Do not wait for your registration to sail. A provisional certificate covers you in the meantime.
Full yacht registrations can take several weeks. If you want to sail your newly bought vessel while that process runs, or simply need to move it from one place to another, a provisional registration is the practical solution. We arrange it quickly and advise on the right flag state.
What is a provisional registration?
A provisional registration is a temporary certificate that gives your vessel the nationality of a flag state for a set period, usually one, two, three, or six months, depending on which flag state issues it. It is a legitimate registration in every practical sense: it proves the vessel’s flag state affiliation and allows it to sail legally under that flag.
It is not a shortcut or a workaround. It is a well-established instrument in maritime practice, designed specifically for situations where a vessel needs to be at sea before the full registration process has been completed.
During the provisional period, one rule applies without exception: your vessel cannot be registered in another ship’s register at the same time. International maritime law does not permit dual registration. If your vessel is already registered somewhere, that registration must be closed before a provisional registration elsewhere can be issued.
What we arrange for you
- Advice on the most suitable flag state for your vessel and voyage
- A clear overview of the documents required
- Submission of the provisional registration application
- Certificate issued within 24 hours when all documents are ready
- Extension of the provisional registration if your voyage is delayed
- Advice on ship station licence requirements (CallSign, MMSI, ATIS)
- Seamless handover to full registration when you are ready
When does a provisional registration make sense?
There are two straightforward situations where a provisional registration is the right solution for a private owner.
Moving your vessel from A to B
You have bought a yacht in another country and need to bring it home, or deliver it to a marina elsewhere in Europe. The vessel is not yet registered, or the full registration is not in place. Without any registration, the vessel has no nationality and cannot legally sail.
A provisional registration solves this immediately. It gives the vessel the flag state affiliation it needs for the delivery voyage, and can be issued within 24 hours of receiving the required documents. Once the vessel is at its destination, the full registration process can continue from there.
Sailing while your full registration is in progress
Full yacht registration takes time. Depending on the flag state and the completeness of the documents, the process can take several weeks, sometimes longer. That does not mean you have to wait ashore.
A provisional registration allows you to use your vessel normally during the registration period. You sail under a valid flag, your vessel is properly registered from a legal standpoint, and the full registration process continues in the background. When it completes, you transition to the permanent certificate.
When you sail under a provisional registration, whether for a delivery voyage or during the full registration process, it is wise to let your insurance company know. Your policy is linked to the registration status of your vessel, and an insurer who is not aware of a change in registration status may raise questions if you ever need to make a claim.
A quick notification is all it takes. We can advise you on what to tell them if you are unsure.
What you need to know in practice
A few practical details that are useful to understand before you apply.
Issued within 24 hours
For vessels under 24 metres, a provisional registration can be issued within 24 hours of receiving all required documents. When everything is ready, it can sometimes be arranged within a few hours.
Validity: 1 to 6 months
The validity period is 1, 2, 3, or 6 months depending on the flag state and the purpose of the registration. We advise on which option suits your voyage or registration timeline.
Extendable if needed
If your voyage takes longer than expected – due to weather or other circumstances – the provisional registration can be extended. Provided we can stay in contact, an updated certificate is sent as a certified PDF. You do not need to interrupt the voyage.
Ship station licence
Some flag states issue a CallSign, MMSI number, and ATIS number simultaneously with the provisional certificate. Others do not. We advise on this as part of the flag state recommendation, so you are not caught without communication credentials.
No dual registration
During the provisional registration period, your vessel must not be registered in another ship’s register. This is a requirement of international maritime law. If the vessel is currently registered elsewhere, that registration must be closed first.
Documents vary by vessel
Document requirements depend on the type of vessel, its age, the intended route, and the flag state chosen. We tell you exactly what is needed for your specific situation, so you are not gathering unnecessary paperwork.
How the application works
Three straightforward steps from first contact to certificate in hand.
Tell us about your vessel and situation
We need to know the vessel type, length, age, where it currently is, where it is going, and whether it is already registered anywhere. This takes a short conversation or a brief message.
Documents and flag state advice
We advise on the most suitable flag state for your situation and give you a clear list of the documents required. Once those are in order, we submit the application immediately.
Certificate issued and delivered
The provisional certificate of registry is issued – within 24 hours for vessels under 24 metres when all documents are ready – and delivered to you as a certified PDF. You are ready to sail.
By the numbers
9/10
Client satisfaction score, ten years in a row
10+
Years specialising exclusively in yacht registration
ISO 9001
Certified – one of the only specialists in the EU
15+
European ship registers covered
Why come to us?
A provisional registration is time-sensitive by nature. You need someone who responds quickly, knows which flag state suits your vessel, and gets the paperwork right first time.
Fast response, direct contact
You reach Boudewijn directly, no call centres, no waiting in a queue. When a provisional registration is needed quickly, the last thing you want is to leave a message and wait. You call and you get an answer.
The right flag state for your vessel
Not every flag state is equally well suited to every vessel or voyage. We know the differences – in document requirements, processing speed, and what is included with the certificate – and recommend the option that fits your situation.
We get the documents right first time
A provisional registration is only fast when the documents are correct. We tell you exactly what is needed for your vessel and flag state, so nothing is missing and there are no delays caused by incomplete submissions.
We manage extensions if the voyage runs long
Atlantic crossings do not always go to plan. If your voyage takes longer than expected, we handle the extension of your provisional registration – provided we can stay in contact – so you remain covered throughout.
Your data is handled with care
All personal and vessel data is handled in strict accordance with GDPR, stored securely, used only for your registration, and never passed on to third parties or used for commercial purposes.
Seamless transition to full registration
If you need a provisional registration while your full registration is in progress, we handle both. There is no handover to a different team or different contact. The same person who issued the provisional certificate sees the full registration through to completion.
Questions about provisional registration
The things most people want to know before they get in touch. If your question is not here, just call or drop us a note.
Need a provisional registration? Tell us about your vessel and we will take it from there.
A short message with the vessel type, its current location, where it needs to go, and whether it is already registered is enough to get started. We come back to you with a clear overview of what is needed and how quickly we can arrange it.