Legal frame
Governing: D.Lgs. 71/2015 arts 3(7), 6, 19 and 20; STCW Regulation I/10; MIT list of recognised states (July 2025). Builds on: L1.2.
Why you need one
On an Italian-flag commercial yacht you serve on an Italian CoC or on a foreign CoC recognised by Italy. Recognition takes the form of a convalida di riconoscimento (recognition endorsement), issued by Italian consular offices (art. 3(7)) after checking that the certificate is authentic. The endorsement:
- states the capacity you may serve in, in the terms of Italian manning rules (art. 6(13));
- lasts as long as the foreign CoC and no more than 60 months (art. 6(12));
- must be carried on board, in original or digital copy.
Two routes
| Route | Legal basis | What is checked | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA CoC | art. 19 | STCW conformity | None on function; but see the nationality rule for masters (L3.2) |
| Third-country CoC | art. 20 | State must be recognised at EU level and on MIT's list | Never for master, or chief mate acting as master (art. 20(1)) |
Management-level holders of third-country CoCs must also know the relevant Italian maritime law and the working language, which the company certifies.
The list (July 2025)
MIT's portal publishes the states whose CoCs consulates may endorse. The list "aggiornato al luglio 2025" contains:
- 19 third countries: Australia, Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Russian Federation, the Philippines, Georgia, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, Montenegro and Ghana;
- the EU and EEA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway alongside the EU members).
The United States, the Marshall Islands, the Cayman Islands, Canada and New Zealand are not listed.
The UK story
After Brexit MIT asked the Commission to recognise the UK and, meanwhile, recognised UK CoCs unilaterally from May 2021; consulates in the UK resumed endorsements. The EU recognised the UK system by Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1973 of 27 Oct 2022. The result: an MCA OOW, chief mate or engineer can be endorsed. An MCA master cannot command, for the reason in L3.2.
Sailing while the application is processed
Art. 20(6)–(7): if needed, a holder of a valid third-country CoC may serve for up to 3 months in functions other than master (and radio operator) while the application is pending. The proof of filing, kept on board, counts as a provisional endorsement for that period.
CAUTION — The list decides, not your CV A USCG or RMI certificate cannot be endorsed at all, however senior. If you hold one, the practical route is an EU/EEA or UK CoC; see Malta and Red Ensign Flag Endorsements.
Radio
GMDSS certificates are endorsed for residents in Italy by the economic-development ministry (art. 6(2)). For the UND 2ª classe, a foreign SRC needs no endorsement (D.D. 40/2025 art. 3).