Certificate of a skipper of recreational craft
A certificate of a skipper of recreational craft is valid for 10 years.
Certificates of skippers of recreational craft issued before 12 April 1999 remained valid together with the restrictions provided therein until 31 December 2006.
Certificates of skippers of recreational craft issued by the Maritime Administration between 12 April 1999 and 1 July 2005 will remain valid together with the restrictions provided therein.
Application for and replacement of a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft
Certificate of a skipper of recreational craft are issued and replaced by all Estonian Transport Administration service bureaus. Under certain conditions (photo, signature and a medical certificate in the traffic register) certificate of a skipper of a recreational craft can also be applied or replaced at the e-service of the Estonian Transport Administration. The certificate can be ordered by simple letter to the Estonian postal address.
A certificate of a skipper of recreational craft can be applied for by person:
- who have passed a corresponding examination;
- are at least 15 years of age;
- whose state of health corresponds to the requirements for the health of drivers of power-driven vehicles of category B.
The examination and calculation of seagoing service of a skipper of recreational craft is organised by the training provider.
An application for issuing a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft can been submitted starting from the third working day after passing the examination and calculation of seagoing service of a skipper of recreational craft.
A person with professional education as a deck officer may, if he or she wishes so, apply for a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft by submitting an application and the certificate of competency or professional certificate as a deck officer or the certificate of competency as a deck officer of an inland vessel or a document certifying the professional education as a deck officer to the Estonian Transport Administration.
A person holding a certificate of competency or a professional certificate as a deck officer or a certificate of competency as a deck officer of an inland vessel or a person with professional education as a deck officer need not pass an examination for skippers of recreational craft in order to receive a certificate of a skipper of recreational craft.
A person applying for or replacing a certificate has to submit to the Estonian Transport Administration:
- An identity document;
- If necessary, the certificate being replaced or a document certifying professional education as a deck officer if no information regarding the certificate has been entered in the traffic register;
- A medical certificate certifying that the state of health of the applicant corresponds at least to the requirements for the health of drivers of power-driven vehicles of category B;
- An electronic photo and a signature taken at the Estonian Transport Administration;
- The applicant must pay a state fee for the issue or replacement of a certificate.
It is not possible to apply for a certificate of a skipper of a recreational craft on the basis of a foreign certificate of a skipper of a recreational craft or a document proving training.
NB! If the applicant for the certificate is a minor, the written consent of the parent (legal representative) must be submitted, which must be sent in digitally signed form by e-mail to info@transpordiamet.ee or in writing. Consent form here.
Certificate of an operator of personal watercraft
A certificate of an operator of personal watercraft is valid for 10 years.
Certificates of operators of personal watercraft issued before 1 July 2005 remained valid until 31 December 2006.
Application for and replacement of a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft
A personal watercraft may be operated by a person of at least 15 years of age who holds a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft or the right to navigate recreational craft.
Certificates of an operator of personal watercraft are issued and replaced by all Estonian Transport Administration service bureaus. Under certain conditions (photo, signature and a medical certificate in the traffic register) certificate of an operator of personal watercraft can also be applied or replaced at the e-service of the Estonian Transport Administration.
A certificate of an operator of personal watercraft can be applied for by persons who have passed a corresponding theoretical examination and are at least 15 years of age.
To apply for a personal watercraft operator's certificate, the required theoretical knowledge can be acquired either through courses organised by an individual authorised by the Transport Administration to provide watercraft operator training or through independent study. Practical riding skills must be obtained under the supervision of an instructor who holds a valid watercraft operator's certificate and is designated by an authorised training provider. During instruction, the instructor must be near the trainee on a separate watercraft. To obtain the watercraft operator's certificate, applicants must pass a theory exam conducted by the course provider.
The application for issuing a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft can been submitted starting from the third working day after successfully passing the examination of an operator of personal watercraft.
A person applying for or replacing a certificate has to submit to the Estonian Transport Administration bureau:
- An identity document;
- If necessary, the certificate being replaced if no information regarding the certificate has been entered in the traffic register;
- An electronic photo and a signature taken at the Estonian Transport Administration;
- The applicant must pay a state fee for the issue or replacement of a certificate.
A certificate of an operator of personal watercraft of the Republic of Estonia will not be issued based on a document certifying training for an operator of personal watercraft issued in a foreign state and a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft issued in a foreign state will not be replaced by a certificate of an operator of personal watercraft of the Republic of Estonia.
NB! If the applicant for the certificate is a minor, the written consent of the parent (legal representative) must be submitted, which must be sent in digitally signed form by e-mail to info@transpordiamet.ee or in writing. Consent form here.
Last updated: 23.05.2025
