Published on 6 January 2025

Registering a yacht

The administrative processes to register a yacht under the Swiss flag (in CE design categories A or B) and to get the associated certificate of flag registration issued 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 Swiss yacht CADENZA and her crew at anchor south of Aegina Island. — © Pierre Tschirren

Conditions for yacht registration

The key conditions to register a yacht under the Swiss flag are the following:

Owners of a Swiss yacht 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.
The yacht must be seaworthy and be equipped for use at sea.

The detailed requirements to register a yacht and renew the registration, and the equipment guidelines for yachts under the Swiss flag are summarised in the following documents:

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»
Confirmation of non-commercial use
PDF88.72 kB18 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.). In the case of a self-built vessel, proof of ownership consists of invoices and proof of payment for the materials used, 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 of representation
PDF67.50 kB18 February 2025
5. Technical details on the vessel and confirmation of unrestricted seaworthiness for the relevant cruising area with the associated equipment:
5.1 To register a second-hand yacht or a self-built vessel, a certificate of seaworthiness must be provided.
If the vessel is already entered in the Swiss Yacht Register in the previous owner's name (pre-registration), the SMNO can use the certificate of seaworthiness from the initial registration or the most recent renewal of the certificate of flag registration. The period of validity of the new certificate of flag registration is based on the five-year validity of the existing certificate of seaworthiness. If this expires at the time of the change of ownership, a certificate of seaworthiness for renewal of the certificate of registry or for pre-registration is sufficient.
References for self-built craft
PDF78.83 kB18 February 2025
Seaworthiness certificate for renewal of certificate of registry
PDF55.62 kB18 February 2025
Seaworthiness certificate for yacht registration (initial registration)
PDF71.25 kB18 February 2025
5.2 To register a new yacht from the shipyard, the type certificate and builder's certificate must be provided, along with a copy of the invoice for purchase of a life-raft (in accordance with ISO 9650-1) in the vessel owner's name, or, if the life-raft is second-hand, copies of the corresponding maintenance certificates.
5.3 If the vessel has a class from a recognised classification society, the classification certificate can be submitted instead of the information under 5.1 and 5.2.
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 yachts
PDF73.80 kB18 February 2025
7. All certificates required under international law. For seagoing yachts, 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 vessel 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 vessels with an overall length of more than 24m 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 vessel will be provisionally registered and the documents must be submitted within a time frame specified by the SMNO on a case-by-case basis.
List of recognised classification societies
PDF83.48 kB17 February 2025
General provisions for Swiss seagoing yachts
PDF112.23 kB17 February 2025
8. If the yacht 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 of entry in the Swiss Yacht Register.
Applications for registration 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 certificate of flag registration applications
Instructions: Creating an account on SMNO-Mares
PDF404.97 kB10 January 2025
Transmitting and/or receiving equipment is not mandatory for Swiss yachts under 150 GRT, but it is useful for safety purposes and helpful in emergencies and is therefore recommended by the SMNO (see also the equipment guidelines for yachts under the Swiss flag). 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 yacht is equipped with appropriate 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
Guidelines for the equipment of Swiss seagoing yachts
PDF84.09 kB18 February 2025
EPIRB factsheet
PDF1.14 MB24 March 2025
EPIRB short guide
PDF584.22 kB9 December 2024
The costs for an initial registration amount to CHF 1,550 (checking of all documentation, entry into the registry database, issuance of the certificate of flag registration for five years) plus postage. The fee is paid on invoice.
Ordinance on Maritime Navigation Fees
Information regarding the applicable customs and taxes (including VAT) for yachts, and the procedures e.g. for inward and outward clearance and import and export of a vessel can be obtained from the relevant Swiss and foreign customs authorities and representations.
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 vessel 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 seagoing yachts
PDF112.23 kB17 February 2025

Documents

Contact

FDFA Swiss Maritime Navigation Office SMNO
Elisabethenstrasse 33
P.O.Box
Switzerland - 4010 Basel

Registering a yacht

Conditions for yacht registration

Conditions for yacht registration or renewal of registration

Guidelines for the equipment of Swiss seagoing yachts

Documentation needed for initial registration and for issuing the certificate of registry

Confirmation of non-commercial use

References for self-built craft

Co-ownership and power of representation

References for self-built craft

Seaworthiness certificate for renewal of certificate of registry

Seaworthiness certificate for yacht registration (initial registration)

List of recognised classification societies

Provisions and references regarding third-party liability insurance for yachts

List of recognised classification societies

General provisions for Swiss seagoing yachts

Application submission and processing time

Instructions: Creating an account on SMNO-Mares

Maritime radio and EPIRB

Guidelines for the equipment of Swiss seagoing yachts

EPIRB factsheet

EPIRB short guide

Fees

VAT and customs

General provisions for Swiss seagoing yachts

General provisions for Swiss seagoing yachts

Links

Documents

Co-ownership and power of representation

Conditions for yacht registration or renewal of registration

Confirmation of non-commercial use

EPIRB factsheet

EPIRB short guide

General provisions for Swiss seagoing yachts

Guidelines for the equipment of Swiss seagoing yachts

Instructions: Creating an account on SMNO-Mares

List of recognised classification societies

Provisions and references regarding third-party liability insurance for yachts

References for self-built craft

Seaworthiness certificate for renewal of certificate of registry

Seaworthiness certificate for yacht registration (initial registration)

Contact