Germany

The German flag is a highly respected EU flag, but with strict eligibility requirements for foreign owners. Agenzia Magnum helps you find out whether your boat can be registered in Germany and assists you with the procedure.

Who runs the register

For seagoing vessels with a hull length of up to 15 metres, the right to fly the German flag is evidenced by the Flaggenzertifikat (flag certificate), issued by the Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH), the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. Vessels with a hull over 15 metres are entered in the register of seagoing ships (Seeschiffsregister), kept at certain local courts (Amtsgerichte); for smaller vessels registration is optional, but a registered vessel cannot also hold a Flaggenzertifikat. Official information is available on the BSH website.

Who can fly the German flag

• German nationals and EU nationals resident in Germany;
• German nationals living abroad, by appointing an authorised person (beauftragte Person) resident in Germany;
• companies incorporated under the law of an EU state with their seat in Germany or another EU state: if the seat is outside Germany, an authorised person resident or based in Germany must be appointed.

In practice, an Italian private individual not resident in Germany cannot normally obtain the German flag in their own name; an EU company with an authorised person in Germany may, however, be a viable route.

Which vessels

The Flaggenzertifikat covers seagoing vessels with a hull of up to 15 metres; open motorboats, inflatables and RIBs are not considered seagoing vessels for the purposes of the certificate. The certificate is valid for ten years and since December 2025 has been issued in electronic form with a QR code for online verification. Specific requirements apply to commercial use and must be checked case by case.

Advantages

• an EU flag with an excellent reputation;
• a long-lasting certificate for vessels up to 15 metres;
• a public ownership register for larger vessels.

How we help

We check whether the owner meets the requirements, prepare the application and its attachments (proof of ownership, photos of the vessel, declaration by the authorised person) and coordinate the procedure with the German authority and the authorised person in Germany.

Contact us using the form at the bottom of the page with the details of the boat and its owner.

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