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Boating in the USA: arrival, cruising license and Florida rules

Arriving on the US East Coast on a foreign yacht, after an Atlantic crossing or from the Bahamas, means reporting to Customs and Border Protection at once, usually holding a visa, and, for some flags, cruising under a cruising license. This page sums up federal regulations, CBP guidance and Florida law.

Emergency911UKW 16[20]

Alcohol limit0.8 ‰[11]

Liability covercheck locallyno requirement found

LicenceFlorida: ICC if born 1988+[10]

1 The boat arrives from abroad and the skipper reports to CBP at once, by the ROAM app or phone. 2 Yachts from qualifying countries can cruise under a cruising license for up to one year. 3 At every further port the skipper reports arrival again.

Best time to go: Miami

Miami: going by warmth, rain days and wind, February, March and April are the most pleasant months. Bars show the average daily high, the line the sea temperature, below them rain days and days with wind of 6 Beaufort or more per month, averaged over 2015 to 2024.

Air, daily high (°C) Sea (°C) best months

Rain days117.78.4121926282926191311

Days with wind 6 Bft+11%6%6%2%2%0%0%1%5%4%6%6%

Weather: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis, grid values rather than station readings).

Sea temperature from NOAA satellite data. More cruising areas compared: Best time to sail

Reporting arrival and clearing

On arrival from a foreign port, the master reports immediately to the nearest CBP facility, by any means of communication.[1]
The duty applies whatever the flag. In Florida the Small Vessel Call Center takes reports on 1-800-432-1216 or 1-800-451-0393, asking for names, dates of birth, nationality and passport numbers of everyone aboard, the boat's name, registration number and berth.[2]
Where the port of entry is open, you present yourself in person to a CBP officer.[3]
The free CBP ROAM app replaces the in-person report, except for travellers who need an I-94 or owe duty.[4]
Without a cruising license, a foreign yacht clears out before leaving for abroad. The exemption in the rule covers only American pleasure boats.[9]

Visa rather than ESTA

ESTA travellers must arrive on a carrier that has signed a Visa Waiver Program agreement, and only commercial vessels and aircraft count as carriers. Arriving on your own yacht therefore usually requires a visa, typically B-1/B-2. Confirm this with the US embassy before you travel.[5]
Neither ESTA nor a visa gives a right of entry; the border officer decides.[21]

Cruising license

Only yachts from countries that grant the same to US yachts can get a cruising license. Germany and Austria are on the list, Spain is not.[6]
The license lasts one year at most. With it the yacht cruises without formal entry and clearance and without the related fees.[6]
Even with a cruising license you report arrival at every US port at once.[6]
The CBP ROAM app can be used to apply for and update a cruising license.[4]

User fee decal and Florida

The annual private user fee decal costs USD 38.04 since 1 October 2026.[7]
Boats under 30 feet are exempt, as are yachts holding a cruising license while it runs.[8]
A boat from abroad needs no Florida title for stays of up to 90 days, and a foreign boat temporarily using Florida waters need not display a Florida number.[15]

Boater education in Florida

We found no general federal licence requirement for leisure boats. The states set the rules.
In Florida, anyone born on or after 1 January 1988 may only operate a boat of 10 horsepower or more with proof of education. Accepted are among others the Florida card, certificates from other US states and the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), plus photo ID on board.[10]
The statute does not list national licences without an ICC, so skippers born after 1987 should bring the ICC.[10]

Liability insurance

We found no insurance requirement for leisure boats in federal law or Florida statutes. Ask your marina before booking which proof it wants.

Safety equipment

Federal equipment rules for recreational boats do not apply to foreign boats temporarily using US waters.[13]
Florida requires Coast Guard safety equipment on every vessel on its waters. On boats under 26 feet, children under six wear an approved life jacket while under way.[14]

Alcohol

A recreational boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more is under the influence. The federal rule expressly includes foreign vessels.[11]
Florida sets the same limit: 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.[12]

Towing a boat trailer in Florida

In Florida a vehicle and its load may be at most 102 inches wide and 13 feet 6 inches high; beyond that a special permit is needed.[17]
Trailers over 3,000 pounds gross weight need brakes that apply automatically on breakaway.[18]
Florida sets no separate speed limit for towing. Unless signed otherwise, 30 mph applies in business and residential districts and 55 mph elsewhere.[19]

Emergency

The emergency number for ambulance, fire and police is 911.[20]
Boats without DSC keep watch on VHF channel 16 while under way; recreational boats may use channel 9 for calling. DSC calls run on channel 70.[16]

In the USA keep passports with visas, the boat papers, the cruising license or proof of entry and, for boats of 30 feet or more, the user fee decal on board. In Florida, skippers born from 1988 also carry the ICC and photo ID.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

Request a certificate (USA)

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