Thailand does not require a sailing licence by law. The charter companies do. Of the 122 discounted boats we are tracking on Phuket today, 113 — that is 93% — are bareboat, which means you are the skipper and the operator will ask to see a certificate before handing over the keys.
There is no government exam, no Thai licence to sit, and no harbour authority checking papers at the marina gate. Every requirement on this page comes from the company that owns the boat, which is why it varies slightly from one operator to the next — and why it is worth asking before you pay a deposit rather than after.
On Phuket the mainstream skipper certificates are all accepted: ISSA, IYT, RYA, ASA and NauticEd. Operators care that you hold a recognised bareboat-skipper qualification, not which school issued it.
One thing catches people out. The ICC is not a qualification on its own — it is an endorsement issued on top of a skipper certificate. An ICC alone, without the underlying certificate behind it, will not get you the keys.
The licence is not only about permission. It decides how much of the market you can actually book, and at what price. These are the boats we have on offer right now:
| What you can book | Boats available | Median price per week |
|---|---|---|
| With a skipper certificate | 113 bareboat | €3,322 |
| Without one | 9 crewed or skippered | €9,428 |
Honest caveat: boats that come with crew tend to be bigger and better equipped, so the gap is not purely the price of a skipper. But the practical effect is the same — no certificate means a far shorter list and a much larger bill.
No. Thailand has no state licence for private yacht charter. The requirement comes entirely from the charter companies, and on Phuket every operator we deal with applies it.
Yes. RYA, ISSA, IYT, ASA and NauticEd certificates are all accepted here. If your certificate is from a smaller school, send a scan ahead of booking and the operator will confirm.
No. The ICC is an endorsement added to an existing skipper certificate, not a qualification in itself. You need the certificate it sits on top of.
Not always, but it is often requested and it is quick to obtain. If you are choosing what to take before a trip, take it.
From €150 a day, available on any boat in our listings. On a week that is roughly €1,050 on top of the charter price.
Seven days for the ISSA Inshore Skipper — a full week of practice on the water ending in a certificate. There is also a one-day motorboat licence and a six-hour taster if you want to try sailing first.
The operator checks them before check-in, so problems surface days ahead rather than at the dock. Send everything as early as you can and there is time to sort it out.