From the moment you decide to get a boat, you can feel the excitement. You cannot wait to make your purchase so you can get out on the water so you can relax in the sun, listen to the water, and enjoy time fishing, swimming or just doing nothing with family and friends. Of course, once you have your boat, there are laws that you will need to follow so that you can be out on the water in Canada. In Canada, it is important that you either register your boat with Transport Canada or that you get a pleasure craft licence from the government agency.
The What and Why of a Licence
According to Canadian law, a pleasure craft is identified as one that is used strictly for recreation. Your vessel cannot be used to carry passengers that are paying you any type of fee for the service. The guests on your boat are not paying a fee, so they are not considered passengers. The reason you need to get a licence is simple. First, it is the law in Canada to have a licence or registration. Secondly, the licence provides you with a unique number that is on file with Transport Canada. The number is displayed on your vessel so that your boat can easily be identified by law enforcement or by search and rescue teams.
Getting a Licence
There is a process you need to go through to get a pleasure craft licence. You can access the forms you need at the Transport Canada website and download them for submission. There is personal information that is required, and you will need to provide documents such as the bill of sale, proof of ownership, current photographs of the vessel, and other documentation along with your forms. You then submit the forms for approval so that you can get your official number.
Helping You Get a Licence
Here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp., we can help you with the process so that you can get your pleasure craft licence without a hassle. As a third-party organization that helps owners file paperwork with Transport Canada, we can let you will out the forms electronically and send them, along with your documentation, to us so we can make sure you have everything you need to file. We then file the forms on your behalf, helping speed the process so you can get your licence.