Yes. Italy requires a nautical license for operating a jet ski, regardless of engine power.

The key points are:

• The driver needs a suitable boating or personal watercraft license.
• The driver must be at least 18 years old.
• The captain may need to review and approve the license before launching the jet ski for guest use.
• Local rules, the yacht’s flag, the cruising area, and the captain’s risk assessment can all affect what is accepted onboard.

For Italian residents, the relevant qualification is the patente nautica. For international charter guests, a powerboat license, personal watercraft certificate, RYA qualification, ICC, or national boating card may need to be checked before the charter.

The safest approach: send copies of any relevant licenses to your broker well in advance, so the yacht can confirm what will be accepted before you board.

The most straightforward option is to arrange a recognized jet ski, personal watercraft, or powerboat qualification before your charter begins.

This is usually the safest route because it gives you access to the widest choice of yachts with jet skis. It also gives the captain and central agent time to check your certificate before the charter starts.

Depending on where you live, this may mean taking a PWC course in your home country, completing an RYA course, or using a local watersports school before boarding. The exact best route depends on your nationality, existing boating experience, charter start point, and how soon you travel.

If you already have a boating license, send it to us before we build the yacht shortlist. We can help check whether the yachts you like are likely to accept it for jet ski use.

Get Your Jet Ski License While Onboard Your Yacht

Some larger charter yachts operate as RYA-recognized water sports centers, with trained crew and an onboard structure for personal watercraft safety instruction.

On these yachts, eligible guests may be able to complete supervised personal watercraft (PWC) training during the charter instead of arranging a course ashore before arrival.

This can be an excellent solution for guests who want to drive the yacht’s jet ski but do not already have the right license. It is especially useful for families or mixed groups where only 1 or 2 guests want to drive.

Important: this is not the same as receiving a permanent Italian boating license. In many cases, the onboard training is designed for supervised use from that yacht and may only be valid for the duration of the charter.

Availability depends on the specific yacht, instructor, itinerary, weather, guest age, and captain’s approval. If this matters for your charter, ask us for yachts with an onboard RYA water sports center or onboard PWC training capability.