- 15 m to under 24 mBoat length covered by the qualified-mate roleConsolidated Act no. 1001 of 26/06/2025, section 10
- 18 yearsMinimum age to apply for the digital certificateExecutive Order no. 1441 of 25/11/2025, section 2
- 3 yearsHealth examination must be no more than 3 years old when the certificate is issuedExecutive Order no. 1441 of 25/11/2025, section 2
- DKK 855Certificate issue fee. Exam fees are extra.Executive Order no. 1441 of 25/11/2025, section 28
Danish duelighedsbevis explained: requirements, exams and feesWhat is a duelighedsbevis?
A duelighedsbevis is Denmark’s certificate of competence for navigating recreational boats. You pass a theory exam and a practical exam, then apply to Søfartsstyrelsen for the digital duelighed sønæringsbevis. The certificate gives you a qualified-mate role alongside a skipper; it is not a skipper qualification.
What can you do with it?
Where can you serve as a qualified mate? The legal manning table names the North Sea, English Channel, waters around the British Isles, Ireland, Norway and the Faroe Islands. Søfartsstyrelsen also describes the role in the Baltic and along Greenland’s coasts; the table has a more restricted Baltic and Greenland area in which no separate mate qualification is specified.
With the certificate, you can
- Serve as a qualified mate on sailing boats and motorboats from 15 m to under 24 m in the specified waters
- Operate a speedboat covered by the Danish speedboat rules
- Generally use the certificate on a Danish recreational boat abroad, subject to additional rules at your destination
It does not let you
- Act as the qualified skipper on a boat from 15 m to under 24 m; the required yachtskipper certificate depends on the waters
- Use it instead of a vandscooterbevis, Denmark’s separate personal-watercraft certificate
- Work commercially on the strength of this certificate alone
What do you need before applying?
- Be at least 18 and meet the legal-capacity requirement: you must not be under guardianship or co-guardianship
- Pass the theory and practical duelighed exams
- Pass the required eyesight and hearing examination, including colour vision, within the previous 3 years
- Have MitID and a payment card ready for the digital application
There is one alternative examination route: a valid speedbådsbevis plus a passed duelighed theory exam meets the examination requirement for the digital certificate. It does not document that you have passed both duelighed exams.
How to get your certificate
- Choose an approved provider
Ask an approved examination provider about its arrangements, current prices and what to bring. Teaching is available through sailing clubs and evening schools, but Denmark has no compulsory course or fixed national training length.
- Prepare for the exams
Prepare the boating knowledge and practical skills for the theory and practical duelighed exams. Your provider sets the detailed examination arrangements.
- Pass the exams
Pass the theory and practical exams, or use the valid-speedbådsbevis alternative described above. The provider records your passed duelighed exams and issues exam-pass documentation.
- Book your eyesight and hearing examination
Take the required examination, including colour vision, with an approved maritime doctor or an ophthalmology specialist in Denmark. Approved maritime doctors report successful examinations digitally.
- Apply digitally
Apply to Søfartsstyrelsen using MitID and your payment card. Your digital certificate is available through self-service and the My Maritime app.
Danish Sailing Union exam format
National rules require theory and practical assessment, while approved providers set the detailed arrangements. The format below is published by the Danish Sailing Union, so another approved provider may organise its exams differently.
| Part | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Online theory | 43 questions in 30 minutes; at least 35 correct to pass |
| Voyage planning and oral theory | Prepare a voyage-planning assignment at home, then take an individual oral exam of about 25 minutes |
| Practical exam | Prepare the boat and demonstrate boat handling and navigation, with at least 25 minutes at the helm |
Skills you will work on
- Collision regulations, navigation, safety at sea, fire prevention and control, and protecting the marine environment
- Passage planning, steering and manoeuvring, finding your position using charts and coastal landmarks, estimating it by dead reckoning, and GPS
- Crew organisation, communication, lookout and give-way decisions
Fees
At these published rates, one attempt at each exam plus certificate issue totals DKK 2,055. Training and the health examination may cost extra. Fees from the Danish Sailing Union were checked on 4 November 2026.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Digital certificate issue | DKK 855 |
| Online theory test | DKK 100 per attempt |
| Oral theory exam | DKK 500 |
| Practical exam | DKK 600 |
The oral theory exam also requires a paid online test attempt. The official certificate issue fee is separate from exam fees.
Is this the certificate you need?
It may suit you if
- You need to serve as a qualified mate on larger recreational boats
- You want a route that also permits covered speedboat operation
- You prefer to prepare through a club, evening school or another route rather than a nationally fixed course
Check first if
- You need to skipper a boat from 15 m to under 24 m
- Your sole aim is speedboat operation, for which the separate speedbådsbevis route may also fit
- You need a qualification for commercial operation
This route may suit you if you need to serve as a qualified mate on larger recreational boats. If your aim is speedboat operation, check the separate speedbådsbevis route too. To skipper a boat from 15 m to under 24 m, check which yachtskipper certificate your planned waters require.
What the exam covers
Free practice: COLREG, IALA, lights and signals
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Practice questions (with answers)
When obliged to cross a traffic lane, what heading should a vessel use?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. As nearly as practicable at right angles to the traffic flow
Rule 10(c): avoid crossing traffic lanes so far as practicable; if obliged to cross, use a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. This specifies heading, not ground track.
For vessels in sight of one another, an overtaking vessel:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken
Rule 13(a): any vessel overtaking shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
Two power-driven vessels in sight meet on reciprocal or nearly reciprocal courses with risk of collision. Under Rule 14, each shall:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Alter course to starboard
Rule 14(a): each shall alter course to starboard so that each passes on the port side of the other.
Two power-driven vessels in sight are crossing with risk of collision. The give-way vessel has the other on her:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Starboard side
Rule 15: the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way.
How does IALA Region B differ from Region A?
Show answer
Correct answer: B. The colours are reversed — red to starboard
Region A: port-hand red, starboard-hand green. Region B: port-hand green, starboard-hand red. Interpret both in the charted conventional direction of buoyage.
An East Cardinal mark shows how many quick flashes?
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 3 flashes
White lights, when fitted: North Q or VQ; East VQ(3) 5 s or Q(3) 10 s; South VQ(6)+LFl 10 s or Q(6)+LFl 15 s; West VQ(9) 10 s or Q(9) 15 s. The long flash lasts at least 2 s.
If fitted, the topmark of an isolated danger mark is:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Two black spheres vertically
Isolated danger marks have two black spheres (balls) as topmark. (if fitted).
Safe water marks are used as:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Fairway or mid-channel marks
Safe water marks are used as fairway, mid-channel, or landfall marks.
The full guide
The digital duelighed sønæringsbevis lets you operate a covered speedboat and serve as a qualified mate on recreational boats from 15 m to under 24 m in specified waters. It does not qualify you to be the skipper of those boats or to work commercially on the strength of the certificate alone.
The duelighed exam covers collision regulations, navigation, safety at sea, fire prevention and firefighting in small craft, and protection of the marine environment. Practise COLREG rules, IALA buoyage, lights and shapes, and sound signals here; study the rest of the syllabus with the official material.
Who is the duelighedsbevis for?
It is for recreational sailors who need the qualified-mate role on the relevant boats, as well as people preparing for the theory and practical exams. It is not a skipper qualification.
How to get your digital certificate
Choose an approved provider and pass the theory and practical duelighed exams. Have the required eyesight and hearing examination, including colour vision, within the previous 3 years. Then apply to Søfartsstyrelsen using MitID and a payment card.
Duelighedsbevis questions and answers
- How old do I need to be to get a duelighedsbevis?
- You must be at least 18 and meet the legal-capacity requirements to apply for the digital duelighed sønæringsbevis. This is the certificate application age, rather than an exam-entry age.
- Can a speedbådsbevis count towards a duelighed sønæringsbevis?
- Yes. A valid speedbådsbevis and a passed duelighed theory exam meet the examination requirement for the digital duelighed sønæringsbevis. They do not show that you passed both duelighed exams.
- Do both passed duelighed exams also count for a speedbådsbevis?
- Yes. Both passed duelighed exams can be used to obtain a speedbådsbevis without another speedboat exam.
- How much does a duelighedsbevis cost?
- The digital certificate issue fee is DKK 855. Exam fees are separate and set by the approved provider.
- Does a duelighedsbevis cover a personal watercraft?
- No. A vandscooterbevis is a separate certificate for a personal watercraft.
- Can I use a Danish duelighedsbevis abroad?
- It can generally be used on a Danish recreational boat abroad, subject to the destination's additional rules. Acceptance for foreign boat hire is not guaranteed.
Other exams
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC · Last reviewed: