdiction of the issuing harbor authority.

The boat registration is valid for the current calendar year, always until December 31 of the year in which the registration is issued. The fees do not change if you register your boat later in the year; they always and exclusively apply to the entire calendar year.

If you are registering your boat/yacht in Croatia for the first time, we will need your boat documents (e.g., international boat certificate), proof of insurance / insurance confirmation (not required for boats up to 15 kW – mandatory otherwise, as harbor master authorities are obligated to check the insurance when issuing the permit), your captain’s license for sea / coastal waters and a copy of your ID/passport. Additionally, a power of attorney, which we will send to you to fill, with your order confirmation after entering your details, is required.

If your boat/yacht has already been registered in Croatia with same data in the past 5 years, we only need your current proof of insurance and a power of attorney (sent via email with your order confirmation). Your boat registration / permit / vignette will be sent to you promptly by mail.

Since 2023, registrations in some countries are issued without specifying the length and engine power of a boat, yacht or jetski. In this case, we require an official document, such as a declaration of conformity (CE), clearly stating these specifications. Boats without registration cannot be registered for Croatian waters. Registration is mandatory.

New Rules for Italian Recreational Boats in Croatia from 2027

From 1 January 2027, new regulations will apply in Croatia for unregistered Italian recreational boats. The new rules mainly affect boats up to 10 metres in length that, under Italian law, are not required to be registered.

What is changing?

Until now, boat owners could prove ownership using various documents, such as a bill of sale, an invoice, or the CE certificates for the boat and engine. Depending on the Harbour Master’s Office, different documents were accepted.

From 2027, this will no longer be sufficient.

For unregistered Italian recreational boats, only one official document will be accepted as proof of ownership:

Attestazione per Natanti da Diporto Italiani

This document is also commonly known as “Made in Italy” or “DCI”.

What is the Attestazione?

The Attestazione is an official document introduced by the Italian authorities. It contains all the essential information about both the boat and its owner, including:

• Owner’s name

• Boat length

• Engine power

• A unique identification number (Numero Progressivo)

From 2027, this number will become the boat’s primary identification reference.

The Croatian authorities have confirmed that this document will be accepted as the official proof of ownership.

Which boats are affected?

The new rules apply only to unregistered Italian recreational boats.

If your boat is already registered in Italy or under the flag of another country, nothing changes. In these cases, the existing registration document will continue to be accepted.

Which documents will be required from 2027?

If you wish to cruise in Croatian waters with an unregistered Italian recreational boat or apply for a Croatian navigation permit (vignette), you will need:

• Attestazione per Natanti da Diporto Italiani (Made in Italy / DCI)

• A valid passport or identity card

• A valid boating licence

• Valid liability insurance

What if you already have a Croatian vignette?

If you already have a Croatian vignette, you should also be aware of the new requirements.

When renewing your vignette, the information must match the details shown on the Attestazione. In particular, the Numero Progressivo will become the boat’s primary identification number.

If the details on your current vignette do not match those on the Attestazione, they must be updated before a new vignette can be issued.

Why are these changes being introduced?

Until now, there was no standardised procedure. As a result, different Croatian Harbour Master’s Offices accepted different documents, which often led to confusion, inconsistent requirements and, in some cases, difficulties when applying for a Croatian vignette.

The new regulations introduce a uniform procedure for all Harbour Master’s Offices in Croatia, making the application process simpler, clearer and more transparent for boat owners.

Our recommendation

If you own an unregistered Italian recreational boat and plan to cruise in Croatia during the 2027 season, we recommend applying for the Attestazione per Natanti da Diporto Italiani well in advance.

This will help you avoid delays when applying for your Croatian vignette and ensure that you are fully prepared in the event of an inspection at sea.

The costs of the boat registration /permit / vignette in Croatia is calculated based on the length and engine power of your boat or yacht. You can check the amount HERE online. We invoice a additional processing fee for our service: €59.95, for renewals (if your boat was already registered in Croatia with identical data in last 5 years) or €89.95  if the boat has not been registered in Croatia before, or if there have been changes, such as ownership or engine power.

Early Registration Offer: From January 2 to January 31, the processing fee is reduced to €49.95 instead of €59.95 for boats/yachts already registered in Croatia with identical data, and €79.95 instead of €89.95 if the boat/yacht has not been registered or if data changes have occurred.

We handle the entire process with the harbor master authorities for you, so you can start sailing immediately when arriving. No need to visit offices or wait for opening hours.

You can conveniently transfer the fees to us without the need to provide a credit card. There’s no need for a complicated international payment, as Croatia participates in the SEPA transfer system. Starting in 2024, we will also offer the option of a Paylink. If it’s urgent, we’re happy to provide an additional payment method to reduce bank processing time. Simply register your boat for Croatia online!

It’s very straightforward with us. You will receive your boat registration/permit/boat vignette immediately by email as soon as your boat/yacht has been registered with the harbor authorities. There’s no need to wait for a letter, which would take at least e.g. 8–14 days to arrive from Croatia to Germany or Austria. The stickers that were commonly used in the past are no longer issued since 2014; the emailed document serves as confirmation.

Typically, it takes one business day after payment is received if your boat was already registered in Croatia with the same data. If you send us all required documents and the payment is credited to our account by 10:00 a.m., we will register your boat/yacht same day and send arrival notification by mail. For urgent requests, payment via PayPal or PayLink is possible, and we will process your registration immediately.

For new registrations or changes, the process usually takes up to 3 business days from the receipt of payment and all required documents (complete).

In general, this is possible—but considering environmental protection, it doesn’t make much sense. We receive the confirmation digitally and send it to you via email. In exceptional cases, we can print the confirmation and send it by post. The costs for this are borne by the recipient. The postal delivery may take up to 21 days, and possibly longer during peak season. Please carefully consider whether shipping is truly necessary, as it is sufficient to carry a printed copy of the registration.

Yes, a jet ski (which, by the way, requires a coastal skipper license in Croatia, a helmet and appropriate vest must be worn) must be registered and insured separately. The same documents are required for registration as for a boat. Make sure that all measures like length and engine power is shown in your national registration from country of origin.

The dinghy must be marked with “t/t” (= tender to). It does not necessarily have to be registered separately. However, it must remain within sight of the main vessel and must not exceed 2.50 meters in length and/or have more than 5 kW of power.

If you wish to use your dinghy independently, it must be registered if it exceeds the specified limits (over 2.50 meters and/or more than 5 kW). Additionally, in this case, it also requires its own insurance if the power exceeds 15 kW.

No, carrying a crew list is not necessary for recreational boats. However, ONLY if you enter Croatia by sea from a third country (non-EU country) with your boat/yacht, you must present a crew list of all persons on board along with their travel documents (ID card or passport) when clearing in at the first “Port of Entry.”

Payment of tourist tax for a boat/yacht is only neccessary if your boat is longer than 7.00 meters and you actually stay overnight on board. Even if you have rented an apartment or campsite, the tourist tax for boats must be paid in accordance with the regulations. However, if you stay on board during this period, the tourist tax for the apartment/campsite does not need to be paid. Boat tourist tax Croatia registration.

The amount of the tourist tax for boats in Croatia depends on the length of your boat/yacht and the duration of your stay. You can choose between paying by person/days aboard or lumb sum for a time period.

Overview of Croatia Boat Tourist Tax 2021 (latest version).

Yes, Kapetanija (Harbor Master), police, and customs regularly check whether all fees have been paid. As the payment details are stored in a central system, Kapetanija, Customs, andPolice can verify all information online using the boat registration number. They do not need to board your boat/yacht for this. If your boat/yacht is not registered or the tourist tax for overnight stays has not been paid, these amounts must be settled retroactively, and significant fines will be imposed. Additionally, if the Kapetanija or Police stop you for another reason, they will check your documents, and penalties may accumulate.

Currently, fines of up to 2000 euro are imposed if boaters are found without a valid permit/vignette/arrival notification. Caution: If other rules and laws are also violated, fines will accumulate. For example, no arrival notification -> 2000 euro + speeding near the shore -> 800 euros = total fine of 2800 euros! All fines will be charged directly by card payment.

Yes, and this applies without exception to all motorized watercraft. Fines for operating without a license are considerably high, up to 400 euros according to the port authority. Caution: In Croatia, there is no “steerer rule” – EVERYONE at the helm must hold a valid boat license. For further violations, fines will accumulate. If you run VHF aboard, you also have to have a VHF Licence.

In Croatia, all boats with an engine power over 15 kW (20 HP) are required to have insurance (liability insurance). The mandatory minimum coverage is 460,000 euro. You can take out your water sports liability insurance, for example, HERE. If you are sailing on someone else’s boat, it is recommended to also take out a skipper liability insurance.

All boats and yachts with more than 15 kW (20.39 HP) must be liability insured when used in Croatian waters. The legally required minimum coverage is 465,000 euro (formerly 3.5 million kuna). Dinghies/tenders must also be insured.

No, a hobby catamaran, like a surfboard, is considered a sports equipment and does not require a vignette/boat vignette. Neither needs to be registered.

Your arrival date helps us estimate how urgent your arrival notification with the port authority should be processed. Especially during the season, there is a lot going on, and we want to ensure that you receive your registration on time for the start of your vacation.