Recognition
Governing: décret 2015-723 arts 10–15; arrêté of 25 Sep 2007; décision of 16 Jun 2026 (NOR TECM2616206S, JORF 20 Jun 2026). Builds on: L1.2.
What needs a visa
On a French-flag ship, a foreign certificate needs a visa de reconnaissance (recognition endorsement, STCW regulation I/10) when it is:
- a management- or operational-level CoC: STCW II/1–3, III/1–3, III/6 and VII/2;
- a tanker cargo certificate; or
- a GMDSS radio certificate.
Other foreign certificates, such as basic safety, are used as they stand. Titles from non-STCW States cannot be recognised at all. For full detail and worked manning cases see French Visa de Reconnaissance.
The June 2026 list
The décision of 16 Jun 2026 replaced the 2022 list. It names:
- 26 non-EU States: Algeria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, United Kingdom, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uruguay and Viet Nam;
- 29 EU/EEA States: every EU member except France, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
| Your CoC | Position on a French-flag yacht |
|---|---|
| MCA (UK) | Recognisable: apply for a visa |
| Malta, Spain, Italy or another EU State | Recognisable |
| Australia (AMSA), New Zealand, Canada | Recognisable |
| USA (USCG) | Not on the list |
| Marshall Islands | Not on the list |
| South Africa (SAMSA) | Not on the list |
| Cayman or other UK territory | Unclear: confirm with the guichet |
WARNING — old lists linger Some RIF pages still quote "53 States" under the 2022 décision. That décision has been repealed. Work from the 16 Jun 2026 list.
The procedure
- The seafarer or the owner completes cerfa 15333.
- For RIF yachts it goes to the RIF guichet unique (rif.equipage@mer.gouv.fr), which usually deals with visa requests in 1–3 working days. For other French ships the DIRM handles it.
- Non-EU/EEA nationals need a written job offer from the owner.
- While the visa is pending, a provisional attestation of up to 3 months can be issued.
- The visa and attestations are issued as secure PDFs on the Portail du marin. The original, or its electronic version, stays on board.
Validity and limits
- A visa lasts at most 5 years and follows the foreign CoC: if your MCA CoC expires in 2 years, so does the visa.
- A visa does not entitle you to the equivalent French brevet.
- The master and the deputy face extra conditions (L3.2); a visa alone is not enough for them.
Dispensations
If you are one step short, the RIF may grant a dispensation (dérogation, cerfa 14194) of up to 6 months to serve in the next-lower capacity to the one your title covers. The guichet usually deals with these in 1–4 working days. No dispensation is possible for master or chief engineer, except in force majeure for at most 2 months, and none for radio operators.
TIP — send it before you fly The guichet is quick, but a missing medical or an expired support certificate sends the file back. Check the whole pack before the owner files it.
Summary
Foreign officer and GMDSS certificates need a visa on French-flag ships. The UK is on the June 2026 list; the USA, RMI and South Africa are not. Cerfa 15333, typically 1–3 working days at the RIF, at most 5 years and never beyond the underlying CoC.