France

The French flag is a natural choice for those who cruise between Corsica and the Côte d'Azur. Agenzia Magnum helps you register your boat in France, for pleasure or commercial use.

Who runs the register

Since 2022, francisation and the registration number for pleasure craft have been replaced by a single enregistrement (registration) procedure, which grants the right to fly the French flag. It is handled by the Délégations à la mer et au littoral of the DDTM (departmental land and sea directorates), under the Ministry of the Sea; many subsequent formalities are carried out online at demarches-plaisance.gouv.fr. For commercial yachts there is the Registre International Français (RIF), run by a one-stop shop based in Marseille.

Who can register a boat

• at least 50% of the vessel must be owned by nationals of an EU member state;
• EU nationals who live in France for less than six months a year must provide a declaration of address for service in France (Cerfa form 14501);
• companies may also be owners, under the conditions set by French law.

Which vessels

French pleasure craft, personal watercraft and boats of 2.5 metres or more must be registered to go to sea. Vessels bought in another EU state require the tax certificate, and those from non-EU countries the import declaration. The RIF is reserved for commercial yachts over 15 metres length overall, used exclusively for commercial activity on international voyages, with a professional crew of whom at least 25% are EU nationals.

Advantages for an Italian owner

• an EU flag with a long maritime tradition;
• largely digital procedures after the first registration;
• a dedicated register, the RIF, for commercial yachting.

An annual tax (formerly the DAFN) may be payable on French pleasure craft depending on the vessel's characteristics: we assess its impact with you before proceeding. The flag also does not change the VAT and customs status of the boat.

How we help

We prepare the file (proof of ownership, declaration of conformity, tax certificate, deletion from the previous register, address for service) and handle the procedure with the French maritime administration, working with local professionals where needed.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page with your boat's details and we will tell you whether the French flag suits your case.

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