Transport Canada has made several updates to the Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL), which is a unique identification number for recreational boats that have one or more engines with a combined power of 10 horsepower or greater.
Effective for 2026, Canadian pleasure craft licences must be renewed every five years, and current lifetime licenses will gradually be replaced with PCLs, requiring renewals every five years. A $24 service fee applies for renewals, transfers, and replacements for the pleasure craft licence.
The following changes by Transport Canada are now in effect:
- New and renewed pleasure craft licences are valid for only 5 years.
- Current lifetime licences will gradually be replaced with licences that must be renewed every five years.
- A $24 service fee applies to issuing, renewing, transferring, or for replacement of licences. The fee will be updated annually for inflation.
- Licence holders must update their information within 30 days of change in name or address, instead of the previous 90 days.
- Applications for the licence and requests for fee exemption treaty rights can be completed through Transport Canada’s website.
- Beginning 2028, wind-powered pleasure craft over six metres (over 20 ft.) in length will also be required to hold a PCL.
Canadian boaters can check their licence expiry date by using the Pleasure Craft Licence number. Older licences without an expiration date now have an assigned expiration based on date of issue found in a table HERE.
Transport Canada notes that a Registered Boat is different than a Licenced Boat. Canadian boaters do not need a Pleasure Craft Licence (PCL) if the boat is Registered in Canada. The boat should be Registered if:
- You want a name for your pleasure craft
- Need to register a marine mortgage with Transport Canada
- If you travel outside of Canada – most countries require pleasure craft to be Registered
Header Image: BoatSmart
Text Image: Transport Canada
