Do I need a licence to rent a boat in Thailand?

• [Not verified] We found no current Thai government text (Marine Department or Tourism Authority of Thailand) that sets a skipper licence for a bareboat charter.
• [Secondary source] Anchor says no licence is required by law in Thailand, but you must show a sailing résumé of being in charge of a boat of similar size. (Anchor (formerly Helm))

This is the sailing (skipper) licence for a rented boat. Fishing from the boat needs a different licence: fishing rules in Thailand.

[Secondary source] The ICC (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft, UNECE Resolution 40) is described by the RYA as "a certificate which is intended to provide evidence of competence when requested by officials in foreign countries"; whether it is needed and in what form is set by the boat's flag state and, if different, the coastal state, and the onus is on the holder to check. (RYA)

• [Not verified] We could not confirm a VHF certificate rule for Thailand.

• [Not verified] We found no source on a second crew member in Thailand.
• [Secondary source] Anchor, a charter-industry guide, says you "might need to have at least one other able adult crew member, preferably with a competent crew certificate". This is general advice, not a rule it ties to any country. (Anchor (formerly Helm))

• Hire a skipper. [Secondary source] Island Sailing, a charter operator, says on its Greece qualifications page that skippered or crewed yacht charters "are ideal for those with little or no sailing experience". With a professional skipper in command, the licence question is the skipper's, not yours (our reading; confirm the booking is skippered, not bareboat). (Island Sailing) A skipper costs €150–300 per day (The Globe Sailor, checked 28 Oct 2026), so seven days adds €1,050–2,100 (our arithmetic: 7 × the listed daily rate, before the skipper's meals). For comparison, 12 Knots' average weekly asking price for a catamaran in Thailand runs between €4,996 and €10,235 across the year (a mix of bareboat and crewed listings) (12 Knots, checked 27 Oct 2026). More: bareboat vs skippered.
• Licence-free boats. [Not verified] We could not confirm a Thai rule for licence-free boats.
• What operators ask. [Secondary source] The Moorings rates Phuket as a Level 2 destination. (The Moorings)

See catamarans for rent in Thailand on SamBoat

Check the licence rules above and the operator's own conditions before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you (disclosure).

• A Thai government statement on skipper licences.
• A VHF or second-crew rule.
• Licence-free boats.

• [Secondary source]: From a charter company, marketplace or sailing body; not official and not the law.
• [Not verified]: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
• No label: Read in an official text (government, ministry, maritime authority or official gazette).

"Accepted within limits" means the official table accepts the certificate only for a boat size, area or radio condition stated in it. "Not defined" means the official text does not list certificates by name. Rules change and charter companies can be stricter than the law: always confirm with your operator before you travel.

• Anchor (formerly Helm): What qualifications do I need to charter a yacht? (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
• The Moorings: Experience guide: Level 3 sail (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
• RYA: Evidence of competence abroad (ICC) (national sailing body (reference)), checked 28 Oct 2026.

Method: methodology. Data: JSON.

• Licence rules for every destination compared
• Thailand yacht and catamaran charter: prices, season and licence
• Best time to charter in Thailand
• Fishing rules in Thailand
• True cost of a week in Thailand: per person, all extras
• Snorkelling and diving in Thailand
• Sailing licence requirements: what the ICC and other certificates are