Short answer: yes, if you want to skipper the boat yourself. In both Croatia and Greece the person in charge of a bareboat charter needs a recognized certificate of competence. No, if you book a skipper or a fully crewed yacht: then nobody in your group needs a license.
The details differ between the two countries. Croatia has adopted the international ICC framework and publishes an official table of recognized foreign certificates. Greece has not adopted that framework, and foreign licenses come with extra paperwork. This overview covers both; for Greece in depth, read our complete guide to sailing license requirements in Greece, and if you hold an RYA Day Skipper, see whether the RYA Day Skipper certificate is accepted in Greece.
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Croatia has formally adopted UNECE Resolution No. 40, the framework behind the ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft). The Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure states in its table of recognized certificates that every ICC issued under Resolution No. 40 is accepted for Croatian-flagged boats and yachts rented without crew, provided the “valid for” field shows C (coastal waters) and the other limits printed on the card are respected.
The same ministry table, updated in May 2026, lists national certificates from many countries and what each one allows. The limits depend on the certificate. Two examples from the UK entries:
The RYA warns that charterers have discovered just before departure that their certificate was not sufficient for the size and gross tonnage of the boat they had booked. Check your certificate against the boat before you pay, not at the base.
For the recognized foreign certificates in the ministry table, recognition comes with a condition: the holder must also have a suitable radio operator certificate when the boat or yacht has a VHF or GMDSS-VHF radio installed. Charter yachts normally have one, so plan for a Short Range Certificate (SRC) or an equivalent radio license.
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All of this, with the full list of documents to bring, is in our Greece license guide.
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| Croatia | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| UNECE Resolution No. 40 (ICC framework) | Adopted | Not adopted |
| ICC | Accepted when valid for coastal waters (C) | Generally acceptable for UK-flagged vessels (RYA); for Greek-flagged charter yachts, confirmed by the operator |
| National licenses issued abroad | Recognized as listed in the ministry table, with limits by boat size | Embassy or consulate letter and Greek translation required (RYA) |
| Radio operator certificate | Required with a recognized foreign certificate when the boat has a VHF | No official rule we could cite; often requested by operators |
| Skippered or crewed charter | No license needed | No license needed |
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The route depends on where you live, but most visiting skippers in Croatia and Greece hold either a national license from their home country or an ICC. If you are British, live in the UK, or are a citizen of a country that has not accepted Resolution No. 40, the RYA can issue an ICC on the basis of an RYA practical certificate such as the Day Skipper, or after an ICC assessment at an RYA training center. Our RYA Day Skipper and ICC guide explains the steps. For other nationalities, the national boating authority or a recognized sailing school can tell you which certificate it issues and whether it carries an ICC.
You do not need a certificate to enjoy a week on the water. With a hired skipper, you get someone who knows the anchorages and handles the paperwork with the port authorities, and you can still help sail the boat. On a crewed yacht, a cook or host joins as well. See our page on skippered yacht charter in Croatia, the difference between bareboat and crewed charter and whether you can rent a yacht with a skipper and crew in both countries.
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Send us a copy of the skipper’s certificate (both sides), the radio certificate if you have one, and your co-skipper’s details. We check them with the charter company for the specific boat, in Croatia against the ministry table and in Greece against the operator’s requirements, and confirm back to you by email. If something is missing, you hear it from us before departure, not at the base, and we can add a professional skipper if needed.
Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, table of recognized certificates for operating boats and yachts (May 2026); Law 4256/2014 (Greek Government Gazette A 92/2014), Article 8; Royal Yachting Association (RYA), country advice for Croatia and Greece and “The ICC”. Checked in October 2026.
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Planning your trip? Request a quote for your charter or check our charter FAQ and request a personalized quote for your dates.
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