Legal frame
Governing: ΓΚΛ 50 art. 3(19) (ΦΕΚ Β' 1628/2019); ΓΚΛ 20 art. 9(8), 19(2); ΓΚΛ 38 art. 6(1). Builds on: L1.1.
Most visitors do not hold a Greek licence and cannot easily get one: the exam needs a Greek tax number and at least 12 lessons at a Greek school. So the practical question is whether your home licence lets you hire a speedboat or jet ski.
The rule
ΓΚΛ 50 art. 3(19) says a licence issued abroad, held by a Greek or a foreigner, is accepted if it was issued or officially recognised by a state authority of its country. At any check the holder must carry:
- an official translation of the licence; and
- a certificate from that country's embassy or consulate that the issuing authority is competent, or that the issuing body is officially recognised by a state authority.
Three points follow from the wording:
- EU or not makes no difference. The test is who issued it, not where.
- There is no conversion. A foreign licence is not swapped for a Greek one; you carry it with the supporting papers.
- The burden is on you. The operator must refuse hirers without the required qualifications (ΓΚΛ 20 art. 24(1)(ιθ), added in 2026), and the Coast Guard checks at sea.
By nationality: what to carry
| Home document | Likely position | Carry |
|---|---|---|
| German, Italian or French national licence issued under state rules | Fits the "state authority" test on its face | Original, official translation, consular certificate |
| UK: RYA certificates or the RYA-issued ICC | Unconfirmed. The UK has no state leisure licence; the ICC is issued by the RYA under UNECE Resolution 40. No Greek source read says whether that counts | Original ICC, translation and a consular letter if you can get one; ask the operator first |
| Other non-EU licences | Depends on whether a state authority issued or recognised it | As above |
We could not confirm acceptance of any specific national document with the Coast Guard. The table shows how the rule reads, not a ruling.
CAUTION — the consular certificate Few visitors travel with a consular certificate. Without it, a strict officer can treat you as unlicensed, which exposes you and the operator to fines under ΚΔΝΔ art. 157. Sort it out before the holiday, not at the pontoon.
If you have nothing acceptable
You may hire only a licence-free motor boat (L1.2). You may not drive a jet ski, a speedboat or any craft above the thresholds. Two lawful alternatives:
- Hire with a skipper. Under ΓΚΛ 38 the contract may name the operator or their employee as skipper (L2.2).
- Ride as a passenger on a towed ride or a skippered trip.
Bareboat yacht charter is different: the 2004 skipper decision expressly accepts club and sailing-school certificates, including foreign ones. See Bareboat Chartering in Greece.
TIP — ask in writing Email the operator before you travel with a scan of your licence and ask whether they will accept it for the craft you want. A written yes will not bind the Coast Guard, but a written no saves a wasted morning.