You are here:

1. Home
2. Licensing
3. Personal watercraft licence

Personal watercraft licence

To operate a personal watercraft or jet ski, you must hold a personal watercraft licence. You must hold a current and valid marine licence before being able to get a personal watercraft licence.

Valid marine licences

Licences issued by Maritime Safety Queensland in accordance with the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 and include:

• recreational marine driver licence
• recreational ship master's licence
• speed boat driver's licence
• current commercial marine licence as master – for example, coxswain.

Equivalent licences 

Licences that are issued by other safety authorities within the Commonwealth of Australia or other entities recognised by Maritime Safety Queensland and include current boating licences issued in other states (excludes junior licences).

Interstate personal watercraft licences

If you move from interstate, you will be required to obtain a personal watercraft licence unless you hold an equivalent current personal watercraft licence issued by another state. Short-term visitors can use their boat licence equivalent if that is all that is required to operate a personal watercraft in their home state.

Training courses 

To obtain a personal watercraft licence you must successfully complete a BoatSafe training course.

• BoatSafe approved training providers (PDF, 282 KB) 

You must complete the Medical Fitness Disclosure Statement (PDF, 25 KB) and present it to the BoatSafe training provider at enrolment for the BoatSafe course. If you are unable to complete the Medical Fitness Disclosure Statement due to concern about your medical fitness, you should contact Maritime Safety Queensland on +61 7 3120 7354^z.

On successful completion of an approved BoatSafe training course, present the statement of competency (a copy will not be accepted), a completed licence application form and acceptable evidence of identity in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre.

Queensland boat licensing fee for a lifetime licence is:

• A$42.55 without a smartcard marine licence indicator
• A$68.50 with a smartcard marine licence indicator.

If your original statement of competency is lost, you must get a replacement from your training provider. The Ride Smart factsheet contains information to assist you to prepare for the personal watercraft licence training and assessment. Download the Ride Smart – personal watercraft factsheet (PDF, 150 KB).

Recognition of other qualifications, training or experience

The Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994 and its subordinate legislation provides an alternative to the completion of the full BoatSafe competency based training and assessment course. The recognition of prior learning process caters for those who can provide evidence of other relevant qualifications, training or experience in vessel operations. If this relates to your situation please contact an approved BoatSafe training provider for consideration and assessment under the recognition of prior learning process.

Operating a personal watercraft without a licence 

You can operate a personal watercraft without a licence only if accompanied by a licensed operator who is able to take immediate control in case of trouble. Unlicensed drivers must not operate personal watercraft while towing someone else by a line attached to the ship for example, someone waterskiing or riding a toboggan or tube.

Queensland driver licence marine licence indicator 

From 10 July 2006, if you have either a recreational marine driver licence or a personal watercraft licence you can have a marine licence indicator included on your Queensland driver licence.

You do not need to take any action to have the indicator added to your licence. The marine licence indicator will be automatically added to your driver licence when you renew your licence or obtain a new licence (for example if you need a replacement licence) at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency.

If you choose to renew your driver licence online, you are issued with a renewal label. The marine licence indicator is not included on the renewal label. If you hold a recreational marine driver licence or personal watercraft licence and would like it included on your driver licence, you should renew your licence in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency.

The recreational marine driver licence is still considered a virtual licence and valid for life. Paper licences and confirmation reports are adequate proof that you have a recreational marine driver licence.

If you do not want to wait for your next driver licence renewal and would like the indicator added to your licence now, you will have to apply in person at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or licence issuing agency for a replacement licence. You will need to pay a fee and a replacement licence will be issued.

Changing licence information 

Licence details can be changed at any time. You can do this by:

• Writing to:
  Customer Service Direct
  Department of Transport and Main Roads
  GPO Box 2451
  Brisbane  Queensland  4001
• Going to a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre.
• Calling the Department of Transport and Main Roads customer information telephone service.
  Queensland residents – 13 23 80^b.
• Going to the Department of Transport and Main Roads home page www.tmr.qld.gov.au and selecting 'change your address' from the services online section.

Find out more about operating a personal watercraft in Queensland.

Hire and drive ships 

The user of a hire and drive ship (includes hire boats that are six metres or less and personal watercraft, or jet skis) must hold a recreational marine driver licence in the following circumstances:

• when operating at night, between sunset and sunrise
• when operating at speeds in excess of 10 knots when beyond the direct sight and supervision of the hire and drive ship provider or designated tour guide
• when operating outside smooth waters when beyond the direct sight and supervision of the hire and drive ship provider or designated tour guide.

A person under the age of 16 operating a hire vessel must be under the direct supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older.

Briefing requirements for providers have been expanded, and require:

• that the person conducting the briefing holds at least a recreational marine driver licence, and personal watercraft licence in the case of personal watercraft
• the first 99 briefings be overseen by a coxswain or an experienced recreational marine driver licence holder
• the person overseeing briefings does not need to be present at each briefing.

The user of a hire and drive ship must operate in accordance with the conditions of the provider or tour guide. This includes confirming their medical fitness to operate the vessel safely, stating the number of intended passengers and supplying any other information requested to verify the user’s age and level of competency.

Further information about hire and drive ships can be found in the Transport Operations (Marine Safety-Hire and Drive Ships) Standard 2007 (PDF, 250 KB).