Overview
The patente nautica is the Italian licence to command and operate recreational boats. Exams for categories A, B and C are held by the maritime authority (Capitanerie di porto - Guardia Costiera). Category D exams are held through nautical schools or the Motorizzazione Civile offices instead. The official pages are in Italian, and this page is based on them. The exam syllabus itself sits in a ministerial decree and quiz annex that this page could not open, so exam content is described only at the level the booking pages give. The mit.gov.it pages for them failed to load, so those decrees were not read.
Levels or stages
There are four licence categories:
Category A: command and operation of small boats (natanti), recreational boats (imbarcazioni) and personal watercraft.
Category B: command of recreational ships (navi da diporto).
Category C: nautical direction of small boats and recreational boats.
Category D: type D1 allows daytime-only command and operation within 6 nautical miles of the coast of boats up to 12 metres, or personal watercraft within one mile of the coast. Type D2 is for people with particular physical or mental conditions who cannot meet the requirements for A, B or D1.
A licence is required when the installed engine power is above 40.8 CV (30 kW), for water skiing, and for personal watercraft.
Who can apply
Categories A, B and C: citizens and foreigners aged over 18, who also meet physical, mental and moral requirements.
Category B: you must also have held an unrestricted category A licence, with no limit from the coast, for at least three years.
Category D1: minimum age 16.
Exam pattern
The programmes for categories A, B and C are set in ministerial decree 323 of 10 August 2021. Preparation for the written tests for A and C uses the quiz annex to director's decree 131 of 31 May 2022. The Guardia Costiera does not describe the number of questions or pass rule on its page, so check the decrees. Results are given at the end of the test.
The portal's nautical licence page also hosts a list of quizzes and chart exercises within 12 nautical miles. Its documents on that page are dated 2016, so treat them as dated material.
Fees
For admission to the exam, the Guardia Costiera lists EUR 65.95 for categories A and C, and EUR 194.65 for category B. Two revenue stamps (marche da bollo) of EUR 16 each are added.
How to apply
Complete the online application on the Guardia Costiera portal, or use the downloadable forms if you are an Italian citizen registered abroad (AIRE) or prefer paper.
For category A and C with navigation within 12 nautical miles, you may also apply at a Motorizzazione Civile office.
For unlimited navigation and for category B, apply at the maritime authority office for your domicile or residence.
The exam takes place at least 30 days after you submit a complete application, including your declaration of availability. The date and place are sent to you and published in the nautical licence exam calendar. Your application is archived if six months pass with no availability declaration, or if you miss the exam twice after being called, whatever the reason.
After the exam
For category D, the maritime authority verifies your personal and technical requirements afterwards and issues the licence within 15 days.