DID YOU KNOW?  Transport Canada has made it effective January 6, 2026 that all boats’ Pleasure Craft Licenses (PCL) now have an expiry date, and a $24 fee applies to new, renewed, transferred, or replaced PLCs.  This is the paper registration for your boat(s) and a copy must be carried on board at all times.

As of January 6, 2026 all new, transferred and renewed pleasure craft licenses are valid for 5 years. You can check your license expiry date using your pleasure craft license number. For older licenses that didn’t have an expiry date, the following expiry dates will now apply:

Licence issue date                                    Licence expiry date

December 31, 1974 or earlier                    March 31, 2026

January 1, 1975 to December 31, 1985   December 31, 2026

January 1, 1986 to December 31, 1995   December 31, 2027

January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1999   December 31, 2028

January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005   December 31, 2029

January 1, 2006 to April 28, 2010             December 31, 2030

What Boats Require a Pleasure Craft Licence?

By law, any pleasure craft, including personal watercraft (jet-ski), that is powered by one or more motors adding up to 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more must have a valid licence.

Starting December 31, 2027, wind-powered pleasure craft over 6 metres long will need a pleasure craft license. This will not apply to human-powered boats like kayaks, canoes, or dragon boats.  

For more information:

https://www.canboat.ca/resources/boatingtips/how-to-get-a-pleasure-craft-license-for-your-boat/