How to apply

Do your vessels qualify to be registered as a group of vessels or a fleet at a discount? Before continuing, learn about registering more than one vessel.

1. Complete or provide:

• Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
• Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
  • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
• proof of ownership of the vessel
• tonnage measurements
• appointing a representative
  • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
• a deletion certificate or registry transcript from the foreign registry
  • Only needed If the vessel was registered in a foreign country

2. Upload your documents and pay the fee

• Select “Register a vessel”

Register a commercial river raft

1. Complete:
   • Form 22—Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Commercial River Raft
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Register a vessel”

Register a government owned vessel

1. Complete:
   • Form 19 – Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Government Owned vessel (Small Vessel Register)
2. Upload your document and pay the fee (provincial only)
   • Select “Register a vessel”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

Group of vessels

To register a group of vessels, the vessels must:

• be owned by the same owner(s)
• have a gross tonnage of 5 or less
• be registered at the same time under different certificates of registry

The benefit of registering a group is you pay only one fee instead of a fee per vessel.

To register a group of vessels:

1. Complete:

• Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
  • A separate form is needed per vessel
• Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
  • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
• proof of ownership of the vessel
• tonnage measurements
• appointing a representative
  • Only needed if you are appointing a representative

2. Upload your documents and pay the fee

• Select “Register a group of vessels or a fleet”

Fleet

To voluntarily register a fleet of vessels with a propulsion motor with less than 7.5 kW (10 horsepower), the vessels must:

• be owned by the same owner(s)
• have the same vessel descriptor and sub-descriptor

The benefit of registering a fleet is you pay only one registration fee instead of a fee per vessel.

To register a fleet:

1. Complete:

• Form 19 – Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Government Owned vessel (Small Vessel Register)
• Form 21 – Application for the Voluntary Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Fleet of Human-powered Vessels or Sailing Vessels and Small Power-driven Vessels with Propulsion Motors Less Than 10hp (7.5kw) (Non-pleasure Vessels)

2. Upload your documents and pay the fee

• Select “Register a group of vessels or a fleet”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

You aren’t required to apply for a provisional certificate of registry, but you can apply for one if you:

• are an owner and you have submitted all your documentation, but you’re waiting for an appointed tonnage measurer to submit the tonnage documents
• are a Canadian builder and need to perform sea trials

A provisional certificate of registry is valid for a maximum of 6 months.

To obtain this certificate:

1. Complete:
   • Form 9 – Application for Provisional Certificate of Registry
2. Upload your document and pay the fee

Select “Obtain a provisional certificate of registry”

Re-registering is not renewing a certificate of registry that is about to expire. Re-registering is applying to register a vessel that is closed.

Once a vessel has been registered, it always keeps its official number.

For example, the registry could be closed because the owner obtained a pleasure craft licence. Later, the owner (or a new owner) may want to re-register the vessel as a commercial vessel.

To re-register a vessel:

• follow the same steps as if you're registering a vessel for the first time
• enter the vessel’s official number in the documents
• select “Re-register a vessel” when uploading documents and paying

To re-register a group of vessels or a fleet:

• follow the same steps as if you're registering a group of vessels or a fleet
• enter the vessel’s official number in the documents
• select “Re-register a group of vessels or a fleet” when uploading documents and paying

A certificate of registry from the Small Vessel Register is valid for 5 years. We will notify a vessel owner in writing that their certificate will be expiring in 60 days. It’s the owner’s responsibility to renew before the certificate expires. You can check your certificate expiry date using the Vessel Registration Query System. We are only able to process your application 30 days before the expiry date. We can only accept your renewal application up to a year before your certificate’s expiry date. You must have a valid certificate of registry on board at all times.

A group of vessels or fleet can be renewed for one fee instead of a fee per vessel.

For a small commercial vessel

1. Complete:

• Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel

2. Upload your document and pay the fee

• Select “Renew a certificate of registry”, or
• Select “Renew a certificate of registry for a group of vessels or a fleet”

For a government owned vessel

1. Complete:

• Form 19 – Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Government Owned Vessel (Small Vessel Register)

2. Upload your document and pay the fee (provincial only)

• Select “Renew a certificate of registry”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

For a commercial river raft

1. Complete:

• Form 22—Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Commercial River Raft

2. Upload your document and pay the fee

• Select “Renew a certificate of registry”

Each registered vessel in Canada must carry a valid certificate of registry on board. If the certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you must get a new one.

1. Write a request for a new certificate and include:
   • the vessel official number
   • the vessel name
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Replace a certificate of registry”

Closing a vessel registration removes it from the Canadian Register of Vessels.

To close a vessel registration, you must email your request to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca and include:

• official number of the vessel
• proof of ownership of the vessel (if applicable)
• reason for closure such as:
  • vessel sold to a foreign citizen
  • change from commercial to pleasure
  • vessel is lost, wrecked or removed from service

A deletion certificate is often issued when a vessel is sold to a foreign buyer who wants to register it in their own country. The foreign registry will need proof that the vessel’s Canadian registration has been closed.

1. To obtain a deletion certificate, you must prepare a written request and include:

• official number of the vessel
• email address where the certificate is to be sent

2. Upload your document and pay the fee

• Select “Obtain a deletion certificate”

This is not a change of ownership.

If an owner or authorized representative changes their name, you must report the change and list all the vessels affected by the change.

To submit a request:

1. Prepare the following documents:

• a change of name certificate along with a copy of a government-issued ID, or
• if a corporation changes its name, submit a certificate of name change issued by the Registrar of Companies

2. Email your request with the completed document(s) to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

To report a change of address, you must email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca and include:

• the vessel’s official number
• name of owner whose address has changed
• the new address

If your vessel has been altered or modified to the point where the information on your certificate of registry is no longer accurate, you must report the change and get a new certificate of registry.

For example, a change to a vessel’s descriptor, tonnage, length, breadth, depth, or engine size (horsepower).

To report the alteration:

1. Check the table below for what is needed based on the alteration type and the method used for tonnage measurement
2. Email your request with the completed document(s) to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

Table 1: Tonnage measurement methods and instructions for reporting an alteration

Contact your closest Transport Canada Centre to speak to the Technical Services group if you have any questions regarding tonnage measurements.

1. Complete:
   • Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
   • Form 6 – Bill of Sale
     • Enter the number of shares being transferred and the name and address of the owner(s) of those shares. Learn more about individual and joint ownership
   • Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership”, or
   • Select “Transfer of ownership for a group of vessels, or a fleet”

A group of vessels or fleet can be transferred for one fee instead of a fee per vessel.

Small commercial vessels

1. Complete:
   • Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
   • Form 3 - Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
   • proof of ownership of the vessel
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership”, or
   • Select “Transfer of ownership for a group of vessels, or a fleet”

Government-owned vessels

1. Complete:
   • Form 19 – Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Government Owned Vessel (Small Vessel Register)
2. Upload your document and pay the fee (provincial only)
   • Select “Transfer of ownership”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

Commercial river rafts

1. Complete:
   • Form 22—Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Commercial River Raft
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership”

Transfer of ownership – death of an individual owner

1. Complete or provide:
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • One form completed by each executor or administrator and signed under oath
   • Form 20 — Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
   • probate of a will or letters of administration, stamped or sealed copy from the court.
     If provincial laws waive the requirement for the will to be probated, include a letter from a lawyer stating they are satisfied that:
     • all applicable requirements of the provincial legislation have been met
     • the person named as executor is the proper person to settle the estate, and
     • the will does not need to be probated
   • death or burial certificate, or presumption of death
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed when there is more than one executor or administrator because one of them must be appointed as authorized representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership - death of owner”

Transfer of ownership - death of a joint owner

1. Complete or provide:
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • One form completed by each surviving joint owner and signed under oath
   • death or burial certificate, or presumption of death
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if the deceased joint owner was the authorized representative and there is more than one owner left on the registry
2. Email your request with the completed documents to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

When a registered owner goes bankrupt, their shares in the vessel are transferred to a trustee. This process is called a transmission.

If a sale is pending after a transfer due to bankruptcy, you must follow the transfer of ownership procedures after the sale.

Bankruptcy of an owner by court adjudgement (court decision)

1. Complete:
   • appointment of a trustee by the court resulting from the bankruptcy process
   • Form 8 – Declaration of Transmission
     • Completed by the bankruptcy trustee and signed under oath
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership – bankruptcy”

Bankruptcy of an owner by assignment (owner decision)

1. Complete:
   • assignment in bankruptcy resulting from the bankruptcy process
   • appointment of trustee by the Official Receiver
   • Form 8 – Declaration of Transmission
     • Completed by the bankruptcy trustee and signed under oath
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership – bankruptcy”

When you apply to register your vessel in the Large Vessel Register, you automatically apply to reserve a name for your vessel. You can choose to apply to reserve your vessel’s name early, while you wait for supporting documentation. If the name is available, we will reserve it for 12 months. If your vessel is not registered within that 12-month period, you can request to extend a name approval.

1. Complete:

• Form 1 – Application for Registry, or Form 17 – Application for Registry of a Government Owned Vessel
• Form 3 - Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
  • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
  • Not needed for government vessels
• proof of ownership of the vessel
• tonnage measurement
• naming your vessel
• appointing a representative
  • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
• a deletion certificate or registry transcript from the foreign registry
  • Only needed if the vessel was registered in a foreign country

2. Upload your documents and pay the fee

• Select “Register a vessel”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

You aren’t required to apply for a provisional certificate of registry, but you can apply for one if you:

• are an owner and have submitted all your documentation, but you are waiting for an appointed tonnage measurer to submit the tonnage documents
• are a Canadian builder and need to perform sea trials

A provisional certificate of registry is valid for a maximum of 6 months.

To get this certificate:

1. Complete:
   • Form 9 – Application for Provisional Certificate of Registry
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Obtain a provisional certificate of registry”

Once a vessel has been registered, it always keeps its official number.

For example, the registry could be closed because the owner got a pleasure craft licence. Later, the owner (or a new owner) may want to re-register the vessel as a commercial vessel using the same official number.

To re-register a vessel:

• follow the same steps as if you're registering a vessel for the first time
• enter the vessel’s official number in the documents
• select “Re-register a vessel” when uploading documents and paying

You can extend the reservation of your vessel’s name for an extra 12 months by providing us with a written request.

Upload your written request and pay the fee

• Select “Extend a name approval”

You must have a valid certificate of registry on board at all times.

A certificate of registry from the Canadian Register of Vessel is valid for 5 years. We will notify the vessel owner in writing of the upcoming expiry, 60 days before the expiry date. It’s the owner’s responsibility to renew before the certificate expires. You can check your certificate expiry date using the Vessel Registration Query System. We are only able to process your application 30 days before the expiry date. We can only accept your renewal application up to a year before your certificate’s expiry date.

To renew your certificate of registry:

1. Complete:
   • Form 1 – Application for Registry, or
   • Form 17 – Application for Registry of a Government Owned Vessel

2. Upload your document and pay the fee

   • Select “Renew a certificate of registry”

   For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

Each registered vessel in Canada must carry a valid certificate of registry on board. If the certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you must get a new one.

1. Write a request for a new certificate and include:
   • the vessel official number
   • the vessel name
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Replace a certificate of registry”

Closing the registry of a vessel removes it from the Canadian Register of Vessels and its name becomes available for others to use.

You may choose to close a vessel registration because:

• you want to get a pleasure craft licence
• vessel is sold to a foreign citizen
• vessel is lost, wrecked or removed from service

Conditions:

• Only vessels that are free of mortgages can be closed voluntarily
• If the vessel is sold, the request to close must come from the new owner

To close a vessel registration, you must email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca and include:

• vessel name
• vessel official number
• proof of ownership of the vessel, if applicable
• reason for closure
  • if the vessel was wrecked or removed from service include the date

A deletion certificate is often issued when a vessel is sold to a foreign buyer who wants to register it in their own country. The foreign registry will need proof that the vessel’s Canadian registration has been closed.

1. Provide a written request and include:
   • vessel name
   • vessel official number
   • email address where the deletion certificate is to be sent
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Obtain a deletion certificate”

This is not a change of ownership.

If an owner, authorized representative, or mortgagee changes their name, you must report the change and list all the vessels affected by the change.

To submit a request:

1. Provide:

• a change of name certificate along with a copy of a government issued ID, or
• if a corporation changes its name, submit a certificate of name change issued by the Registrar of Companies

2. Email your request with the completed document(s) to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

To report a change of address, you must email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca and include:

• vessel name
• its official number
• its port of registry
• name of owner whose address has changed
• the new address

If there are any changes to the lender in a mortgage, you must update the vessel registry. This includes a name change, address update, or a transfer of the mortgage.

Find out more on Managing marine mortgages.

1. Complete Form 13—Application for Change of Name of vessel and/or Transfer of Port of Registry
   • Read what to consider when naming your vessel
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Change the name of a vessel”

1. Complete Form 13—Application for Change of Name of vessel and/or Transfer of Port of Registry
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Change the port of registry”

If your vessel has been altered or modified to the point where the information on your certificate of registry is no longer accurate, you must report the change and get a new certificate of registry.

For example, a change to a vessel’s descriptor, tonnage, length, breadth, depth, or engine size (horsepower).

To report the alteration:

1. Check the table below for what is needed based on the alteration type and the method used for tonnage measurement
2. Email your request with the completed document(s) to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

Table 2: Tonnage measurement methods and instructions for reporting an alteration

Contact your closest Transport Canada Centre to speak to the technical services group if you have any questions regarding tonnage measurements.

1. Complete:
   • Form 20 —Application for the Registration, Transfer or Renewal of a Small Commercial Vessel
   • Form 6 – Bill of Sale
     • Enter the number of shares being transferred and the name and address of the owner(s) of those shares. Learn more about individual and joint ownership
   • Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
     • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership - other than special sale”

1. Complete:
   • Form 1 – Application for Registry
     • Complete sections “Reason for application”, “Vessel identification”, B and C
   • Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
   • proof of ownership of the vessel
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership - other than special sale”

When a registered owner transfers their share(s) of a vessel through a court order or any sale of a government owned vessel (federal or provincial), it’s considered a special sale.

Special sale through a court order

1. Provide the following for special sale through court order:
   • Court order
   • Form 1 – Application for Registry
     • Complete sections “Reason for application”, “Vessel identification”, B and C
   • Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
   • proof of ownership of the vessel
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if you are appointing a representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership - special sale”

Sale of a government owned vessel

1. Provide the following to sell a government owned vessel:
   • Form 17 – Application for Registry of a Government Owned Vessel
   • Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration
     • Each new owner must complete a separate form if they haven’t already
   • proof of ownership of the vessel

2. Upload your documents and pay the fee (provincial only)

   • Select “Transfer of ownership - special sale”

For vessels owned by the Federal Government, email vr-ib@tc.gc.ca.

Transfer of ownership – death of owner

When an individual owner dies, their shares in a vessel become part of their estate. This type of transfer is settled by the estate executor.

1. Provide the following for the transmission on death of an individual owner:
   • probate of a will or letters of administration, stamped or sealed copy from the court. If provincial laws waive the requirement for the will to be probated, include a letter from a lawyer stating they are satisfied that:
     • all applicable requirements of the provincial legislation have been met
     • the person named as executor is the proper person to settle the estate
     • the will does not need to be probated
   • death or burial certificate or presumption of death
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • One form completed by each executor or administrator and signed under oath
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed when there is more than one executor or administrator because one of them must be appointed the authorized representative
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership - death of the owner”

Transfer of ownership – death of joint owner

When a joint owner dies, their shares in a vessel pass to the surviving registered joint owner(s).

1. Provide the following for the transmission on death of a joint owner:
   • death or burial certificate or presumption of death
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • One form completed by each surviving joint owner and signed under oath
   • appointing a representative
     • Only needed if the deceased joint owner was the authorized representative and there is more than one owner left on the registry
2. Email your request to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca

When a registered owner goes bankrupt, their shares in a vessel are transferred to a trustee. This process is called a transmission.

If a sale is pending after a transfer due to bankruptcy, you must follow the transfer of ownership procedures after the sale.

Bankruptcy of an owner by court adjudgement (court decision)

1. Complete the following for a transmission by court adjudgement:
   • appointment of a trustee by the court resulting from the bankruptcy process
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • Completed by the bankruptcy trustee and signed under oath
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership – bankruptcy”

Bankruptcy of an owner by assignment (owner decision)

1. Complete the following for a transmission by assignment:
   • assignment in Bankruptcy resulting from the bankruptcy process
   • appointment of Trustee by the Official Receiver
   • Form 8—Declaration of Transmission
     • Completed by the bankruptcy trustee and signed under oath
2. Upload your documents and pay the fee
   • Select “Transfer of ownership – bankruptcy”

This is available only to vessels being built in Canada by Canadian builders.

1. Complete:
   • Form 15 - Description of Vessel Under Construction
2. Upload your document and pay the fee
   • Select “Record a vessel to be built or under construction”

Once the recorded vessel is built, the recorded owner must:

1. Provide:
   • Form 2 - Builder’s Certificate for First Title in Canada
     • Completed by the builder
2. Email the request with the completed document to vr-ib@tc.gc.ca
   • Must be done within 30 days after completed construction