With the introduction of the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS), all owners of pleasure craft, including third-party applicants who are requesting the transaction on behalf of the owner (for ex., boat dealers, brokers, legal representatives whose names will not appear on the licence) will be able to submit a request for a new pleasure craft licence online. Subsequently, the "Pleasure Craft Licence Online Application for Boat Dealers" program will be disabled and boat dealers will no longer be required to create an account in order to submit the pleasure craft licence applications electronically.
By submitting the pleasure craft licence request online and uploading the required supporting documentation, an acknowledgment number (valid for 90 days from the initial issue date) will be issued and returned to the applicant by e-mail. The acknowledgement number will be identical to the permanent pleasure craft licence number issued upon verification of the application and the required submitted supporting documentation. The acknowledgment number is to be marked on either side of the pleasure craft, allowing the pleasure craft owner to use their vessel immediately.
If any supporting documentation is found to be missing, an e-mail will be sent on the 45th and 75th day after the initial request for a pleasure craft licence was submitted, notifying the applicant of the missing documentation A URL will be provided whereby the document can be uploaded in order to validate the pleasure craft licensing request.
Failure to provide the required supporting documentation within the 90 day period will result in the application for a pleasure craft licence being rejected. This will cancel the acknowledgment number that was initially provided.
THE ISSUED ACKNOWLEDGMENT NUMBER CANNOT BE REINSTATED once the initial application has been rejected and the applicant will have to resubmit their pleasure craft licence request as well as provide all the required supporting documentation.
Upon resubmission, a new acknowledgment number will be issued. The responsibility of amending the markings on the pleasure craft will be the owner's.
A copy of the document must be printed and kept on board the vessel at all times and the acknowledgment number is to be marked in BLOCK characters not less than 7.5 c (3 inches) high, on each side of the bow of the boat and in a colour that contrasts with the background colour.
Upon verification of the application and required supporting documentation, the permanent pleasure craft licence will be sent to the pleasure craft owner, by the delivery method selected (e-mail or post).
This new online submission method will eliminate the present mailing time and result in a pleasure craft licence number to be issued in order to mark the pleasure craft immediately.
In addition to completing an application for a new/initial pleasure craft licence online, all transactions (except for the cancellation of a pleasure craft licence and requesting a Dealer Demonstration Licence) can be submitted electronically.
For more information on the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS), please visit our Q&A website where you will find answers and instructions on the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS).
Submitting a Request for a Pleasure Craft Licence Electronically:
To successfully submit a request for most licensing transactions, you will need to:
- Visit the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS) site;
- Indicate that you are a boat dealer;
- Input information on the pleasure craft owner(s), and the pleasure craft;
- Upload the required supporting documentation (as noted per application type), which may include;
- A third party authorization letter* is required if the person requesting the transaction is not the person whose name will appear on the licence;
- A document showing proof of ownership (please note that a declaration under oath* is required if a document showing proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale, is not available);
- A signed copy of a valid piece of government-issued identification (e.g. driver's licence) from each owner whose name is to appear / appears on the pleasure craft licence; and
- A current full side-view colour photograph of the pleasure craft (NOTE: Stock photos will not be accepted).
If you must submit additional documents, there are two optional file inputs where additional supporting documents can be uploaded.
Please note: The minimum print resolution per document is 300 dpi (dots per inch). The maximum size for upload of any file is 5 MB (five megabytes). Only the following file formats are acceptable:
- PDF, JPG, TIFF or PNG.
If your digital camera produces a file format other than those mentioned above, you will need to use the software that came with your camera to convert the images to the proper format.
*It is not mandatory to use the sample forms provided, as long as you provide all of the required information.
If the client has indicated that he would like to receive his pleasure craft licence (PCL) "By Post" the permanent pleasure craft licence will be sent directly to the new owner within five business days.** However, all communications prior to the issuing of the permanent pleasure craft licence will be done through e-mail.
If you have inputted the dealership e-mail when initially submitting the request for a pleasure craft licence, you should amend the e-mail address to that of the pleasure craft owner's, as any subsequent electronic communication will be sent to the e-mail address on record.
**This estimate does not cover normal mailing delays.
Pleasure Craft Licence issued in Dealership’s Name
If you are an employee of a dealership requesting the pleasure craft licence in the dealership's name, you are required to submit proof that you are authorized to act on behalf of the dealership. The specific documents required are listed below. There are two additional fields available where the following documentation can be uploaded.
To successfully submit a request for most licensing transactions (PCL to be issued in dealership's name), you will need to:
- Visit the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS) site;
- Indicate that you are a boat dealer;
- Input information on the pleasure craft owner (Enterprise Name) in the "Owned By A Business" field, and add information on the pleasure craft;
- Upload the required supporting documentation (as noted per application type), which may include;
- A document showing proof of ownership (please note that a declaration under oath* is required if a document showing proof of ownership, such as the bill of sale is not available);
- A current full side-view colour photograph of the pleasure craft
(NOTE: Stock photos will not be accepted).
- The " Authorization to Submit for a Pleasure Craft Licence in Dealership's Name" must be provided whenever an employee of a dealership is submitting a request for a licence to be issued in the dealership's name.
Note: The document " Authorization to Submit for a Pleasure Craft Licence in Dealership's Name" is to be completed and signed by the Owner / Manager / Director of the dealership. This document provides authorization for the specified employee to represent and act on behalf of the dealership.
As noted on the document, the information submitted by the representative under this authority is binding upon the dealership. The dealership is encouraged to be aware of all information submitted by the representative.
The above noted document, to be uploaded in lieu of the "Third Party Authorization Letter", is ONLY if you are submitting a request for a pleasure craft licence that is to be issued in the dealership's name.
In addition, the following supporting documentation is required in order to justify your request:
- A valid Business Licence indicating that the company (dealership) is in the business of selling pleasure craft; OR
- A notarized affidavit attesting that the company is engaged in the business of selling pleasure craft;
A third-party authorization letter that an employee submits authorizing himself to act on behalf of the dealership will not be accepted. The " Authorization to Submit for a Pleasure Craft Licence in Dealership's Name" must be signed by an owner/manager/director of the dealership.
- By submitting the application for a pleasure craft licence online, an acknowledgment number (valid for 90 days from the initial issue date) will be returned electronically to the e-mail noted in the request.
- The acknowledgment number is to be marked on either side of the vessel and allows the immediate use of the pleasure craft.
- If any supporting documentation is found to be missing, an e-mail will be sent on the 45th and 75th day after the initial request for a pleasure craft licence, notifying the applicant of the missing documentation and providing a URL whereby the document can be uploaded in order to validate the pleasure craft licensing request.
- Failure to provide the required supporting documentation within the 90 day period will result in the application for a pleasure craft licence being rejected. This will cancel the acknowledgment number that was initially provided.
THE ISSUED ACKNOWLEDGMENT NUMBER CANNOT BE REINSTATED and the applicant will have to resubmit the pleasure craft licence request as well as all the required supporting documentation.
Upon resubmission, a new acknowledgment number will be issued. The responsibility of amending the markings on the pleasure craft will be the owner's.
Upon successful validation, the permanent pleasure craft licence will be issued and sent, either by post or by e-mail, depending on the delivery mode selected.
For more information on required supporting documentation, please visit our Q&A website and refer to the appropriate application type.
The acknowledgment number allows the immediate use of the pleasure craft. After the verification of the application and required supporting documentation, the permanent pleasure craft licence will be issued and delivered according to the selected method (e-mail or post).
A copy of the document (the acknowledgment and subsequently, the permanent pleasure craft licence) must be printed and kept on board the vessel at all times and the acknowledgment number /pleasure craft licence number is to be marked in BLOCK characters not less than 7.5 c (3 inches) high, on each side of the bow of the boat and in a colour that contrasts with the background colour.
Dealer Demonstration Licence
ALL REQUESTS FOR A DEALER DEMONSTRATION LICENCE ARE TO BE SENT BY POST TO THE ADDRESS NOTED BELOW:
Transport Canada, Office of Boating Safety provides licensed boat dealers with the option of requesting a Dealer (Demonstration) Licence.
A licence can be issued to any person in the business of selling pleasure craft (hereinafter called a "dealer") for use in connection with the operation of new pleasure craft that may, from time to time, be demonstration (e.g. test driven) for the purpose of sale, trade, or remuneration. A Dealer (Demonstration) Licence is comparable to the dealership licence plate an automobile dealer hangs on a vehicle while a prospective customer test-drives the vehicle. A Dealer (Demonstration) Licence does not apply to any one pleasure craft – it is issued to the boat dealer for use on any of the unlicensed pleasure craft in the dealer's possession. Only dealers that allow prospective customers to test drive pleasure craft and do not license the pleasure craft in their possession prior to sale would require a Dealer (Demonstration) Licence.
The Dealer (Demonstration) licence must be in the name of the business and a legal representative of the company or business.
A Dealer (Demonstration) Licence must never be transferred to a consumer.
The licence number issued to a dealer shall be marked in block characters, not less than 75mm high and in a colour that contrasts with the background, on a board or boards firmly attached to the pleasure craft, so that the number is clearly visible from each side of the pleasure craft. The Dealer (Demonstration) Licence number is not to be permanently affixed to, or painted, on any pleasure craft.
The dealer should provide all of the appropriate information required when licensing a new pleasure craft (except for pleasure craft particulars and previous owner information).
A Dealer (Demonstration) Licence will be clearly marked "Dealer's Licence".
Transport Canada has imposed a limit of six (6) Dealer Licences per business. Should you require more, you must contact Transport Canada, Office of Boating Safety directly to justify your request.
The "Application for a Pleasure Craft Licence" Form 84-0172E, should only contain information in Section A, Section B (Reason for the application – Dealer licence), and Section F. Assure you have provided a copy of the following supporting documentation (photocopies are accepted and preferred as no supporting documentation will be retained):
- Valid Business Licence indicating that the holder is in the business of selling pleasure craft; OR
- A Notarized Affidavit attesting that the holder is engaged in the business of selling pleasure craft.
- Letter or company resolution ensuring the person signing the application form has the authority to act on the dealership's behalf.
- A signed photocopy of valid government-issued identification of the person signing the application form.
The request for a Dealer (Demonstration) Licence will only be accepted by post, you are to mail your duly completed application and the required supporting documentation to:
- Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre
P.O. Box 2006
Fredericton, New Brunswick
E3B 5G4
A copy of the dealer's licence issued in the name of the business will be sent by post within five business days.*
*This estimate does not cover normal mailing delays.
Frequently asked questions
I want to send my applications by fax. Where do I fax them?
With the introduction of the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System (PCELS), faxes will no longer be accepted. Transactions related to pleasure craft licensing, are to be either submitted online through the PCELS, or sent to the Pleasure Craft Licensing Centre, by post (address noted above).
A request for the cancellation of a PCL and requests for a Dealer (Demonstration) Licence MUST be sent by post.
Why can I not submit my request for a Dealer (Demonstration) Licence online?
Based on the number of requests for the Dealer (Demonstration) Licence received, this option was found to not be a practical and economical measure.
Can a dealer, marine surveyor, or bank access personal information to determine ownership or a lien?
A pleasure craft licence is not a title document, and does not establish ownership of a pleasure craft. Also, pleasure craft licensing information is personal information protected under the Privacy Act. Anyone wishing to access the information can apply through access-to-information and privacy legislation with Transport Canada.