Changes to Pleasure Craft Licences in Canada (2026)
Important updates to Canada's Pleasure Craft Licence program came into force on December 31, 2025, with several significant changes that affect all recreational boat owners across the country. These new rules were announced by the Minister of Transport with the goal of improving boating safety, ensuring up to date vessel ownership information, and enhancing environmental protection on Canadian waterways.
A PCL identifies the boat. A PCOC certifies the person operating the boat.
Many boaters need both.
1. Licence Now Valid for Five Years Only
Under the updated Small Vessel Regulations, all new and renewed Pleasure Craft Licences (PCLs) will now have a five-year expiry period. Previously, licences could be lifetime or valid for ten years, depending on when they were issued.
2. Lifetime Licences Are Being Phased Out
Many older licences issued before April 2010 were considered “lifetime†licences. These licences are now being phased out and replaced with five-year licences on a rolling schedule based on the original issue date. Licence holders will need to renew before the new expiry date assigned to their boat.
3. New Service Fee Introduced
For the first time, Transport Canada is charging a $24 service fee for:
- issuing a new licence
- renewing an existing licence
- transferring a licence to a new owner
- replacing a lost or damaged licence
This fee will be adjusted each year for inflation. It does not apply when simply updating contact information, and there are exemptions for people exercising constitutionally protected Indigenous rights.
4. Shorter Time to Update Contact Information
Boat owners now have 30 days to update Transport Canada when their address or other contact details change, down from the previous 90-day window.
5. New Licensing Requirements for Some Sailboats
Beginning December 31, 2027, the regulations will expand to require certain wind-powered pleasure craft over 6 metres in length, even without a motor, to hold a Pleasure Craft Licence.
If your pleasure craft requires a licence and you do not have a valid licence you may be fined $250.