Published on 15 August 2025

Issue of a flag confirmation for coastal boats

The administrative processes to issue a Swiss flag confirmation for coastal boats (in CE design category C) are transparent and efficient, and processing is digital, swift and straightforward. The Swiss Maritime Navigation Office (SMNO) is the central contact point for this and has qualified staff on hand to assist you.

The coastal boat Rina Blue under the Swiss flag. — © Arne Smit

Conditions for the issue of a flag confirmation for coastal boats

The key conditions for the issue of a flag confirmation for a coastal boat under the Swiss flag are:

• Owners of a Swiss coastal boat must be individuals with Swiss citizenship or residence in Switzerland, or legal entities domiciled in Switzerland. Legal entities must also have their actual administration in Switzerland and be entered in the commercial register.
• Coastal boats must have limited seaworthiness and be adequately equipped for the cruising area.

The detailed conditions for the issue or renewal of a flag confirmation are summarised in the following document:

• Conditions for the issue or renewal of a flag confirmation

  PDF88.94 kB18 February 2025

• Documentation needed for first-time issue of flag confirmation

  1. Ownership details

  1.1 for natural persons for all owners:

  • Copies of passports / identity cards (both sides)
  • If they are not Swiss citizens: copies of Swiss residency / settlement permits and current residence certificates (not older than 3 months)

  1.2 for legal entities:

  • Excerpt from the commercial register
  • Form «Confirmation of non-commercial use»
  • Form «Confirmation of actual administration in Switzerland»

  • Confirmation of actual administration in Switzerland

    (German)

    PDF174.98 kB15 August 2025

  • Declaration of non-commercial use for a coastal boat

    PDF89.33 kB17 February 2025

  2. Address, telephone number and email address of all owners.

  3. Proof of ownership (purchase agreement, invoice and proof of payment, notice of inheritance or deed of gift, etc.). For a coastal boat built by the owner, proof of ownership consists of invoices and proof of payment for the materials used and work performed etc.

  • References for self-built craft

    PDF78.83 kB18 February 2025

  4. For co-ownership only: «Co-ownership form and power of representation» and separate co-ownership agreement where applicable.

  • Co-ownership and power representation coastal boats

    PDF67.10 kB18 February 2025

  5. Technical details on the boat and confirmation of limited seaworthiness for the relevant cruising area with the associated equipment:

  5.1 To issue a flag confirmation for a second-hand coastal boat or for a self-built boat a safety certificate must be provided, confirming that the boat in its current state meets the requirements for cruising in coastal waters and is equipped accordingly. This certificate must be issued in English, German, French or Italian.

  For boats already entered in a cantonal register, no safety inspection is required if a valid sailing licence is presented.

  If the coastal boat already has a flag confirmation in the previous owner's name (pre-registration), the SMNO can use the safety certificate from the initial registration or the most recent renewal of the flag confirmation. The period of validity of the new flag confirmation is based on the five-year validity of the existing safety certificate. If this has expired at the time of the change of ownership, a safety certificate when renewing the flag confirmation or for pre-registration is sufficient.

  • References for self-built craft

    PDF78.83 kB18 February 2025

  • Safety certificate when applying for a flag confirmation (initial registration)

    PDF71.95 kB18 February 2025

  • Safety certificate when renewing the flag confirmation or for pre-registration

    PDF55.94 kB18 February 2025

  5.2 For the issue of a flag confirmation for a new coastal boat from the shipyard, the type certificate and builder's certificate must be provided.

  5.3 If the coastal boat has a class from a recognised classification society or is registered in a cantonal register, the classification certificate or valid ship’s registration document can be submitted instead.

  • List of recognised classification societies

    PDF83.48 kB17 February 2025

  6. Proof of third-party liability insurance cover

  • Provisions and references regarding third-party liability insurance for coastal boats

    PDF73.63 kB18 February 2025

  7. All certificates required under international law. For seagoing coastal boats, in particular:

  • the necessary engine certificates;
  • total length of 24m or more:
    • either tonnage measurement confirming that the tonnage-length of 24m is not reached (length of boat in accordance with Art. 2 no. 8 of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of 1969);
    • or International Tonnage Certificate (1969) (ITC 69).
  • from 16 passengers (licence): International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate (ISPP Certificate).

  The tonnage measurement for coastal boats with an overall length of more than 24m or more but less than a tonnage-length of 24m can be performed by an independent expert. The international certificates are issued by recognised classification societies. If the certificates are not yet available, the flag confirmation will be provisionally issued and the documents must be submitted within a time frame specified by the SMNO on a case-by-case basis.

  • General provisions for Swiss coastal boats

    PDF102.61 kB19 August 2025

  • List of recognised classification societies

    PDF83.48 kB17 February 2025

  8. If the coastal boat is currently or was previously entered in another register: certificate of deletion from the foreign register or confirmation that the entry will be deleted at the time the flag confirmation is issued.

• Application submission and processing time

  Applications for issue of a flag confirmation should be submitted electronically via the SMNO online portal. To do this, you need to set up an account. Applications are usually processed within two weeks.

  Electronic submissions by email will not be processed. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be rejected.

  SMNO online portal for flag confirmation application

  • Instructions: Creating an account on SMNO-Mares

    PDF404.97 kB10 January 2025

• Maritime radio and EPIRB

  Transmitting and/or receiving equipment is not mandatory for Swiss coastal boats under 150 GRT, but it is useful for safety purposes and helpful in emergencies and is therefore recommended by the SMNO. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is responsible for the telecommunications regulations for maritime navigation under the Swiss flag. If a coastal boat is equipped with the relevant transmitting and/or receiving equipment (e.g. VHF radio, radar, AIS, EPIRB), an application for a ship station licence or allocation of a maritime radio identification (call sign, MMSI or Atis) must be submitted to OFCOM.

  OFCOM maritime radio

  • EPIRB factsheet

    PDF1.14 MB24 March 2025

  • EPIRB short guide

    PDF584.22 kB9 December 2024

• Fees

  The fee for the initial issue of a flag confirmation is CHF 800 (checking of all documentation, issue of a flag confirmation valid for five years) plus postage. The fee is paid on invoice.

  Ordinance on Maritime Navigation Fees

• VAT and customs

  Information regarding applicable customs and taxes (including VAT) for coastal boats, and the procedures e.g. for inward and outward clearance and import and export of a boat can be obtained from the relevant Swiss and foreign customs authorities and representations.

• General provisions for Swiss coastal boats

  As a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Switzerland has signed various international conventions governing international maritime operations. These international regulations are deemed Swiss law and must be complied with in addition to the provisions of the Yachts Ordinance.

  The document below explains the most important regulations in the Yachts Ordinance and the relevant international conventions, and is intended as an aid and overview, but without claiming to be exhaustive. It is the responsibility of the boat owner and skipper to be aware of and to comply with the relevant rules and regulations.

  Ordinance on Swiss Ocean-Going Yachts (Yachts Ordinance)

  • General provisions for Swiss coastal boats

    PDF102.61 kB19 August 2025

Links

• SMNO online portal for flag confirmation application
• OFCOM maritime radio
• Ordinance on Maritime Navigation Fees
• Ordinance on Swiss Ocean-Going Yachts (Yachts Ordinance)
• Schleusenverein

Documents

• Co-ownership and power representation coastal boats

  PDF67.10 kB18 February 2025

• Conditions for the issue or renewal of a flag confirmation

  PDF88.94 kB18 February 2025

• Declaration of non-commercial use for a coastal boat

  PDF89.33 kB17 February 2025

• EPIRB factsheet

  PDF1.14 MB24 March 2025

• EPIRB short guide

  PDF584.22 kB9 December 2024

• General provisions for Swiss coastal boats

  PDF102.61 kB19 August 2025

• Instructions: Creating an account on SMNO-Mares

  PDF404.97 kB10 January 2025

• List of recognised classification societies

  PDF83.48 kB17 February 2025

• Provisions and references regarding third-party liability insurance for coastal boats

  PDF73.63 kB18 February 2025

• References for self-built craft

  PDF78.83 kB18 February 2025

• Safety certificate when applying for a flag confirmation (initial registration)

  PDF71.95 kB18 February 2025

• Safety certificate when renewing the flag confirmation or for pre-registration

  PDF55.94 kB18 February 2025