Boat and jet ski licences

The information on this page is valid as at October 2022

If you’re visiting interstate waters while on holiday or when cruising the coast, check whether your marine licence is valid and whether you need to register your vessel to travel on their waters – you’ll find links to the marine authority websites below. It’s also important to observe other state’s regulations as they might be different to your home waters – including speed restrictions, wearing of lifejackets, and safety equipment.

There might also be restrictions for when a PWC can be operated – in SA, for example, a PWC can be operated on state waters after 8:00am from Monday to Saturday and after 9:00am on a Sunday until sunset or 8:00pm on any day; and at any time between sunrise and sunset on any day, on the River Murray when towing waterskiers, providing all waterskiing rules are complied with.

On each state’s maritime authority’s website, you’ll find lists of approved training providers, practice tests, study guides, recreational boating safety handbooks, details of how to obtain a recreational marine licence (if it’s mandatory there), and other useful information.

The ACT Government does not have a boat licence or registration scheme.

ACT residents wishing to obtain a boat licence or register a boat should contact another state or territory’s relevant agency, such as NSW Roads and Maritime Services.

For recreational powered boating, the speed in which a boat is driven will determine whether you need a boat licence or not to operate the boat:

• Boats operated at a speed under 10 knots don’t require a licence
• Boats operated at a speed over 10 knots must hold a licence from any state or territory
• Any condition or restriction of that licence must be complied with.

Powerboats operated on ACT lakes must be registered with a state or territory and any condition or restriction of that registration must be complied with in the ACT. There are offences for non-compliance. For example, currently in NSW, boat registration is required where a powerboat is powered by an engine with a power rating of 4.0 kilowatts or more (greater than 5hp) or where a power-driven boat is 5.5m or longer.

For more information, visit:  accesscanberra.act.gov.au > home > driving, transport and parking > licences > boating on ACT lakes

Source:  https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/driving-transport-and-parking/licences/boating-on-act-lakes#Boat-licences-and-registration

You need a licence to drive a vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters if:

• You plan to drive the vessel at 10 knots (18.5 km/h) or more, or
• the vessel is a personal watercraft (PWC).

You don't need a licence for:

• Driving a powerboat under 10 knots, or sailing boat using its engine under 10 knots
• Sailing a sailing boat without an engine
• Using paddlecraft such as canoe, kayak or surf ski, or rowing vessels such as a row boat
• Using a sailboard or kiteboard.

There are two classes of boat licence in NSW:

• General boat licence (GBL) and
• Personal Watercraft (PWC) licence.

To get a PWC driving licence you need to get a general boat licence first.

You can apply for a general boat licence from age 12. There are licence restrictions for people under age 16.

For more information and details on how to apply for a boat or PWC licence, visit: nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/maritime-licences.

Source: NSW Government, Boating and Marine in NSW – Maritime Licences.

In the Northern Territory, you don't need to hold a licence to operate a recreational boat. You don't have to register your boat.

However, you must know the boat laws in the NT. You may be prosecuted if you do not obey these laws. Before taking to the water, you should read the safety guide for recreational boating.

To view the NT safety guide for recreational boating, and for the marine safety rules in the NT, visit: nt.gov.au/marine > Marine safety > safety guides and equipment > Safety guide for recreational boating.

For more information, visit: nt.gov.au/marine > For all harbour and boat users > Owning a boat > New to recreational boating.

Source: NT Government – Boating, Fishing and Marine.

You must have a marine licence to operate a boat that has an engine power greater than 4.5kW. 

In Queensland, a boat (also known as a Queensland regulated ship) must only be used for recreational activities, or for school, surf lifesaving or community activities – not for business, trade or commerce.

To operate a personal watercraft, you must have a recreational marine licence and a personal watercraft licence.

If you have a supervisor with a valid marine licence on board, you can operate a boat or personal watercraft without a licence. The licensed supervisor must be able to take immediate control in case of trouble.

You can only operate a boat or personal watercraft that is towing a person – for example, someone waterskiing or riding a tube – if you have a valid marine licence.

Certain rules apply if you want to drive a hire boat – contact your local Maritime Safety Queensland office to find out more.

Once you have your Queensland marine licence, you don't need to renew it – it is valid for life.

To get a Queensland marine licence, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Complete and pass a BoatSafe course or have a recognised and valid interstate marine licence.

For more information, details on how to apply for a marine licence in Qld, and to find a BoatSafe training provider, visit: qld.gov.au/transport/boating/licences/recreational

Source: Queensland Government, boating and watercraft licences.

In South Australia, you must hold a current boat operator's licence to operate any type of recreational vessel fitted with an engine, regardless of the size of the boat or its engine, or whether the engine is being used at the time.

Personal watercraft can only be operated by people over 16 years old who hold a boat operator's licence. Special permit holders cannot operate a PWC.

If you hold a current commercial qualification like a coxswain or master certificate you can operate a recreational vessel fitted with an engine.

Operators of kayaks and canoes fitted with an electric motor of not more than 150 newtons and who are aged 16 or over don't need to hold a boat licence. For other motorboats a licence is not required if you are at least 12 years of age, are under the direct supervision of a person with a boat operator's licence and do not exceed 10 knots.

You must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a boat operator's licence. Children aged between 12 and 16 may apply for a special permit to operate a recreational vessel.

You can store a digital boat licence using the mySAGOV app. If requested by an authorised person, you must present your boat operator's licence, permit or commercial certificate within 48 hours.

For more information and details on how to get a South Australian boat operator's licence, visit: sa.gov.au/topics/boating-and-marine/boat-operators-licences-and-permits/boat-licence.

Source: Government of South Australia, Boating and Maritime – Boat licences and permits.

A motor-boat licence is required to operate a vessel 4hp or more (except for a hire and drive vessel). Anyone over 17 can apply for a boat licence.

To operate a PWC, you must have an endorsement on your current motor-boat licence.

Motor-boat licences can only be obtained by completing a BoatSafe Practical Course with an Accredited Provider.

It is not a requirement to carry your licence when on the water in Tasmania but Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) by-laws stipulate that, if requested, the licence must be produced within 14 days.

You can apply for a provisional boat licence if you are 12 to 16 years old. The Provisional Licence is gained the same way as a full licence. The following restrictions apply to provisional licence holders:

• Must be accompanied by a responsible adult
• Must not take charge of a motor-boat at night
• Must not at any time exceed a speed of 20 knots
• Must not tow a skier.

At the end of your provisional licence period:

• You will receive a renewal notice by mail
• Upon payment, you will be issued with a full Motor Boat Licence effective from your 17th birthday.

All Tasmanian boat licences expire on the same date. This expiry date happens at three-year intervals so the length of your licence depends on when your licence starts.

For more information and details on how to get a Tasmanian boat licence, visit: mast.tas.gov.au/licensing.

Source: Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) Licensing.

And: Tasmanian Government, Boats and Fishing – Boat licences.

You need a marine licence (also known as a boat licence) to be the master of a recreational powerboat in Victoria.

Anyone operating a powered recreational vessel on Victorian waters requires a marine licence. This includes sailing boats and paddle-craft fitted with a motor – though some low-powered kayaks and canoes are exempt.

Masters of personal watercraft (PWC), such as jet skis, must obtain an endorsement on their marine licence in order to operate this type of vessel. You must be 16 or above to apply for this endorsement.

You must carry your licence with you when operating a vessel.

A restricted licence is required by any person over the age of 12, but under the age of 16, who is operating a powered recreational vessel. Holders of a restricted marine licence may act as master of a recreational vessel only if:

• Operating during daylight hours between sunrise and sunset;
• Operating at speeds of less than 10 knots; and
• Not operating a vessel that is towing a person, another vessel or object.

You cannot get a PWC endorsement on a restricted licence. Once a restricted master turns 16 years old, the restricted marine licence automatically becomes a marine licence.

An unlicensed person may operate a vessel under the direct supervision of a person who is:

• Over the age of 18 years;
• Licensed and endorsed appropriately for the vessel being operated (for example, if a PWC is being operated, the licence must be endorsed for PWC operation); and
• Onboard the vessel in a position where they are able to take immediate control of the vessel.

Licences are only issued for a period of five years. There are two ways to get a recreational boat licence in Victoria – either with a course or by self-study.

For more information and details on how to get a Victorian boat or PWC licence, visit: transportsafety.vic.gov.au/maritime-safety/recreational-boating.

Source: Maritime Safety Victoria, Maritime Safety – Recreational boating, recreational boat licence.

Western Australia requires the person in charge of a vessel with a motor that exceeds 6hp (4.5 kW) in power to hold a Recreational Skipper's Ticket (RST).

The RST is a nationally recognised certificate of competency which shows that the holder has the minimum knowledge and practical skills needed to operate a powerboat safely. It is the minimum qualification needed to operate a powerboat in WA.

The RST is not a licence, so there is no need to renew the Ticket or pay ongoing fees.

A person must have a Recreational Skipper's Ticket if:

• He or she is the person in charge of an RST vessel
• The vessel is being operated in the water

An RST vessel is any boat that is:

• Registered with the Department of Transport, or required to be registered
• Used for recreational purposes
• Powered by/has an engine with more than 6hp (4.5 kW).

Only the person-in-charge of the boat (the 'skipper') needs to have an RST, but they must have it with them the entire time the boat is in operation. The skipper is responsible for what happens on the boat during the voyage, but this doesn't mean that they must be at the wheel the whole time.

Note: you do not need an RST to own a boat that is docked or on land. You also do not need an RST to operate a vessel that does not have a motor, or that has a motor with a power of 6hp (4.5 kW) or less.

The minimum age to obtain a RST is 14 years old.

For more information and details on how to get an RST, visit: transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/recreational-skippers-ticket

Source: Government of Western Australia, Department of Transport.

The information on this page is valid as at October 2022