Who can register a vessel?
General registration under the French Flag, temporary registration or suspension of registration under the French Flag
Reference: article 219 of the French Customs Code
REQUIREMENTS FOR A GENERAL REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF'S GUICHET UNIQUE | |||||
Owner(s) of a new or second-hand vessel | |||||
For natural persons | Conditions | ||||
| For a single owner, being an EEA national [1]
For several owners at least half must be EEA nationals [1] | The owner (designated manager if there are several owners) must reside in France or elect domicile in France Form "elect domicile in France" (format PDF - 106.9 ko) if he or she resides less than 6 months per year | ||||
| I) | GENERAL REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG | For legal entities | Conditions | ||
| for vessels more than 24m length, purchased in non UE country after all duties and taxes paid or purchased in the European Union | At least 50% of the corporate owners must have their registered office and/or main headquarters in a territory of the EEA [1] | Management and control over the vessel by the registered office or the main headquarters in France, or failing by a permanent office of the vessel's owner company, domiciled in France [2] | |||
Lessee of a new or second-hand vessel intended to be acquired by a leasing agreement (LOA) | |||||
Natural Person(s) or Legal Entity/Entities | Conditions | ||||
| Same criteria as for the owner(s) | Same criteria as for the owner(s) | ||||
REQUIREMENTS FOR A TEMPORARY REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF'S GUICHET UNIQUE | |||||
Owner(s) of a new or second-hand vessel | |||||
For natural persons | Conditions | ||||
| II) | TEMPORARY REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG (special approval for vessels flying under a foreign flag) | For a single owner, being an EEA national [1]
For several owners at least half must be EEA nationals [1] | The owner (designated manager if there are several owners) must reside in France or elect domicile in France Form "elect domicile in France" (format PDF - 106.9 ko) if he or she resides less than 6 months per year | ||
| 1°) | for vessels more than 24m length, purchased in non UE country after all duties and taxes paid or purchased in the European Union | For legal entities | Conditions | ||
| At least 25% of the corporate owners must have their registered office and/or main headquarters in a territory of the EEA [1] | Management and control over the vessel by the registered office or the main headquarters in France, or failing by a permanent office of the vessel's owner company, domiciled in France [2] | ||||
| 2°) | for bareboat chartered vessels more than 24m length (only if the laws of the State of the foreign flag allow the suspension of their flag) | ||||
Bareboat charterer(s) | |||||
Natural Person(s) or Legal Entity/Entities | Conditions | ||||
| Same criteria as for the owner(s) under the general registration under the French Flag | Same criteria as for the owner(s) under the general registration under the French Flag | ||||
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENDING A REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF'S GUICHET UNIQUE | |||||
Charterer | |||||
| III) | SUSPENSION OF THE REGISTRATION WITH THE FRENCH FLAG RIF | For legal entities | Conditions | ||
for vessels with a length > 24m and that are subject to a bareboat lease to a foreign company and will fly a foreign flag for the entire lease period
| Company not established on the territory of the EEA [1] | Management and control on the vessel by a permanent office (see conditions above) located outside of French territory | |||
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