See full version: Register boat in France Register your yacht under French Flag
Start by contacting us and give us a short explanation of your personal circumstances. We can then advise you on where to register your boat. Your nationality does NOT matter as there are many “open” register countries that will accept boat owners from any country! here
To register under the French flag you must meet a number of conditions: more
We can register your boat in France or in 30 other flag registration jurisdictions. As the largest flag registration company we have a lot of experience in the registration of yachts in France. here
Do I need to pay annual taxes if I register my boat in France?
If you decide to register your vessel in France you might need to pay annual taxes based on the length of the vessel and the size of the engine;
How long does it take to register my boat under French flag.
The procedure takes between 2 to 4 weeks to register. more
8) Can vessels belonging to Swiss natural persons or legal entities be registered with the French Flag RIF?
Vessels belonging to Swiss nationals or companies where the registered office is located in Switzerland cannot be registered with theRIF.
Article 219 of the Customs Code which defines the conditions for obtaining a registration under the French Flag, limits, except for some exceptions, (vessels under a lease and those with special approval), registration of vessels under the French Flag to those vessels belonging at least half to: more
2) Which vessels can be registered in the RIF?
7) Can vessels belonging to endowment funds be registered with the French Flag RIF?
Vessels held by endowment funds within the meaning of law no. 2008-776 of 4 August 2008 can be registered with the RIF.
In addition to the file, endowment funds must present the declaration of the fund creation submitted to the prefecture of the department within the jurisdiction of the registered office and published in the Official Gazette (see article 2 of law no. 2008-776) along with the by-laws of the fund. more
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<div ><p>[<a href="#nh1" title="Notes 1" rev="footnote">1</a>] EEA: European Economic Area (one of the Member States of the EU or Iceland or Norway or Liechtenstein)</p>
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</colgroup><tbody><tr height="20"> <td colspan="6" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" bgcolor="#6C96C6" height="20"><div align="center"><strong>REQUIREMENTS FOR A GENERAL REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF’S GUICHET UNIQUE</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td width="20" height="20"> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid;" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Owner(s) of a new or second-hand vessel</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> <td> </td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>For natural persons</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td valign="top"> </td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left">For a single owner, being an EEA national [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote" >1</a>]
<br>For several owners at least half must be EEA nationals [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]</td> <td rowspan="2" width="22"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="492" align="left">The owner (designated manager if there are several owners) must reside in France or elect domicile in France <span ></span>
<a target="_blank" href http://extranet.rif.mer.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/election_de_domicile_cle75c864.pdf" rel='nofollow external'>http://extranet.rif.mer.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/election_de_domicile_cle75c864.pdf" onClick="xt_clic(’T’,’formulaire " élection="" de="" domicile"’)"="" title="open form">Form "elect domicile in France"</a> (format PDF - 106.9 ko) if he or she resides less than 6 months per year</td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"></td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left"></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20">I)</td> <td valign="top" width="219" align="left">GENERAL REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG </td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>For legal entities</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="219" align="left">for vessels more than 24m length, purchased in non UE country after all duties and taxes paid or purchased in the European Union </td> <td rowspan="2" width="14"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="438" align="left">At least 50% of the corporate owners must have their registered office and/or main headquarters in a territory of the EEA [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]</td> <td rowspan="2" width="22"> </td> <td rowspan="2" left"="" "="" valign="top" width="492 align #nb2" rel="footnote" >2</a>]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> <td> </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid;" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Lessee of a new or second-hand vessel intended to be acquired by a leasing agreement (LOA) </strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> <td> </td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Natural Person(s) or Legal Entity/Entities</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> <td> </td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left">Same criteria as for the owner(s)</td> <td width="22"> </td> <td valign="top" width="492" align="left">Same criteria as for the owner(s)</td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td colspan="6" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" bgcolor="#6C96C6" height="20"><div align="center"><strong>REQUIREMENTS FOR A TEMPORARY REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF’S GUICHET UNIQUE</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td valign="top"> </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid;" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Owner(s) of a new or second-hand vessel</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>For natural persons</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20">II)</td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="219" align="left"> TEMPORARY REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG (special approval for vessels flying under a foreign flag)</td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left">For a single owner, being an EEA national [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]
<br>For several owners at least half must be EEA nationals [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]</td> <td rowspan="2" width="22"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="492" align="left">The owner (designated manager if there are several owners) must reside in France or elect domicile in France <span ></span>
<a target="_blank" href http://extranet.rif.mer.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/election_de_domicile_cle75c864.pdf" rel='nofollow external'>http://extranet.rif.mer.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/election_de_domicile_cle75c864.pdf" onClick="xt_clic(’T’,’formulaire " élection="" de="" domicile"’)"="" title="open form">Form "elect domicile in France"</a> (format PDF - 106.9 ko) if he or she resides less than 6 months per year</td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20"> </td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left"></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20">1°)</td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="219" align="left"><div align="left">for vessels more than 24m length, purchased in non UE country after all duties and taxes paid or purchased in the European Union </div></td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>For legal entities</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="45"> <td valign="top" height="45"> </td> <td rowspan="2" width="14"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="438" align="left">At least 25% of the corporate owners must have their registered office and/or main headquarters in a territory of the EEA [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]</td> <td rowspan="2" width="22"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="492" align="left">Management and control over the vessel by the registered office or the main headquarters in France, or failing by a permanent office of the vessel’s owner company, domiciled in France [<a href="#nb2" rel="footnote">2</a>]</td> </tr> <tr valign="top" height="20"> <td height="86">2°)</td> <td width="219" align="left"><div align="left">for bareboat chartered vessels more than 24m length (only if the laws of the State of the foreign flag allow the suspension of their flag)</div></td> </tr>
<tr height="27"> <td valign="top" height="27"> </td> <td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid;" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Bareboat charterer(s)</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="31"> <td valign="top" height="31"> </td> <td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Natural Person(s) or Legal Entity/Entities</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="36"> <td valign="top" height="36"> </td> <td valign="top"><div align="left"></div></td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left">Same criteria as for the owner(s) under the general registration under the French Flag</td> <td width="22"> </td> <td valign="top" width="492" align="left">Same criteria as for the owner(s) under the general registration under the French Flag</td> </tr> <tr height="32"> <td colspan="6" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" bgcolor="#6C96C6" height="29"><div align="center"><strong>REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSPENDING A REGISTRATION UNDER THE FRENCH FLAG FOR A VESSEL AT THE FRENCH FLAG RIF’S GUICHET UNIQUE</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td height="20"> </td> <td><div align="left"></div></td> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td colspan="3" style="border-width: 0px 0px 2px; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid;" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Charterer</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td valign="top" height="20">III)</td> <td valign="top" align="left"><div align="left">SUSPENSION OF THE REGISTRATION WITH THE FRENCH FLAG RIF</div></td> <td width="14" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> </td> <td width="438" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>For legal entities</strong></div></td> <td width="22" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"> </td> <td width="492" bgcolor="#CCCCCC"><div align="center"><strong>Conditions</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr height="20"> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" height="78"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="219" align="left"><div align="left">for vessels with a length > 24m and that are subject to a bareboat lease to a foreign company and will fly a foreign flag for the entire lease period
</div></td> <td width="14"> </td> <td valign="top" width="438" align="left">Company not established on the territory of the EEA [<a href="#nb1" rel="footnote">1</a>]</td> <td rowspan="2" width="22"> </td> <td rowspan="2" valign="top" width="492" align="left">Management and control on the vessel by a permanent office (see conditions above) located outside of French territory</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td></td> </tr></tbody></table>
<p style="color:#ffffff"> . </p> here
<div ><h3 >General registration under the French Flag, temporary registration or suspension of registration under the French Flag</h3>
<p>Reference: article 219 of the French Customs Code</p>
<p>[<a href="#nh2" title="Notes 2" rev="footnote">2</a>]
Fixed structure (siret number) with staff entitle to contracts and to represent the legal entity or entities in France in relation to third parties</p>
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There are numerous explanations concerning the meaning behind the colours of the French flag. One such explanation holds that the blue and red are linked to the Virgin Mary, who is considered the patroness of the nation, and were also the colours of the Oriflame. The second explanation holds that the tricolour in the French flag symbolizes the three principles of the Ancien Regime: [links]
Currently, the ratio of the French flag is in the proportion of 2:3 meaning that the flag is 1.5 times wider than its height with stripes of equal width. During the era of Napoleon I, the three stripes of the flag were not equal since their proportions were based on the ratio proportions of 30:33:37 (blue, white, red respectively), which is similar to the dimensions used by the French Navy.
Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris and are also used on the city’s coat of arms, while white has been featured heavily on the flags which earlier represented France. According to Lafayette, white was an ancient French colour. Therefore, it was included in the red and blue cockade to nationalize the design which led to the establishment of the Tricolour scheme. [links]
The flag of France, also known as the French Tricolour or simply the Tricolour, consists of three vertical stripes of blue, white and red. The blue-white-red tricolour in the flag represents freedom, which resulted from the French revolution in the late 18th century. This flag is among the most inspiring flags in history, with its tricolour system being adopted by nations across Europe as well as the entire world. The blue-white-red tricolour flag was declared as the national emblem of the French Republic during the constitutions of 1946 and 1958.
The use of white on the French flag is attributed to the flag of Joan Arc flown during the Hundred Years’ War. Later during the restoration of the Bourbons sovereignty in France, between 1814-1830, the flag of France was a plain white banner or a white banner (which represented purity and royal authority) with the Bourbons coat of arms. Afterwards, following the conclusion of the French wars of religion (thirty years’ war) and prior to the French revolution, the white Bourbon flag was popularly used—this flag featured golden fleurs-de-lis, the coat of arms of Bourbon on a white field.