Citizenship Requirements for USCG Documented Vessels

Foreign citizens may only purchase a US Coast Guard Documented vessel if the vessel is removed/deleted from Documentation via CG-4593. Vessels owned by non-US citizens may be registered and titled in their respective states.

If you would like to file an online application for the Deletion of Documentation, you may proceed to the link below:

https://forms.unitedstatesvessel.us/deletion-from-uscg-documentation

§ 67.30 Requirement for citizen owner.

Certificates of Documentation may be issued under this part only to vessels which are wholly owned by United States citizens. Pursuant to extraordinary legislation at 46 U.S.C. 12118 (Bowater Amendment) and 46 U.S.C. 12117 (Oil Pollution Act of 1990), Certificates of Documentation with limited endorsements may be issued in accordance with part 68 of this chapter to vessels owned by certain persons who are not citizens as defined in this part.

US Coast Guard Documentation is a national form of registration, and it affords conclusive evidence of the boat’s nationality for international purposes. Documented vessels essentially carry the United States Flag. A noncitizen’s vessel can be titled/­registered in most states, but the vessel will not have unrestricted freedom of movement. United States Customs treats vessels based on their nationality.

A state ­registered/titled vessel does not have a “flag” or nationality, so if a vessel is not foreign flagged or documented with the Coast Guard (U.S. flagged), then it assumes the nationality of its beneficial owner. Hence, a noncitizen’s boat, if titled and registered in a state, is considered to be a foreign vessel by Customs and Border Patrol, and is thus treated as such.

In this case, a vessel must obtain a “Permit to Proceed” from U.S. Customs in order to travel from port to port. Failure to follow these regulations can result in fines or even seizure of the vessel itself.

As such, foreign citizens typically choose to register their boats in other jurisdictions (other countries) to avoid customs formalities by obtaining a U.S. cruising License