Which boat licence you need and for what
The qualification needed depends on the length of the boat and the distance from shore: a navigation licence allows up to six metres and two miles, the basic skipper certificate up to eight metres and five miles, and the PER up to fifteen metres and twelve miles.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The navigation licence is obtained on a short course with no official examination.
- The PER allows up to 15 metres of length and 12 miles from shore.
- The Yacht Skipper extends to 24 metres and 150 miles.
- Safety and navigation practicals are compulsory for each certificate.
The right question is not which certificate to take but what you intend to sail. The certificate follows from that, not the other way round.
The ladder of qualifications
The navigation licence is the entry point, with a short theory and practical course and no official examination. The basic skipper certificate and the recreational craft skipper certificate require an examination. The Yacht Skipper and Captain certificates extend length and distance and require more advanced knowledge of astronomical navigation and meteorology.
| Certificate | Maximum length | Distance from shore |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation licence | 6 metres | 2 miles |
| Basic skipper certificate | 8 metres | 5 miles |
| Recreational craft skipper, PER | 15 metres | 12 miles |
| PER with Balearic crossing | 15 metres | crossing endorsed |
| Yacht Skipper | 24 metres | 150 miles |
| Yacht Captain | no length limit | no limit |
| Usual minimum age | 16 or 18 years | by certificate |
The PER and the Balearic crossing
The basic PER limits navigation to 12 miles from shore. To make the crossing between the mainland and the islands with this certificate, a specific 24 hour navigation practical must be evidenced and endorsed on the certificate itself. That detail matters to anyone keeping a boat on the island who wants to cross under their own power rather than pay for delivery.
What obtaining one involves
For the PER, a written examination covering nomenclature, safety, legislation, buoyage, collision regulations, manoeuvring, meteorology, navigation theory and chartwork. Then compulsory safety and navigation practicals, and a radio communications practical. The full cost of the certificate usually runs 500 € to 1,000 € including fees, tuition and practicals.
The certificate has a validity period and must be renewed through a psychophysical medical assessment, like a driving licence.
What a certificate does not give
Experience. A newly qualified skipper knows the regulations but has not manoeuvred in a cross wind on a narrow pontoon or anchored in 25 knots entering a cove. The first 20 or 30 hours sailing alongside someone experienced are worth more than any amount of theory revision, and on an island with exposed stretches of coast that difference shows quickly.
Frequently asked
+What certificate do I need for an 8 metre boat?
The basic skipper certificate allows up to 8 metres and 5 miles from shore.
+What does the PER allow?
Craft up to 15 metres in length, up to 12 miles from shore.
+Can I cross to the Balearics with a PER?
Yes, with the specific 24 hour crossing practical endorsed on the certificate.
+What does the PER cost?
Between 500 € and 1,000 € including fees, tuition and compulsory practicals.
+Does it need renewing?
Yes, by periodic psychophysical medical assessment, like a driving licence.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)