Poland
- Who issues it
- Recreational patents: Polski Związek Żeglarski [Polish Yachting Association] for sailing; Polski Związek Motorowodny i Narciarstwa Wodnego [Polish Motorboat and Water Ski Association] for motorboating. Rental safety certificates: the yacht operator or a person they authorise.
- Minimum age
- 14 years
- Buoyage
- IALA region A
- Collision rules
- Międzynarodowe Przepisy o Zapobieganiu Zderzeniom na Morzu (MPZZM)
Do you need a licence?
Yes, inland and at sea you need a licence for a sailing yacht with a hull over 7.5 metres or a motor yacht over 10 kW.
You don't need one for:
- a sailing yacht with a hull up to 7.5 metres
- a motor yacht up to 10 kW
- on inland or internal sea waters, a motorboat up to 75 kW with a hull up to 13 metres and a design maximum speed up to 15 km/h
Basic patents start at 14. If you hold a motorboat patent and are under 16, you are limited to 60 kW.
Zaświadczenie o ukończeniu szkolenia z zakresu bezpieczeństwa na wodzie · Water safety training certificate
- What it lets you do
- This is for hired motorboats up to 75 kW, with a hull up to 13 metres and a design speed up to 15 kilometres per hour, on inland or internal sea waters. Specified licence holders are exempt.
- How you get it
- There is no separate exam. Before renting, you receive safety instruction and practise handling the hired yacht.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Żeglarz jachtowy · Yacht sailor
From 14
- What it lets you do
- You can use sailboats, including those with auxiliary engines, without limit inland. On internal sea waters or at sea, you may use a hull up to 12 metres within 2 nautical miles of shore, by day.
- How you get it
- You answer 75 single-choice questions in 90 minutes and need 65 correct. You also complete practical manoeuvres.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Sternik motorowodny · Motorboat helmsman
From 14- What it lets you do
- You can use motorboats without limit inland. On internal sea waters or at sea, you may use a hull up to 12 metres within 2 nautical miles of shore, by day; if you are under 16, you are limited to 60 kW.
- How you get it
- You answer 75 single-choice questions in 90 minutes and need 65 correct. You also complete practical manoeuvres.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Jachtowy sternik morski · Seagoing yacht skipper
From 18
- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing and motor yachts with no hull limit inland, and with a hull up to 18 metres at sea.
- How you get it
- You answer 75 single-choice questions and a navigation problem in 120 minutes. You need 65 correct, must solve the problem, and complete practical manoeuvres.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Motorowodny sternik morski · Seagoing motorboat skipper
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can use motor yachts with no hull limit inland, and with a hull up to 18 metres at sea. For matching sailing rights, you also need Żeglarz jachtowy.
- How you get it
- You answer 75 single-choice questions and a navigation problem in 120 minutes. You need 65 correct, must solve the problem, and complete practical manoeuvres.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kapitan jachtowy · Yacht captain
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can use sailing and motor yachts on inland and sea waters, with no hull limit.
- How you get it
- There is no exam; you upgrade through documented sea service.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Kapitan motorowodny · Motorboat captain
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can use motor yachts on inland and sea waters, with no hull limit. For matching sailing rights, you also need Żeglarz jachtowy.
- How you get it
- There is no exam; you upgrade through documented sea service.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Mechanik motorowodny · Motorboat engineer
- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief engineer on motor yachts, but you also need a patent that gives motor-yacht qualifications.
- How you get it
- You answer 25 single-choice questions in 30 minutes and need 20 correct. There is also a practical assessment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Licencja do holowania narciarza wodnego lub innych obiektów pływających · Water-skier and floating-object towing licence
From 18
- What it lets you do
- You can tow water-skiers or recreational floating objects, excluding yachts. You also need a motorboat patent.
- How you get it
- You answer 25 single-choice questions in 30 minutes and need 20 correct. There is also a practical assessment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Licencja do holowania statków powietrznych · Aircraft towing licence
From 18- What it lets you do
- You can tow aircraft from motorboats, but you also need a motorboat patent.
- How you get it
- You answer 25 single-choice questions in 30 minutes and need 20 correct. There is also a practical assessment.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
More exam guides
Polish sailing licence (Patent żeglarza jachtowego): exam, requirements and fees
The Patent żeglarza jachtowego lets you skipper sailing yachts on inland waters, including a yacht with an auxiliary engine. At sea, it allows sailing yachts up to 12 m on internal sea waters, or elsewhere within 2 nautical miles of shore in daylight.
Professional deck titles
Świadectwo marynarza wachtowego
STCW II/4- What it lets you do
- You can work as a bridge-watch rating on seagoing ships.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo starszego marynarza
STCW II/5- What it lets you do
- You can work as an able seafarer in the deck department.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Dyplom oficera wachtowego na statkach o pojemności brutto 500 i powyżej
STCW II/1- What it lets you do
- You can serve as a navigational watch officer on seagoing ships of any tonnage.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Dyplom starszego oficera na statkach o pojemności brutto 3000 i powyżej
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can serve as chief mate on seagoing ships of any tonnage.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Dyplom kapitana na statkach o pojemności brutto od 500 do 3000
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master on seagoing ships under 3,000 GT.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Dyplom kapitana żeglugi wielkiej na statkach o pojemności brutto 3000 i powyżej
STCW II/2- What it lets you do
- You can be master on seagoing ships of any tonnage.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Radio certificates
Świadectwo operatora łączności bliskiego zasięgu
SRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate GMDSS radio equipment on non-SOLAS seagoing vessels in sea area A1.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo operatora łączności dalekiego zasięgu
LRC- What it lets you do
- You can operate GMDSS radio equipment on non-SOLAS seagoing vessels in all sea areas.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo ograniczone operatora (GMDSS)
ROC- What it lets you do
- You can operate GMDSS equipment on all seagoing ships in sea area A1.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo ogólne operatora (GMDSS)
GOC- What it lets you do
- You can operate GMDSS equipment on all seagoing ships and carry out coast-station operator duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo operatora radiotelefonisty w służbie radiokomunikacyjnej śródlądowej
- What it lets you do
- You can use IWC inland-waterway VHF and UHF radiotelephony and DSC.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo operatora radiotelefonisty VHF
- What it lets you do
- You can use marine-band VHF radiotelephony.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo operatora stacji nadbrzeżnej
- What it lets you do
- You can work as a CSO, operating radio at coast stations and maritime rescue coordination centres.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo radioelektronika drugiej klasy (GMDSS)
- What it lets you do
- As a G2E, you can operate GMDSS, maintain and repair onboard electronics, and carry out coast-station duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
Świadectwo radioelektronika pierwszej klasy (GMDSS)
- What it lets you do
- As a G1E, you can operate GMDSS, diagnose and repair onboard electronics, and carry out coast-station duties.
- Where to study
- Study it in Academy
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Official sources: Ministerstwo Sportu i Turystyki — Uprawianie turystyki wodnej, consolidated regulation (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 604) · Ministerstwo Infrastruktury — Informator dla żeglarzy i armatorów jachtów (2024), hosted by Urząd Morski w Gdyni · Minister Transportu, Budownictwa i Gospodarki Morskiej — Szkolenie z zakresu bezpieczeństwa na wodzie (Dz.U. 2013 poz. 599) · Ministerstwo Infrastruktury — Wyszkolenie i kwalifikacje członków załóg statków morskich (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1383), §§12, 16, 30, 36 and certificate forms · Urząd Komunikacji Elektronicznej — Świadectwa morskie i żeglugi śródlądowej · Urząd Morski w Szczecinie — Poradnik dla użytkowników pływających jednostek rekreacyjnych (2019)