Legal frame Pravilnik o brodicama i jahtama NN 27/05 arts 49–52, 61–63, 70 and 81, kept in force by NN 13/20 art. 48; NN 57/06 art. 22 (the 7 m / 15 kW threshold); NN 13/20 art. 48(2) (30 BT read as 18 m). School and press sources are marked [secondary].
Croatia's leisure licence is the uvjerenje o osposobljenosti za voditelja brodice — the boat skipper certificate. There are two leisure categories. A third, C, is a professional title for commercial boats and is not a rental licence.
The two categories
| Voditelj brodice A | Voditelj brodice B | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 15 | 16; 18 to helm a boat over 15 kW |
| Boats | Personal-use boats up to 7 m and 15 kW | All personal-use boats |
| Area | IIIa, IIIb, IIIc and IV — up to 6 nm from the coast | Up to 12 nm (area III) |
| Yachts | None | Yachts up to 18 m, personal use or hired bareboat |
| Exam syllabus | App. 6: charts, course and distance, collision rules, lights, shapes, sound and distress signals, knots, Adriatic winds | App. 7: navigation, engines and safety, regulations and weather, manoeuvring and collision rules, first aid, maritime radiotelephony |
| Validity | No expiry stated | No expiry stated |
A B holder may also helm everything an A holder may.
Which one does your rental need?
| Rental | Licence |
|---|---|
| 4.8 m boat, 15 hp outboard (about 11 kW), day trips along the shore | A |
| 6.5 m RIB, 90 hp (about 67 kW) | B, helmsman 18+ |
| 7.5 m boat, any engine | B (over 7 m) |
| 12 m sailing yacht with a 30 kW auxiliary, bareboat | B, 18+ (it is still a brodica up to 15 m) |
| 16 m motor yacht, bareboat | B covers yachts up to 18 m |
The exam in practice
Candidates apply to a lučka kapetanija (harbour master's office). For A and B the board is a chair and two members. The regulation allows an oral and/or written exam; a written part is passed at 70 %. Schools describe the B exam as oral, with chart work and knots and no boat handling, lasting roughly 20–45 minutes [secondary]. A first-aid certificate obtained elsewhere exempts you from that subject.
Schools also report that the exam can be taken in English, German or Italian if you ask for it on the application, and quote fees of €23.23 (A) and €58.40 (B), or €43.47 and €108.83 for foreigners examined in English or German [secondary]. No official tariff was found; check with the office before you apply.
CAUTION — "Yachts to 30 BT" Older certificates, and many school websites, describe B as covering yachts "do 30 BT". Since 1 Feb 2020 the crew rules read 18 m instead (NN 13/20 art. 48(2)). Teach yourself the metre figure; the gross-tonnage wording is history.
Change is coming, not here yet
The Ministry has announced a new regulation covering every title from boat skipper to master: a computer-based exam for all categories and compulsory practical training for B. A public consultation was planned for autumn 2026 [secondary: Index.hr, HRT]. Nothing had been published in Narodne novine by 30 September 2026, so the rules above still apply.
If you plan to sit B, Voditelj Brodice B — Exam Prep covers the syllabus subject by subject. This course only tells you which category your rental needs.