What you need before you start

We want to hear from you! Transport Canada is running a public consultation on making personal floatation devices or lifejackets mandatory for recreational boaters. Have something to say? Let us know.

Gather all the documents you will need. If we don’t receive the correct documents, your application will incur delays.

Proof of ownership or bill of sale

• name, address and signature of the person who sold you the pleasure craft
• name and signature of the new owner
• description of the pleasure craft (make, model and other details requested on the application form)
• hull serial number (HIN) (if available)
• pleasure craft licence number (if already licensed)

Documents that we consider to be valid proof of ownership (depending on the type of application) include:

• bills of sale
• statutory declarations
• wills and bequests
• separation or divorce agreements
• court judgments
• signed agreements of transfer of ownership (sale/purchase agreement)

You will need to provide a statutory declaration as proof of ownership if:

• you don’t have proof of ownership
• you built your own boat

Declaration under oath

You can complete the declaration under oath using the sample Declaration Under Oath (PDF, 128 KB). You can also complete these declarations on another sworn document, as long as the document includes enough information to show that you’re legally entitled to license a specific pleasure craft.

The declaration should include the following information:

• name and address of the new owner(s)
• licence number of the pleasure craft (if applicable)
• make and model of the pleasure craft
• hull serial number (HIN)
• hull material and colour
• propulsion type
• name of the person who sold you the pleasure craft (if known)
• explanation as to why you can’t produce proof of ownership or other documents
  • for an unlicensed pleasure craft, a statement that, to the best of your knowledge, the pleasure craft was not previously licensed

  NOTE: A lawyer, notary, Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths, or another person legally entitled to sign such documents in Canada must sign a declaration under oath. You may have to pay a fee to get the signature for this document.

  If you’re an Indigenous person and can’t produce a bill of sale, you can use a letter from a community elder that confirms you own the craft instead of a declaration under oath.

  Valid government-issued I.D.

  You must provide valid government issued I.D. for all pleasure craft owners. Two owner names can be entered when licensing a pleasure craft.

  • provincial/territorial birth certificates
  • certificates of Canadian citizenship
  • valid Canadian passports
  • provincial/territorial driver’s licences
  • other forms of government-issued I.D. (preferably with a photograph)

  Note: We don’t accept provincial/territorial health cards. If you’re a resident of another country, we accept government-issued I.D. from your own country.

  Photograph of the pleasure craft

  You must provide a current photograph of the pleasure craft along with your application. We don’t accept stock images.

  • be in colour
  • be current
  • be well-lit (no heavy shadows, no large wash-out areas)
  • be a full side view of the pleasure craft
  • the pleasure craft can’t be blocked by objects and must be clearly visible

  An example of an acceptable photograph:

  

  Applying as a third party

  If you’re applying as a third party on behalf of the pleasure craft owner, your application must include:

  • a letter from the owner or a person with signing authority that states you have permission to act on their behalf and to provide the documents required to license the pleasure craft. You may use the sample Third Party Authorization Letter (PDF, 104 KB)
  • valid I.D. to prove you are the person who is named in the letter of authorization, signed by the owner
  • other required documents you need to apply to get a pleasure craft licence

  Applying as a business (legal entity)

  If the pleasure craft is owned by a business, your application must include:

  • a letter from a person with signing authority (Owner, President, Vice President, Manager, etc.) that states you have permission to act on behalf of the company and to provide the documents required to license the pleasure craft. You may use the sample Authorization to Submit a Pleasure Craft Licence Application for a Legal Entity (PDF, 100 KB)
  • valid I.D. to prove you are the person who is named in the letter of authorization, signed by the owner
  • other required documents you need to apply to get a pleasure craft licence

  Document requirements

  When applying online, your documents must:

  • have a resolution of at least 300 DPI
  • be no bigger than 5 MB
  • be in PDF, JPG, TIFF or PNG format
  • be clear and legible

  Service standards

  Get a new pleasure craft licence

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Transfer a pleasure craft licence

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Renew a pleasure craft licence

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Get a duplicate pleasure craft licence document

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Update a pleasure craft licence

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Cancel a pleasure craft licence

  TC will process applications and send the licence within five (5) business days of receipt of a fully completed application, including all required supporting documentation.

  Sections

  • Do you need a PCL?
  • What you need before you start
  • Apply for a new licence or manage an existing licence
  • After you apply
  • Additional information