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Boating in Switzerland: Lake Constance, permits and customs

Boating in Switzerland with a foreign boat usually means Lake Constance. A licence from Germany, Austria or Switzerland that is not valid there, or an ICC, counts as a lake licence on 30 days a year. Foreign boats also need two permits, one from the canton and, for stays longer than a month, one from customs, as well as CHF 2 million in liability cover.

Emergency118UKW 16[12]

Alcohol limit0.5 ‰[1]

Liability coverrequiredmin. CHF 2 million[1]

LicenceLake Constance: 30 days[2]

1 A licence from a shore state that does not cover Lake Constance, or an ICC, 2 counts as a lake licence on 30 days per calendar year in total. 3 The authority certifies which days.

Licences on Lake Constance and other lakes

On Lake Constance a licence is required for boats with engines over 4.4 kW and sailing boats with more than 12 m² of sail. The minimum age is 18 for category A (motor) and 14 for category D (sail).[2]
An official certificate of competence issued in Germany, Austria or Switzerland that does not cover the lake, and the International Certificate (ICC), are recognised on 30 days per calendar year in total. A certificate from the authority must show which days (BSO Art. 12.09).[2]
The Canton of St. Gallen lists only the ICC for Lake Constance, while the regulation also accepts national certificates from the shore states. Check which document is required where you launch.[3][2]
On other Swiss lakes a licence is needed above 6 kW or 15 m² of sail. Visitors may skipper their own foreign boat with a national licence valid at home or an ICC, for one month per calendar year according to the Canton of St. Gallen.[1][3]
Anyone living in Switzerland for more than twelve months needs a Swiss licence.[1]

Cantonal permit for foreign boats

A boat based abroad needs a permit from the canton where it is first launched after crossing the border. It runs until the end of the following month on all approved waters and cannot be renewed in the same calendar year.[1]
Conditions include compliance with traffic rules, no significant emissions, a licence or ICC, proof of liability cover at the Swiss minimum and proof that the owner lives abroad.[1]
From the Thurgau shore, a visiting boat permit is issued for 1, 2 or 3 months; more than one month only for engines meeting the Lake Constance emission rules. Apply at least one week ahead in Kreuzlingen. The fee is not published, so check it before you travel.[6]
The Canton of Zurich charges CHF 50 for the boat permit, CHF 30 for the registration number, CHF 100 for the crane if needed and one twelfth of the annual boat tax.[5]
Whether a boat registered for Lake Constance in Germany or Austria may enter the Swiss part without this permit is not officially confirmed. Check with the canton before you travel.[6][2]

Liability insurance of CHF 2 million

No boat may be used on public waters without liability insurance, except non commercial boats without an engine and sailing boats without an engine up to 15 m² of sail.[1]
The minimum cover is CHF 2 million per incident for personal injury and property damage combined.[1]
For a foreign boat permit you show proof of insurance, or the policy with a premium receipt for the current year, guaranteeing the Swiss minimum. Alternatively the keeper pays the authority the premium for a collective insurance.[1]
The regulation generally requires an insurer authorised by FINMA. Whether a foreign policy is accepted is best confirmed with the permit office before you travel.[1]

Customs and papers on board

If you live abroad, a boat may enter and leave Switzerland without formalities for up to one month; the permit is requested from the cantonal navigation office. For longer stays you need customs permit 15.32, valid for up to one year, to be shown to that office.[7]
Everyone on board needs a valid travel document recognised by Switzerland. Customs landing points exist on Lake Geneva, Lake Constance, Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore.[8]
Carry the required documents and show them on request. Foreign boats must display their registration marks without exception.[1]
On Lake Constance, motorboats and sailing boats with an engine or living, cooking or sanitary facilities need an approval and must show the registration mark on both sides.[2]

Lifejackets and safety equipment

On Lake Constance every person from 40 kg needs a lifejacket with collar and at least 100 N. Boats over 30 kW and ballasted sailing boats also carry a throwable rescue device of 100 N with a 10 m floating line.[4]
Fire extinguishers on the lake: at least 2 kg per started 100 l of fuel, up to 12 kg, where there is a cooker or heater, an inboard over 4.4 kW or an outboard over 7.4 kW.[4]
On other Swiss lakes each person needs a rescue aid of at least 75 N. Motorboats up to 30 kW carry an anchor, lines, a bailer, boat hook, paddle, distress flag, horn and fire protection; above 30 kW also a bilge pump.[1]

Alcohol limits and speed

On Lake Constance skippers may not operate from 0.8 per mille or 0.40 mg/l breath alcohol. Elsewhere in Swiss waters the limit is 0.5 per mille. Whether the lake regulation has changed since 2022 could not be confirmed, so check before you travel.[2][1]
Lake Constance has a 40 km/h speed limit. Motorboats keep 300 m from the shore and reed beds except when mooring or leaving, then by the shortest route at up to 10 km/h. Electric drives up to 2 kW are exempt.[2]
Reeds, rushes and water lilies are off limits, usually with a 25 m distance. Noise is capped at 72 dB(A) at 25 m, and water skiing is banned in the 300 m shore zone.[2][4]
To be approved on the lake, engines must meet stage 2 of the Lake Constance emission rules.[4]

Shore zones on Lake Geneva and other lakes

Other Swiss lakes have an inner shore zone up to 150 m and an outer zone up to 300 m. Motorboats may not exceed 10 km/h in either and enter the inner zone only to moor, leave or pass narrows.[1]
Outside approved berths a boat may stay anchored or moored for more than 24 hours only with someone on board.[1]
On Lake Geneva the limit is 10 km/h within 300 m of the shore and in harbours unless signed otherwise. Jet skis are banned.[9]

Cleaning when changing lakes

In the Canton of Zug every boat coming from another body of water must be cleaned at an authorised station before launching, in force since 1 March 2025.[10]
The Canton of St. Gallen also requires notification and cleaning when moving between waters, to stop mussels, larvae and plant fragments spreading.[11]

Towing a boat trailer in Switzerland

Swiss rules (Art. 5 Traffic Rules Ordinance) limit vehicles towing a trailer to 80 km/h, while a light motor vehicle with a trailer up to 3.5 t may do 100 km/h on motorways and expressways, even where higher speeds are signposted.[13]
Trailers also need a motorway vignette unless subject to the heavy vehicle charge; the vignette costs CHF 40. The Swiss customs pages do not say expressly whether a trailer needs its own e-vignette linked to its plate.[14][15]
A load may extend no more than 5.00 m behind the centre of the rear axle, and its end must be clearly marked if it overhangs the vehicle by more than 1 m. Indivisible sports equipment up to 2.55 m wide is allowed on sports equipment trailers.[13]
If the trailer blocks the rear view, the car needs exterior mirrors on both sides giving at least 100 m of rear view. Rigs with a trailer over 3.5 t are subject to the Sunday and night driving ban.[13]

Emergency calls

On the St. Gallen shore of Lake Constance, lake rescue is reached via 118 or 117, connected to the cantonal emergency centre. A dedicated number for Lake Geneva and other lakes is not officially confirmed.[12]

Keep your licence, the certificate for your Lake Constance days, the cantonal permit and proof of CHF 2 million liability cover on board. Before setting off, find out which canton your boat will be launched in first.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

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Questions

Is my foreign licence valid on Lake Constance?

A licence from Germany, Austria or Switzerland that does not cover the lake, or an ICC, counts on 30 days per calendar year, with the days certified by the authority.

Do I need a permit for my boat in Switzerland?

Yes, a permit from the canton where the boat is first launched, valid until the end of the following month.

How much liability cover does Switzerland require?

At least CHF 2 million per incident for personal injury and property damage combined.

What is the alcohol limit?

0.8 per mille on Lake Constance and 0.5 per mille on other Swiss waters.