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Boat Driving Licence - New South Wales

Description

You will need this licence if you intend to operate a power-driven recreational vessel in NSW waters, at a speed of 10 knots (18.5 km/h) or more, or if the vessel is a personal watercraft (PWC). A personal watercraft (PWC) is a power-driven vessel with a fully enclosed hull that can be driven standing up, sitting astride or kneeling. This includes jet powered surfboards.

There are two classes of boat licence:

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

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for a general boat licence, you must:

  • be at least 12 years old (there are licence restrictions for people under age 16)
  • meet the medical standards, including passing the eyesight test
  • have practical boating experience
  • pass the boating knowledge test.

You can get practical boating experience by either:

  • completing a Boating Licence Practical Logbook with an experienced skipper present
  • completing an approved practical boat course with an Authorised Training Provider.

To be eligible to upgrade to a PWC licence, you will need to pass the PWC knowledge test.

Duration

1, 3, 5 or 10 years, unless cancelled or suspended

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

Fees can be found here. Fees for 2025-26

Act(s) name

Marine Safety Act 1998 New South Wales

Regulation(s) name

Marine Safety Regulation 2016 New South Wales

Administering agency

Transport for NSW

Roads and Maritime Services

NSW Maritime Division

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.