Your Sportbootführerschein, the official German recreational boating license, has gone missing from your wallet or come out of a downpour barely legible? No need to panic. There is a clearly defined procedure for exactly this situation, known as the Ersatzausfertigung, or replacement certificate. This article explains when you are entitled to one, which documents you need, how the process works with DMYV and DSV, and what to do if you need proof of your license on short notice.

A replacement certificate is not a courtesy service. It is set out in the Sportbootführerscheinverordnung (SpFV), the regulation governing recreational boating licenses. Section 11 SpFV provides that if a certificate entered in an official register has become unusable or its holder can credibly demonstrate that it has been lost, the licensed association issues a replacement on request. “Licensed association” refers to the Deutscher Motoryachtverband (DMYV) or the Deutscher Segler-Verband (DSV), which conduct the exams and issue the official certificates on behalf of the federal government.

For you as the holder, this means you have a clear entitlement to a replacement once your certificate is lost or damaged. There is no discretionary decision standing in your way as long as you meet the requirements. One duty that is often overlooked also applies here: if a certificate that became unusable, or was later recovered after being reported lost, is replaced, you must return the original to the association.

When exactly does the replacement procedure apply?

The regulation distinguishes two core cases:

  • Become unusable: the certificate is damaged, for example by water, heat, or physical impact, so that the information on it is no longer clearly legible or the card itself is no longer intact.
  • Lost: the certificate has gone missing or been stolen. Here it is enough to credibly demonstrate the loss; formal proof is not required. If the certificate was stolen, DMYV and DSV typically ask for a copy of the police report as evidence in practice.

In both cases the application process is essentially the same; only the supporting documents differ.

Who issues the replacement?

The two associations licensed by the federal government are responsible, the same bodies that administer exams and issue official SBF Coastal and SBF Inland certificates: the Deutscher Motoryachtverband e.V. (DMYV) and the Deutscher Segler-Verband e.V. (DSV). You submit your application to either association. Both offer a downloadable application form on their websites.

For some years now, the application can also be submitted electronically through the Bundesportal (verwaltung.bund.de), the federal government’s online administrative portal, as part of the digitalization of administrative services for recreational and leisure boating. The paper-based application directly with DMYV or DSV remains available as well, if you prefer that route.

Documents you need for the application

To have your application processed smoothly, gather the following:

  • Completed application form from DMYV or DSV.
  • A current passport photo.
  • A copy of your ID card or passport, usually both sides.
  • Details about your original exam: the approximate date (at minimum the year and whether it was spring or autumn) and the location where you took it. These details matter because the candidate records in the archive are sorted by them; without them, locating your file takes considerably more effort.
  • If stolen: a copy of the police report.
  • If damaged: the damaged certificate itself where possible, since it needs to be returned.

If you are unsure about the exact exam date, old paperwork like your original registration confirmation can often help. For a detailed look at how the original registration works and what documents it requires, see our article on boating license requirements.

The application process, step by step

  1. Get the application form, either as a download from the DMYV or DSV website, or directly through the Bundesportal.
  2. Gather your documents, as listed above.
  3. Submit the application, by post or online via the Bundesportal.
  4. Pay the processing fee, usually upon request from the association or together with the application.
  5. Wait for your new card. The replacement is produced, like every Sportbootführerschein issued today, in credit-card format. That applies regardless of whether your original certificate was still in the old paper format, which has not been issued since January 1, 2018.

Does this apply the same way to SBF Inland and SBF Coastal?

Yes. Section 11 SpFV applies to every official Sportbootführerschein issued under the Sportbootführerscheinverordnung, so it covers both the SBF Inland and the SBF Coastal license alike. The process, the responsible associations, and the documents you generally need to submit do not depend on which certificate you lost. If you hold both licenses and lost both, for example because your whole wallet is gone, you can typically request both replacements with one combined application if the form allows for it, or file two separate applications.

Costs and processing time at a glance

Plan for roughly three to four weeks of processing time, depending on how quickly your exam records can be located in the archive. Issuing the replacement involves a processing fee that currently sits at around 40 euros, plus shipping costs for delivery outside Germany. Because fee amounts can change, check the exact current figure on the DMYV or DSV website or through the Bundesportal.

Need proof on short notice? The provisional certificate

If a boating trip or charter is coming up before your final replacement arrives, you may find yourself under time pressure. Section 11 SpFV addresses exactly this situation by allowing you to additionally request a provisional Sportbootführerschein. It serves as a bridging document until the regular replacement is issued. Ask DMYV or DSV directly whether this option applies to your case and on what terms.

Why the requirement to carry your license matters

You are generally required to carry your Sportbootführerschein on board so you can present it during a check by the water police (Wasserschutzpolizei). If you cannot produce it during a check, that can lead to a complaint even though you legally hold the license. This matters especially when chartering: charter companies usually ask to see proof before handing over the boat. While your replacement is on its way, the provisional certificate from the previous section is worth requesting as a safeguard. For more on the consequences of missing or unpresented documents, see our article on fines and violations on the water.

Will the planned reform change this process?

A fundamental reform of the German boating license system is planned for the coming years under a new Sportschifffahrtsverordnung, under which official Sportbootführerscheine are eventually meant to be replaced by association-issued certificates known as Verbandsscheine. No binding date for this to take effect has been set so far. Until then, the procedure under Section 11 SpFV described here remains unchanged. For the current status and timeline of the reform, see our article on the German boating license reform 2026.

Preparing in advance: how to make a future loss less stressful

A few simple habits make dealing with a future loss much less stressful:

  • Write down your exam details: keep the year, half-year, and location of your SBF exam somewhere you can find quickly, alongside other important documents. These are exactly the details you will need for the application if the worst happens.
  • Keep a copy or photo: a copy or photo of both sides of your certificate does not replace the original during a check, but it means you have all the data ready when you fill out the replacement application.
  • Store it securely instead of loose in your wallet: keeping your certificate in a waterproof document pouch on board, rather than loose in your wallet, meaningfully reduces the risk of it falling overboard while boarding or getting soaked and unusable.
  • Act quickly if it goes missing: the sooner you submit the application, the sooner you have the new card in hand, which is especially worthwhile ahead of the season or a planned trip.

Conclusion

A lost or damaged Sportbootführerschein is annoying, but it is straightforward to resolve through the replacement procedure under Section 11 SpFV. What matters is a complete application to DMYV or DSV, as accurate as possible details about the date and location of your original exam, and, in the case of theft, the police report. Plan for around three to four weeks of processing time and a fee in the mid double-digit euro range, and use the provisional certificate option if you are short on time. If you want to brush up on the exam material in the meantime, perhaps because your original exam was a while ago, the Boatpass app lets you refresh your knowledge in exam mode using the official ELWIS question catalog, no matter how long you have already held your license.