You’re required to register a vessel in the Canadian Register of Vessels if it:
- is a commercial vessel with a gross tonnage of 15 or more and powered by motors totaling 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) or more
- will have a marine mortgage
- needs a reserved name
- will travel outside of Canada
Find out if you need to license or register your vessel (and which register to choose)
Find out who can register a vessel in Canada
Register your vessel
Fee: $250
Make sure you complete and submit all the documents needed to support your application. If your application is incomplete, there will be delays.
Read registry form help for more details about how to fill out the application form.
- Complete and send in your forms, along with supporting documentation:
- Form 1—Application for Registry [PDF, 48 KB], or for government owned vessels, Form 17—Application for Registry of a Government Owned Vessel [PDF, 37 KB]
- Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration [PDF, 100 KB], one per applicant (not required for government-owned vessels)
- Tonnage measurement
- Evidence of ownership
- Form 14—Appointment of Authorized Representative [PDF, 35 KB], if applicable (only required if there’s more than 1 owner or if a foreign corporation owns the vessel)
- Submit and pay
Reservation of vessel’s name
Fee: $250 (covers the registration)
When you apply to register your vessel, you reserve the name of your vessel. You can 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 the reservation.
- Complete and send in:
- Form 1—Application for Registry [PDF, 48 KB], or for government owned vessels, Form 17—Application for Registry of a Government Owned Vessel [PDF, 37 KB]
- Form 3—Statement of Qualification for Vessel Registration [PDF, 100 KB], one per applicant (not required for government owned vessels)
- Form 14—Appointment of Authorized Representative [PDF, 35 KB], if applicable (only required if there’s more than 1 owner or if a foreign corporation owns the vessel)
- Submit and pay
Extend reservation of the vessel’s name
Fee: $125
You can extend the reservation of your vessel's name for an additional 12 months.
Provide the following to extend the reservation of the vessel name:
- A written request from the applicants must be sent to the Vessel Registration Office
- Submit and pay