Boat License in Sweden: Do You Need One to Drive or Rent?
No, for most leisure boats you do not need a boat license in Sweden. You can drive a motorboat, sailboat or RIB without a certificate if it is under 12 metres long or under 4 metres wide, whatever the horsepower. The exceptions: boats at least 12 m long and 4 m wide need a coastal skipper certificate or higher, and jet skis need a licence.
Rules last checked: 25 September 2026. Rules can change, so always confirm with Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, or the rental company before you go out.
Which boats need a licence in Sweden?
The Swedish Transport Agency says it plainly: there is currently no licence requirement for a leisure boat that is shorter than 12 metres and narrower than 4 metres. Unlike Norway, engine power does not matter. A 7-metre RIB with 300 hp needs no certificate by law.
The requirement starts with really big boats. Under Ordinance 1970:344 on competence requirements for drivers of larger leisure boats, a leisure boat whose hull is at least 12 metres long and at least 4 metres wide may only be driven by someone with a skipper's exam, a nautical school exam or other training approved by the Transport Agency. For leisure sailors this in practice means the kustskepparintyg (coastal skipper certificate), which the Swedish boating education board NFB says covers exactly these boats. Breaking the rule can lead to a fine.
Both measurements must apply. A 13-metre boat that is 3.8 m wide is not covered, but a 12.5 m motorboat or sailboat that is 4.2 m wide is. Catamarans are wide for their length, so always check both numbers.
| Boat or situation | What you need | Age / limit |
|---|---|---|
| Leisure boat under 12 m or under 4 m wide | No licence | No hp limit |
| Leisure boat at least 12 m long and 4 m wide | Kustskepparintyg or higher | Fine if broken |
| Jet ski | Jet ski licence (förarbevis) | At least 15 |
| Boat of 10 m or more, or 15 knots or more | 0.2 per mille alcohol limit | Aggravated from 1.0 |
| Smaller, slower boats | No fixed alcohol limit | Illegal if you cannot drive safely |
Swedish boating certificates: förarintyg, kustskepparintyg and ICC
What Swedes call a "båtkörkort" (boat driving licence) is usually one of the voluntary certificates from NFB, Nämnden för båtlivsutbildning. NFB is made up of the Swedish Boating Union, the Swedish Cruising Club, the Swedish Sailing Federation and the Transport Agency. Exams and certificates are on batlivsutbildning.se.
- Förarintyg (boat driver certificate): theory for driving a leisure boat in sheltered waters, in daylight and good visibility. Minimum age 12. The exam licence costs SEK 325; you book and pay for the exam itself with a training provider.
- Kustskepparintyg (coastal skipper): navigation in darkness, poor visibility and open water, and the certificate that covers boats of at least 12 x 4 m. Requires a förarintyg, age 15 and a practical certificate.
- Båtpraktik: a practical boat-handling certificate. The daylight version is required for the coastal skipper certificate.
- ICC: the International Certificate of Competence that many charter companies abroad ask for. It is not required in Sweden. Swedish residents can apply with a förarintyg or kustskepparintyg plus an SRC (VHF radio) certificate and båtpraktik. More in our ICC guide.
Do you need a licence for a jet ski in Sweden?
Yes. Since 1 May 2022 a förarbevis (operator's licence) has been required for jet skis, and since 1 May 2023 every rider must be able to show a valid one. Riding without it can be fined.
- You must be at least 15 years old to take the course and to ride.
- The course covers theory and practice, takes about two days and ends with an exam.
- The application to the Transport Agency costs SEK 300, plus SEK 200 for an optional plastic card.
- Jet skis may only be used in public fairways and in areas the county administrative board has approved. Check the local county board's information before you ride.
For visitors from other EEA countries, the Transport Agency says you need an equivalent jet ski licence issued in your home country. Without one you must take the Swedish course and apply for a Swedish licence. The agency's page does not describe rules for visitors from outside the EEA, such as the UK, so check with them before you plan to ride. Details on the Transport Agency's jet ski page (in Swedish).
What is the alcohol limit on a boat in Sweden?
The Swedish Maritime Code (chapter 20, section 4) sets the limit for drunk boating at 0.2 per mille in the blood (0.10 mg per litre of breath). It applies to anyone driving a boat that can do at least 15 knots under engine, or has a hull of at least 10 metres. That covers many motorboats and RIBs. Crew with a task essential to safety, such as a lookout, are covered too.
Smaller, slower boats have no fixed limit, but if you are so affected by alcohol or drugs that you cannot drive the boat safely, it is still a crime on any boat. The penalty is a fine or up to six months in prison. From 1.0 per mille it can be aggravated, with up to two years in prison. See the Swedish Police page on drink driving at sea (in Swedish).
Do you need a licence to rent a boat in Sweden?
The law does not require one for most boats, but the owner or rental company can set its own rules. On Ship O'Hoi each private owner states what experience or certificates they require for their boat.
Planning to rent a motorboat in Stockholm or a boat in Gothenburg or Malmö with little experience? You can choose a boat where the owner comes along as skipper. We explain the difference between private rental and charter in boat rental vs charter in Sweden.
For a large boat of at least 12 x 4 m, for example a big sailboat from Marstrand, the coastal skipper requirement applies to whoever drives. If you do not have it, someone else on board with the right certificate must drive, or you book the boat with a skipper.
Do the rules apply to foreign visitors?
Yes, they apply to everyone driving a boat in Sweden. A visitor from the UK, Norway or Germany therefore needs no licence for an ordinary boat under 12 x 4 m in Sweden, whatever the rules are at home. The ordinance on larger boats makes no exception for foreign drivers, and we have found no official statement on which foreign certificates are accepted instead of the Swedish one. Ask the rental company or the Transport Agency before you book a boat of that size.
It works the other way too: if you drive a boat in Norway or Finland, their rules apply. See our Norwegian boat license guide and boat license in Finland.
Is a mandatory boat licence coming to Sweden?
Not by any decision so far. Some Swedish training schools write that a mandatory licence is expected from 2026, but we have found no law, bill or notice from the Transport Agency about it. A government proposal for a mandatory certificate (Ds 2008:32, for boats of at least 10 m or 15 knots) was never introduced. The Transport Agency still says there is no requirement for boats under 12 x 4 m.
FAQ
Is there a minimum age for driving a boat in Sweden?
The Transport Agency does not state an age limit for ordinary leisure boats under 12 x 4 m. For jet skis the limit is 15, and the förarintyg can be taken from age 12. Rental companies may set their own age limits.
Does the 0.2 per mille limit apply on a sailboat?
Yes, if the sailboat is at least 10 m long or can do at least 15 knots under engine. On a smaller one there is no fixed limit, but you can still be convicted if you cannot handle the boat safely.
Do I need an ICC to drive a boat in Sweden?
No. The ICC is not required in Sweden. It is useful when you rent a boat abroad, for example in the Mediterranean.
This article is general information, not legal advice. The person driving the boat is always responsible for holding the right qualifications and for the boat being seaworthy, and the rental company has the final word on who may drive.
