How to Get an International Certificate of Competence (ICC): A UK Sailor's Guide

The International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is a UK certificate issued by the Royal Yachting Association on behalf of the UK Government. It demonstrates to officials and charter companies abroad that you are competent to operate a pleasure craft. Most UK sailors gain their ICC by completing the RYA Day Skipper Practical course, then applying through the RYA.

If a Mediterranean charter is on your list this year, an ICC is almost certainly part of the picture. Croatia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Turkey all expect to see one (alongside a VHF radio licence) before they hand over the keys to a bareboat. This guide covers what the ICC is, the three routes to getting one, where it is valid, what it costs, and how to renew it when the five years run out.

About the Author

Russell Lake is an RYA Principal and founder of Sailing Course Online, based at Hamble Point Marina on the Solent. He sits on the RYA Training Committee and the British Marine Access to Boating Committee. Russell has trained personnel for the RYA and Maritime & Coastguard Agency, supported Clipper Round the World Race participants, and established Egypt's first RYA Training Centre. His offshore experience includes three RORC Fastnet campaigns as skipper and a circumnavigation of Britain by RIB. Over 50,000 students from 115 countries have completed courses through Sailing Course Online.

What is the International Certificate of Competence?

The ICC is a certificate that provides evidence of competence when requested by officials in a country you are visiting. It was created under Resolution 40 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and is recognised by countries that have adopted that resolution.

In the UK, the ICC is issued by the Royal Yachting Association on behalf of the UK Government, under the authorisation of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). The full name on the certificate is the International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, although most sailors still refer to it as the ICC.

You can read the RYA's own guidance on the ICC at the RYA's official ICC application page.

The ICC is not a sailing qualification in itself. It is a certificate that confirms you already hold the competence required by Resolution 40, evidenced by other certificates or an assessment. The most common evidence used in the UK is an RYA practical qualification.

Do You Actually Need an ICC?

In short: if you plan to charter a boat abroad, you almost certainly do.

Charter companies in the Mediterranean and Adriatic will not hand over a yacht without proof of competence, and the ICC is the document they understand. In Croatia and Greece, where many UK sailors take their first bareboat holiday, an ICC (or an equivalent national certificate) is a legal requirement before you can charter.

You probably do not need one if you sail your own UK-registered boat in UK waters, although carrying one does no harm. Outside the UK, your need for an ICC depends on three things: the country you are visiting, the flag your vessel is registered under, and whether you are renting or sailing your own boat.

We cover the country-by-country picture later in this guide.

How to Get an ICC: The Three Routes

There are three ways to demonstrate competence for an ICC application. Most UK sailors take the first route.

Route 1: An eligible RYA practical certificate

If you already hold an RYA Day Skipper Practical (Sail or Power) or RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate or higher, you can apply for the ICC directly. The RYA accepts the practical course completion certificate as evidence of competence for the relevant categories. For most leisure sailors aiming at a Mediterranean charter, this is the route.

Route 2: The ICC Direct Assessment

If you already have the skills but no formal certificate, you can take an ICC Direct Assessment at an RYA recognised training centre. The assessment is a half-day to one-day on-the-water test covering the syllabus laid down by the RYA.

Direct Assessment is most often used by experienced sailors who learned in another scheme or before formal certificates were widespread, and by yacht owners taking the assessment on their own vessel. It is less common as a beginner route, because most candidates need preparation time before they will pass.

Route 3: Other eligible certificates

A limited set of MCA-recognised certificates can be used instead of an RYA certificate. The RYA publishes the full list on its application notes. In practice, the vast majority of UK applicants use Routes 1 or 2.

The Day Skipper Pathway in Detail

For most UK sailors, the route to an ICC runs through the RYA Day Skipper qualification. Here is what it looks like in practice.

Step 1: RYA Day Skipper Theory

The theory course covers chartwork, tides, weather, passage planning, navigation lights, collision regulations, and the use of electronic navigation tools. It is the academic foundation for the practical course and knowledge to this level is a prerequisite for it. Many sailors complete the RYA Day Skipper theory course online before booking their practical week.

Step 2: RYA Day Skipper Practical

The practical course is typically five days on a yacht, live-aboard. You learn boat handling, mooring, anchoring, pilotage, and skippering short coastal passages, with an instructor alongside you. At the end of the week, you are awarded the practical certificate if you have reached the required standard. We recommend the RYA Day Skipper Practical with Urban Truant.

Step 3: Apply for the ICC

With your practical certificate in hand, you apply to the RYA. The application can be made online through MyRYA or by paper form, and the certificate is posted to your registered address.

If you already know you want to take your sailing further, the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Offshore theory route covers more advanced passage planning, offshore work, and night navigation. Both routes lead to ICC eligibility for the appropriate categories.

For sailors who want to work through theory in one go, the Fastrack to Yachtmaster™ programme bundles Day Skipper, Coastal/Yachtmaster, and SRC/VHF into a single package.

Inland Waterways: When You Need the CEVNI Endorsement

The standard ICC covers coastal waters. If you plan to navigate the inland waterways of Europe (the canal networks of France, the Netherlands, Germany, or the major rivers like the Rhine, Moselle, or Danube) you need an additional endorsement on your ICC.

That endorsement is the CEVNI test, which covers the European inland navigation rules: signs, signals, sound signals, lights, and right-of-way conventions specific to canals and rivers. It is administered by the RYA and can be taken online.

If your charter plans are coastal only, you do not need CEVNI. If a French canal cruise or a Dutch waterway trip is in the picture, you do. You can take the RYA CEVNI test online with us.

The VHF/SRC Requirement

Almost every charter company will also require at least one person on board to hold a Short Range Certificate (SRC) for VHF marine radio. It is a separate qualification from the ICC, but it is the other certificate that catches charterers out on the dock.

The SRC is the operator's certificate for the VHF radio fitted to virtually every charter yacht. It is a legal requirement under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 for anyone transmitting on marine VHF in UK waters, and it is recognised internationally. You can study with our RYA SRC/VHF Marine Radio course.

Plan to get your SRC before or alongside your ICC. Doing both in the same year is common and means you arrive at your first charter with the paperwork the operator expects.

Where Your ICC Is Valid: Country-by-Country

Whether your ICC is accepted depends on the country you are visiting. The table below summarises the position for the European countries most commonly visited by UK sailors. Requirements can change, so always check with your charter company or the RYA's current guidance before you travel.

Country	ICC required for charter?	Notes
Croatia	Yes, in practice	Croatia accepts the ICC as one of its recognised foreign skipper licences. No charter company will release a yacht without it.
Greece	Yes, in practice	Greece requires evidence of competence for bareboat charter. The ICC is the standard.
Italy	Coastal: ICC recommended; Inland: check locally	Italian charter companies expect the ICC.
Spain	Yes for charter	The ICC is recommended and widely accepted by charter operators.
France	Coastal: recommended on foreign-flagged boats; Inland: CEVNI endorsement essential	France has its own national licensing for French-flagged vessels. For chartering, the ICC plus CEVNI for canals is the practical answer.
Portugal	Recommended	ICC is widely accepted by charter operators.
Turkey	Required	Turkey requires the ICC for charter.
Germany	Coastal: no upper length limit on ICC acceptance; Inland: ICC accepted up to 20m (15m on the Rhine)	CEVNI endorsement required for inland waters.
Netherlands	Coastal: not required; Inland: ICC required for vessels over 15m or capable of more than 20km/h	CEVNI endorsement required for inland waters.
Belgium	Coastal: not required for most pleasure craft; Inland: ICC required for vessels over 15m or capable of more than 20km/h	CEVNI endorsement required for inland waters.
Switzerland	Essential for visitors	Swiss residents need a Swiss licence. ICC sufficient for visitors.
Austria	Recommended	ICC recommended on inland lakes.
Poland	Required	ICC recommended.
Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland	Generally not required	Northern European waters tend not to require evidence of competence, but always check the specific charter company.

This list covers the countries most relevant to UK sailors. The RYA maintains a full country-by-country guide on its website and updates it as legislation changes.

How Much Does an ICC Cost?

The ICC itself is free of charge for current RYA members. For non-members, there is a one-off fee for the certificate at the point of issue. The non-member fee published on the RYA's membership benefits page is £59, though we always recommend checking the current fee on the application form, since the RYA reviews its charges periodically.

A few cost points worth knowing:

• RYA membership. If you are not already an RYA member, joining at the same time as you apply means your ICC is issued free of charge. For many applicants the membership subscription works out broadly similar to the non-member ICC fee, plus you receive the wider benefits of membership.
• Fast Track service. If you need your ICC quickly, the RYA offers a Fast Track service for an additional fee, which guarantees a two-working-day turnaround. Standard processing is around 21 days.
• Direct Assessment route. If you are taking the ICC Direct Assessment rather than presenting an eligible certificate, the assessment fee is set by the RYA recognised training centre conducting it. This is separate from the RYA's certificate issue fee.
• CEVNI test. If you need the inland endorsement, there is a small additional fee for the CEVNI test.

Across all of this, the most cost-effective route for most UK sailors is to join the RYA, complete the Day Skipper Practical, and apply for the ICC in the same window.

How Long Is an ICC Valid? Renewal Explained

An ICC issued by the RYA is valid for five years from the date of issue.

You can renew up to three months before your current certificate expires. If you renew during that three-month window, the new certificate is valid for five years from the date your previous ICC would have expired (so you do not lose time). Renew earlier than that and the new five years run from the date of issue instead.

To renew, you submit a renewal application to the RYA with current photographs, proof of identity, and (for current members) no fee. Categories on your existing certificate are normally renewed automatically. If you want additional categories validated (for example, adding inland waters via the CEVNI test, or upgrading from a 10m power restriction to no upper limit) you provide evidence of competence for those at the point of renewal.

Expired certificates issued on or after 1 April 1999 can still be renewed. Certificates issued before that date were not issued under Resolution 40 and cannot be renewed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for an ICC in the UK?

The UK ICC issued by the RYA is available to UK residents and nationals of countries that have not adopted Resolution 40. You must be at least 16 years of age and physically and mentally fit to operate a pleasure craft, with sufficient vision and hearing. If you are a national of a country that has adopted Resolution 40 and you are not resident in the UK, you should apply to the equivalent authority in your country of nationality instead.

Can I get an ICC without taking a course?

Yes, by taking the ICC Direct Assessment at an RYA recognised training centre. You will need to demonstrate the practical skills and theory knowledge laid down in the assessment syllabus. Experienced sailors who already have the skills but no formal certificate often use this route.

Is the ICC the same as the RYA Day Skipper?

No. The Day Skipper is an RYA qualification awarded after completing a course. The ICC is a certificate issued by the RYA on behalf of the UK Government that confirms you hold competence equivalent to Resolution 40. The Day Skipper Practical is the most common piece of evidence used to apply for an ICC, but the two are separate documents.

Do I need both an ICC and a VHF licence?

Yes, in practice. Charter companies will normally require both the ICC (to skipper the boat) and an SRC/VHF certificate (to operate the radio). They cover different things and you cannot substitute one for the other.

Do I need an ICC for Croatia?

Yes. Croatian charter companies will not release a bareboat without seeing a recognised skipper's licence, and the ICC is the document UK sailors should present. You will also need a VHF/SRC certificate on board.

Do I need an ICC for Greece?

Greek charter companies require evidence of competence for bareboat charter, and the ICC is the standard document UK sailors use. You will also need a VHF/SRC certificate on board.

What photograph do I need for my ICC application?

A passport-style head-and-shoulders photograph in portrait orientation. The RYA publishes the full specification on its application notes. Digital applications accept PDF or JPG files of less than 5MB.

Does my ICC cover any size of boat?

Not automatically. The ICC has separate categories for sail, power (up to 10m or unrestricted), coastal waters, and inland waters. Your certificate shows which categories you are validated for, based on the evidence you provided. To upgrade a category (for example, from power up to 10m to no upper limit) you provide additional evidence of competence at the time of application or renewal.

Your Next Step

If a Mediterranean charter is on the list this summer, the route is the same as it has been for thousands of UK sailors before you: theory first, practical second, ICC application third.

Most students complete the RYA Day Skipper theory course in 8 to 12 weeks, alongside work and family commitments. Physical charts, plotter and exam papers are shipped free of charge, anywhere in the world, and you have unlimited support from RYA Yachtmaster™ Instructors throughout. Sailing Course Online holds Feefo Platinum status, with over 50,000 students from 115 countries having worked through the course.

Get started with the RYA Day Skipper theory course.