Boat Deregistration

Giving up the flag to move into the small craft (natante) category

Many boats under 10 m are nonetheless registered in the R.I.D. (the Italian pleasure craft register) for various reasons (a leasing registration, use as a work boat, etc.).

Such boats can be deregistered at any time, as they fall within the small craft (natante) category.

The procedure is very simple; the only drawback is the time it takes, as INPS (the Italian social security institute) and INAIL (the Italian workplace accident insurance institute) must approve the deregistration by confirming that there are no outstanding liabilities arising from seafarers having served on board.

Giving up the flag to sell to a resident of an EU country

When a boat is sold to an EU citizen, it must be deregistered so that it can be entered in the foreign register.

There are several ways of going about it:

• The most expensive but the most correct:
  • The bill of sale is drawn up at an agency, municipality or notary and then registered with the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate)
  • The buyer applies for deregistration
  This approach gives the parties the greatest protection, both for tax and legal purposes. The Revenue Agency is aware of the sale and the sum received for it is accounted for (recommended for high-value boats).
• Bill of sale drawn up abroad and certified by a foreign notary or authority: clearance (NULLA OSTA) for deregistering the boat must first be requested. Once the Harbour Office of registration has issued the clearance, the sale can be completed abroad through a certifying authority or official. With the bill of sale authenticated abroad, the boat is deregistered at the request of the last Italian owner, without registering the deed with the Revenue Agency.

The process takes a long time: when applying to give up the flag, the boat's owner submits a self-declaration that there are no outstanding liabilities. At its discretion, the Harbour Office may accept the self-declaration or wait for a reply from INPS and INAIL.

Giving up the flag to sell to a resident of a NON-EU country

Little changes compared with deregistration for sale to an EU resident.

The only difference is that for exports outside the EU, the Harbour Office does not accept the self-declaration of no outstanding liabilities at all, and always waits for INPS and INAIL to confirm that there are none.

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