Registering or identifying a recreational craft under the Luxembourg flag
Last update
In order to be operated legally on rivers and/or at sea, recreational craft must first have been registered, or simply identified.
All craft that meet the following conditions must be registered on the Register of boats and recreational craft (registre des bateaux et des navires de plaisance):
- length of 7 metres or more; or
- possessing a habitable cabin; or
- possessing an engine with a power output of over 7.35 kW (10hp).
All craft with a sail or an engine that meet the following conditions must be identified as a small craft:
- length of less than 7 metres; and
- not possessing a habitable cabin; and
- possessing an engine with a power output of less than 7.35 kW (10hp).
Who is concerned
The information here applies to the owners or co-owners of a recreational craft, whether they are natural or legal persons.
The law quite clearly stipulates that all Luxembourg nationals and all residents of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are prohibited from operating a recreational craft which is not properly registered and identified.
Prerequisites
In order to register under the Luxembourg flag, more than 50 % of the craft must be owned by:
- one or more EU citizens residing in Luxembourg; or
- one or more legal persons with their registered office in an EU Member State, and having a branch in Luxembourg.
Preliminary steps
The owner(s) or operator of a recreational craft must take out and maintain third-party insurance with an insurance company, covering their liability for the operation of the recreational craft.
Costs
Copy of the registration certificate
A registration fee is due.
When the application file is received by the Luxembourg Maritime Administration (Commissariat aux affaire maritimes), the applicant is sent a document acknowledging receipt of their application. That document indicates the exact amount of the fee to be paid by bank transfer to the Customs and Excise Agency. The dossier will be finalised once the fee is paid, and the registration certificate will be sent to the owner by return post.
An annual fee will need to be paid to the Customs and Excise Agency. The request for payment is sent by the Luxembourg Maritime Administration one month prior to the anniversary of the registration.
A fee of EUR 24 must be paid to obtain a duplicate of the registration certificate.
Interested parties can calculate the amount of registration tax due for their pleasure craft using the online tool provided for this purpose.
Identification certificate
A fee of EUR 24 must be paid to obtain an identification certificate for a small recreational craft, or a duplicate of said certificate. The identification certificate is valid for 5 years.
It is paid for by affixing a tax stamp, obtained from the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority (Administration de l'enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA – AED), directly on the certificate application form.
Instead of using the tax stamp, the fee may be paid by bank transfer to account number LU76 0019 5955 4404 7000 (BIC: BCEELULL), in the name of 'Direction de l'Enregistrement et des Domaines, Diekirch Actes Civils', mentioning the owner's name, followed by the words 'Identification menue embarcation de plaisance' (identification of small recreational craft). In this case, proof of payment must be attached to the application.
How to proceed
The application for registration or identification must be filed with the Luxembourg Maritime Administration by the owner(s), using a specific form.
In support of the application, applicants should include:
- for natural persons: a nationality certificate or a copy of the owner's ID card or passport (for nationals of non-EU countries, this must be a certified true copy);
- for legal persons: their articles of association and, where possible, the relevant extract from in the Trade and Companies Register;
- the deed of ownership for the recreational craft, or a receipted invoice;
- if applicable, the details pertaining to the vessel's previous registration in Luxembourg, or a certificate of de-registration issued by the relevant authority in the country where the recreational boat/craft was last registered;
- a certificate proving the existence of a civil liability insurance policy;
- a certificate of conformity with European Directive 94/25/EC (only for recreational craft built after 16 June 1998, and for water scooters (or 'boatercycles') built after 1 January 2006).
The registration or identification certificate is valid for 5 years. As long as the conditions governing the registration of the recreational boat or craft are fulfilled, the registration certificate can be extended or replaced as needed.
Online services and forms
Who to contact
-
Luxembourg Maritime Administration
- Address:
- 3-5, rue Auguste Lumière L-1950 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 844 53
- Fax:
- (+352) 29 91 40
- Email address:
- cam@cam.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA)
- Address:
-
22, rue de Bitbourg
L-1273
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
B.P. 1605, L-1016 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 28 18
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 92 00
- Email address:
- douanes@do.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://douanes.public.lu/fr.html
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Customs Office – Diekirch North
- Address:
-
2, rue Clairefontaine
L-9290
Diekirch
B.P. 77, L-9201 Diekirch
- Phone:
- (+352) 81 70 45 1
- Fax:
- (+352) 81 70 45 71
- Email address:
- CentreDouanierNord@do.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Customs Office - Luxembourg-Howald
- Address:
-
1, rue in Bouler (Croix de Gasperich)
L-1350
Luxembourg
B.P. 1122, L-1011 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 44 99
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 41 00
- Email address:
- BRLuxembourg@do.etat.lu
Open Ferme à 17h00
- Wednesday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Thursday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Friday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Tuesday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Central Office
- Address:
-
3, rue des Prés
L-7561
Mersch
B.P. 182, L-7502 Mersch
- Phone:
- (+352) 27 48 84 88
- Fax:
- (+352) 27 48 83 00
- Email address:
- caisse.centrale@do.etat.lu
Open Ferme à 17h00
- Wednesday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Thursday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Friday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
- Monday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
- Tuesday:
- 8h00 à 17h00
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Customs and Excise Directorate – Disputes and Cooperation Department
- Address:
-
22, rue de Bitbourg
L-1273
Luxembourg
B.P. 1605, L-1016 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 28 18
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 92 00
- Email address:
- cashcontrol@do.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) The eDouane (eCustoms) Helpdesk
- Address:
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 20 00
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 92 01
- Email address:
- servicedesk@do.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Licensed Premises Service
- Address:
-
Centre douanier Luxembourg-Howald Croix de Gasperich - 1, rue in Bouler
L-1350
Luxembourg
B.P. 1122, L-1011 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 44 88
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 41 50
- Website:
- https://douanes.public.lu/fr.html
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Service Vignette 705
- Address:
- Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 44 99
- Email address:
- vehicules@do.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Revenue Office Bettembourg
- Address:
-
Terminal Intermodal - Z.A.E. Wolser E, 100
L-3434
Dudelange
B.P. 39, L-3201 Bettembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 55 99
- Email address:
- BRBettembourg@do.etat.lu
-
Customs and Excise Agency (ADA) Customs and Excise Directorate - National and International Cooperation Department
- Address:
-
22, rue de Bitbourg
L-1273
Luxembourg
B.P. 1605
- Phone:
- (+352) 28 18 22 21
- Fax:
- (+352) 28 18 22 84
- Email address:
- cashinfo@do.etat.lu
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Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
maritime.lu
Website
-
Commissariat aux affaires maritimes
Site web
Legal references
-
Loi du 23 septembre 1997
portant réglementation de la navigation de plaisance
-
Règlement ministériel du 24 décembre 1997
établissant un formulaire unique pour l'immatriculation ou l'identification des bâtiments de plaisance
-
Règlement grand-ducal du 8 octobre 2009
relatif à l’exécution de la loi du 23 septembre 1997 portant réglementation de la navigation de plaisance
