Marshall Islands yacht registration

How much does it cost to register a yacht in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

The initial registration fee is the charge the Marshall Islands Maritime Registry sets in the Maritime Administrator's Marine Notice on consolidated yacht fees, including the Permanent Certificate of Registry: Registration runs US$550 for private yachts under 24 m and US$1,500 to US$1,800 for larger and commercial yachts.?RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §1.1×Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-01-01Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The same Notice sets the recurring charges, which are additional to the annual tonnage tax and which private yachts do not pay: Recurring charges include a US$1,000 yacht service fee and a US$250 security fee; private yachts pay neither.?RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §12.2, fee column×Retrieved 2026-09-12Effective 2025-01-01Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. Annual tonnage tax replaces per-voyage tonnage dues: Annual tonnage tax runs US$750 to US$1,250, banded by yacht category and gross tonnage.?RMI Marine Notice 1-005-2, Consolidated Fees for Official Yacht Documents and Services, Rev. Jul/2025, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §1.2×Retrieved 2026-08-12Effective 2025-01-01Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. WhichFlagToFly lists each line with its source and check date in the Marshall Islands fee rows.

Can a foreigner register a yacht in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

Yes, through a qualified entity: the Maritime Act, as the Maritime Administrator's vessel registration publication sets out, requires ownership by a Marshall Islands citizen, national or qualified foreign maritime entity, with beneficial owners vetted: Ownership is limited to RMI citizens, nationals and qualified foreign maritime entities, and every beneficial owner holding 25% or more is vetted.?MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §8.1.1×Retrieved 2026-08-29Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. Vessel eligibility under the same publication admits yachts subject to an age rule with a waiver: Vessels must be no more than 20 years old at registration unless the Administrator grants an age waiver.?MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §§3.1.1, 3.2.1×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands eligibility rows carry the section references.

How long does it take to register a yacht in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

Provisional registration is the initial navigational document the Marshall Islands Maritime Registry issues under the Maritime Act to a newbuilding or a vessel transferring in: A Provisional Certificate of Registry runs 12 months; a newbuilding may instead hold a Construction Certificate.?MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.1×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. Full registration follows inside that provisional period, and the Maritime Administrator's FAQs publish a turnaround for the first step: A provisional certificate can issue in one business day, and the permanent one follows inside its 12 months once class and insurance are in place.?MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §10.5.1×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands timeline row carries the FAQ wording.

Is there VAT on a yacht registered in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

No. The Republic of the Marshall Islands has enacted a Consumption Tax Act instead: There is no VAT; a 12% consumption tax applies to supplies and imports from 1 October 2026.?Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §959(2)×Retrieved 2026-08-18Effective 2026-10-01Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. That tax is charged on an import on this basis: In the Marshall Islands the importer pays consumption tax on customs value plus insurance, freight and duties; EU import VAT is built the same way.?Consumption Tax Act 2025, 48 MIRC Chapter 9 (P.L. 2025-47), commencement 7 October 2025, Nitijela of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as published at rmiparliament.orgrmiparliament.org · §908(3)×Retrieved 2026-08-18Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. Chartering in the EU under Yacht Engaged in Trade status without Temporary Admission calls for evidence the Maritime Administrator's guideline names: Chartering in the EU without Temporary Admission requires a VAT paid certificate, arranged through the Importer/Exporter.?RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §2.3.1×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands VAT rows carry each source.

Can a Marshall Islands yacht be chartered?Link to this section#

Yes. The RMI Yacht Code issued by the Maritime Administrator recognizes several yacht regimes, including a limited charter route for private yachts: Five yacht regimes exist: private, commercial, private yacht limited charter, yacht engaged in trade, and passenger yacht.?MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I, Definitions×Retrieved 2026-08-29Effective 2026-01-01Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. Yacht Engaged in Trade status lets a private yacht charter for a capped number of days where coastal states allow, as the Administrator's Marine Guideline sets out: A private yacht of 24 m or more may charter up to 84 days a year under Yacht Engaged in Trade status, where coastal states allow.?RMI Marine Guideline 1-11-2, Yacht Engaged in Trade, Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Purpose×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands charter row quotes the Guideline.

Is the Marshall Islands on the Paris MoU white list?Link to this section#

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control weighs a flag's detentions against the inspections its ships attract in member ports over three years. Where the Marshall Islands flag is placed, and the size of the fleet the Maritime Administrator runs, are set out below. The Marshall Islands port state control row names the report.

Does a yacht need a survey to register in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

Pre-registration inspection is scaled to the yacht rather than applied flat, and the code above it is the Republic's own rather than a borrowed one. What the Maritime Administrator requires by marine notice: Pre-registration inspection depends on length, tonnage and class; every private yacht over 20 years old must be inspected.?RMI Marine Notice 2-011-55, Surveys and Certificates for Private Yachts, Rev. Mar/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §4.0×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The yacht code that then applies: The RMI applies its own Yacht Code, submitted to the IMO as an equivalent arrangement, not a UK code.?MI-103, the RMI Yacht Code, Rev. May/2026, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Ch. I §1.7×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands survey row carries the notice.

How do I transfer a yacht to the Marshall Islands from another flag?Link to this section#

Entry and deletion are governed by the same Maritime Act: one opens a certificate of registry, the other closes it once dues are settled. What the Marshall Islands Maritime Registry asks of an incoming yacht: A private-use declaration, registration application, insurance, class certificates and proof of ownership are due by registration day.?MI-242PY, Requirements for Private Yacht Registration 24m and more (Classed and Unclassed Yachts), Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · Application/Documentation/Requirements×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. What it requires before deletion: Deletion follows sale or scrapping, once all tonnage taxes, Marshall Islands International Participation (MIIP) fees and Marine Services fees are paid.?MI-100, Vessel Registration and Instrument Recording, May/2024, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administratorwww.register-iri.com · §17.0×Retrieved 2026-08-12Open source ↗!Informational only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Contact a qualified professional for current information. The Marshall Islands document row lists each paper.

How should an owner choose whether to flag a yacht in the Marshall Islands?Link to this section#

Three inputs decide whether the Marshall Islands Maritime Registry fits a yacht: whether the owner can hold it through a qualified entity and accept the Maritime Administrator's beneficial-owner vetting; whether it will charter, and under which of the RMI Yacht Code regimes; and where it will cruise and clear customs. An owner sets those beside the Registry's positions with a professional.