You can rent a small open boat up to 5 m long with an engine up to 5 kW (roughly 6–7 hp) in Croatia with no licence at all, as long as you are 18+ and stay within 500 m of the coast. Anything more powerful needs a boat licence – an ICC, RYA Day Skipper, German SBF See or a national equivalent, plus a VHF certificate if the boat has a radio.
For years Croatia was the only EU country where every motorised boat, even one with a 2.5 hp outboard, required a voditelj brodice (boat skipper) licence. In 2022 the Ministry of the Sea drafted an exemption for rented boats without crew: max 5 m length, engine up to 5 kW (6.8 hp), renter at least 18, and navigation no further than 500 m from the nearest shore. Those are the parameters rental companies from Istria to Dubrovnik now use for their "no licence" fleets.
Two things to keep in mind. The exemption covers hired boats only – on your own boat with any engine you still need a licence. And Croatian boating rules have been amended several times recently, so confirm with the rental company what you may do; they carry the responsibility. Without any paperwork, anyone over 12 may also row a boat under 2.5 m.
A typical licence-free boat is an open fibreglass or inflatable 4–5 m hull with a 5–6 hp outboard, seats for 3–5 people, a bimini for shade and a swim ladder. Expect 8–10 km/h – slow, but plenty for the bays around Sukošan, Bibinje and the near side of Ugljan.
| Boat | Engine | Licence | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rowing boat, kayak, SUP | none, under 2.5 m | no (age 12+) | no formal limit |
| Rented boat 4–5 m | up to 5 kW (6.8 hp) | no (age 18+) | 500 m from shore |
| Motorboat up to 7 m | up to 15 kW (20 hp) | Boat skipper A / ICC | 6 NM from the coast |
| Boat, yacht, sailboat up to 30 GT | unlimited | Boat skipper B / ICC + VHF | Croatian waters |
If you dream of Kornati or circumnavigating an island, the 500 m rule is the deal-breaker – read Plavba So Skipperom Alebo Bez instead.
The Ministry publishes an official list of more than 130 recognised certificates from 44 countries. The ones our readers ask about most:
For any charter boat with a VHF radio you also need a radio operator certificate (SRC or national equivalent). The Croatian Boat Skipper B licence includes the radio module, which is why many visitors sit the exam at a harbourmaster's office in Zadar or Split – it is offered in English and costs on the order of 100–150 € (2026).
For a licence-free boat the base asks for photo ID (18+), a signed contract and a refundable deposit – usually 100–300 € in cash or as a card hold. You get a short briefing: starting the engine, anchoring, refuelling and where the 500 m limit runs. For bigger boats they want the original licence, not a phone photo, and for charter yachts the VHF certificate as well.
At sea the maritime police and the harbourmaster (lučka kapetanija) do the checking. Fines for operating without the right certificate run from hundreds to thousands of euros, and most contracts state that your deposit is forfeited in that case. The basic rules:
The classic: taking a 5 hp boat across the Zadar Channel to Ugljan – 3–4 km of open water with ferry traffic. Second: overloading – four adults and a cool box on a 4 m hull means a slow, wet and unsafe ride. Third: heading out at noon just as the maestral picks up around 13:00 and having to punch back through the chop. Leave early, be back by 14:00.
To compare boats near you, open boat rental on Adrysa – each listing says whether the boat is licence-free or comes with a skipper. Around Zadar look at boats in Zadar and boats in Sukošan; current prices are in Boat Rental Prices in Zadar 2026/2027: Small Boat, RIB, Sailboat.