IALACOLREG
Academy
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Austria

Who issues it
Landeshauptfrau/Landeshauptmann [provincial governor] (Upper Austria, Lower Austria or Vienna for 10 m/20 m patents including waterways; any province for versions excluding waterways and the lakes/rivers captain's patent); Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur [Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure] (AT patent and AT route certificate); Bezirkshauptmannschaft Bregenz [Bregenz District Authority] (Lake Constance); via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft m.b.H. [Austrian Waterways Company] (sea-yacht certificates); Fernmeldebüro [Telecommunications Office] (radio).
Minimum age
14 years
Collision rules
Internationale Regeln von 1972 zur Verhütung von Zusammenstößen auf See

Do you need a licence?

On ordinary inland waters, you need a licence for an engine of at least 4.4 kW, whatever the boat's length.

You don't need one for:

  • an inland boat with an engine below 4.4 kW
  • an unpowered inland boat

On Lake Constance, you need one for an engine over 4.4 kW or sail over 12 square metres. Motor patents normally start at 18, although a restricted 10-metre patent is possible from 16 by dispensation; the Constance sailing patent starts at 14.

  1. Schiffsführerpatent – 10 m, eingeschränkt auf Binnengewässer, ausgenommen Wasserstraßen · 10 m skipper patent, excluding waterways

    From 16
    What it lets you do
    You can take pleasure boats up to 10 metres on inland waters, excluding waterways and Lake Constance. At 16, you need proven experience and a waiver from the authority.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then take a practical boat-handling exam.
    Where to study
    Read the guideStudy it in Academy

  2. Schiffsführerpatent – 10 m · 10 m skipper patent

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take pleasure boats up to 10 metres on waterways and other inland waters. Lake Constance has separate rules.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then show your practical boat handling on a waterway.
    Where to study
    Read the guideStudy it in Academy

  3. Schiffsführerpatent – 20 m, eingeschränkt auf Binnengewässer, ausgenommen Wasserstraßen · 20 m skipper patent, excluding waterways

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take pleasure boats shorter than 20 metres on inland waters, excluding waterways and Lake Constance.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then take a practical boat-handling exam.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  4. Schiffsführerpatent – 20 m · 20 m skipper patent

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take pleasure boats shorter than 20 metres on waterways and other inland waters. Lake Constance has separate rules.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then show your practical boat handling on a waterway.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  5. Schiffsführerpatent – AT · Austrian skipper patent

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take pleasure boats of any length on inland waters except Lake Constance. For specified higher-risk waterway sections, you also need a route certificate.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then take a practical boat-handling exam.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  6. Kapitänspatent – Seen und Flüsse · Captain's patent for lakes and rivers

    From 21
    What it lets you do
    You can take vessels of any size on lakes and rivers, except waterways, Lake Constance and the Inn below Passau-Ingling.
    How you get it
    You must pass the theory with every examiner, then take a practical boat-handling exam.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  7. Streckenzeugnis – AT · Austrian route certificate

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    This adds specified higher-risk Austrian waterway sections to your Schiffsführerpatent – AT or equivalent foreign non-Union skipper qualification.
    How you get it
    You can take it with the Schiffsführerpatent – AT exam once you have documented the required trips on that waterway section.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  8. Berechtigung zur Führung von Fahrzeugen unter Radar · Inland radar-navigation endorsement

    What it lets you do
    This adds radar navigation to a national inland skipper patent. You must also carry the required radar equipment and radio.
    How you get it
    You take additional theory and a practical exam, either with the skipper-patent exam or later as supplementary exams.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  9. Internationales Zertifikat für das Führen von Sportfahrzeugen · International certificate for pleasure-boat operators

    What it lets you do
    If you are an Austrian national or resident with an Austrian-issued qualification, this mirrors its scope for use abroad. It does not replace your domestic licence.
    How you get it
    You request it from the authority that issued or recognised your underlying qualification; no separate exam is specified.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  10. Bescheinigung über die Anerkennung anderer Schifferpatente (§ 12.09 BSO) · Certificate recognising another skipper licence

    What it lets you do
    This recognises you as a Lake Constance visitor for up to 30 days in each calendar year, within your licence scope. It excludes the Rhine stretch that needs a special patent.
    How you get it
    It recognises an official shore-state licence or an ICC, and the authority certifies the dates. No new exam is specified.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  11. Bodensee-Schifferpatent – Kategorie D · Lake Constance skipper patent, category D

    From 14
    What it lets you do
    You can sail boats on Lake Constance, and this is required above 12 square metres of sail. A motor over 4.4 kW also requires category A.
    How you get it
    You take theory and practical assessments on rules, emergencies and boat handling. If you hold an official shore-state qualification, you are exempt from the ordinary practical exam.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  12. Bodensee-Schifferpatent – Kategorie A · Lake Constance skipper patent, category A

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can run motor pleasure boats on Lake Constance. It is required for engines over 4.4 kW.
    How you get it
    You take theory and practical assessments on rules, emergencies and boat handling. If you hold an official shore-state qualification, you are exempt from the ordinary practical exam.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  13. Schifferpatent für den Rhein (§ 12.10 BSO) · Skipper patent for the Rhine section

    What it lets you do
    With the relevant Lake Constance patent category, this covers the Rhine from Stein am Rhein to the Schaffhausen-Feuerthalen road bridge.
    How you get it
    Alongside the usual category requirements, you need detailed knowledge of this river section and practical proof that you can navigate it safely.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  14. Internationales Zertifikat für die Führung von Jachten – Fahrtbereich 1 · International yacht certificate, cruising range 1

    From 16
    What it lets you do
    You can take sea yachts up to 10 metres and under 300 GT within 3 nautical miles of shore in sheltered or coastal waters, with a motor or motor-and-sail endorsement.
    How you get it
    You answer at least 40 MCQs, plus 10 for sail, scoring 75% overall and 50% in each subject. You need 75% on charts with no serious hazard; the practical may be inland or waived for eligible licence holders.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  15. Internationales Zertifikat für die Führung von Jachten – Fahrtbereich 2 · International yacht certificate, cruising range 2

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take sea yachts under 24 metres and under 300 GT within 20 nautical miles of shore, with a motor or motor-and-sail endorsement.
    How you get it
    You sit written MCQs: at least 60, plus 14 for sail, and need 75% overall and 50% in each subject. You need 75% on charts with no serious hazard, must cover tides, and take a practical at sea.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  16. Internationales Zertifikat für die Führung von Jachten – Fahrtbereich 3 · International yacht certificate, cruising range 3

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take sea yachts under 24 metres and under 300 GT within 200 nautical miles of shore, with a motor or motor-and-sail endorsement.
    How you get it
    For this upgrade, you answer at least 30 MCQs and need 75% overall and 50% in each subject. You need 75% on charts with no serious hazard and cover tides; logged sea experience replaces the practical.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

  17. Internationales Zertifikat für die Führung von Jachten – Fahrtbereich 4 · International yacht certificate, cruising range 4

    From 18
    What it lets you do
    You can take sea yachts under 24 metres and under 300 GT worldwide, with a motor or motor-and-sail endorsement.
    How you get it
    For this upgrade, you answer at least 30 MCQs and need 75% overall and 50% in each subject, plus 75% on charts with no serious hazard. You plan a voyage of at least 1,000 nautical miles and take a practical at sea.
    Where to study
    Study it in Academy

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Official sources: Bundeskanzleramt, RIS — Schifffahrtsgesetz, §§ 117–121, 141, 146 and 154 · Bundeskanzleramt, RIS — Schiffsbetriebsverordnung, §§ 4 and 26–32 · Bundeskanzleramt, RIS — Bodensee-Schiffahrts-Ordnung, §§ 12.01–12.10 · Bundeskanzleramt, RIS — Jachtverordnung, §§ 2, 13, 24 and 29–30; Anlagen 10–11 · Fernmeldebüro — Seefunk und Binnenschifffahrt · Bundesministerium für Innovation, Mobilität und Infrastruktur — Schiffsführung auf See