Yacht & boat insurance · Cyprus
Yacht and boat insurance in Cyprus
Third-party and hull cover for a boat kept in a Cyprus marina, a boat visiting or wintering in Cyprus, and a Cyprus boat heading on to Greece.
From €25/year
Cyprus Law 4(I)/2026 was published on 13 February 2026. Article 57 will make third-party cover compulsory for every owner of a boat within the law, foreign boats entering Cyprus included. It is not in force yet: as of 23 October 2026 we found no Council of Ministers decision setting a start date.
57
The article of Law 4(I)/2026 that makes cover compulsory
€25
Third-party cover from, per year
2451
ICCS licence
DigiCare Insurance, a licensed Cyprus insurance agency, arranges third-party and hull cover for boats kept in or visiting Cyprus. Cyprus passed a Recreational Navigation Law in February 2026 (Law 4(I)/2026). Article 57 will make third-party liability cover compulsory for every owner of a boat within the law, foreign boats entering Cyprus included, with the certificate kept on board. As of 23 October 2026 we found no decision setting a start date, so today your marina's berthing contract is what asks for proof. Third-party cover for a small boat starts from €25 a year.
Check your boat's coverThe 2026 law
What will Cyprus Law 4(I)/2026 ask of a boat owner, and when does it start?
Cyprus Law 4(I)/2026 was published on 13 February 2026. Its article 57 will oblige every owner of a boat within the law, and every owner of a foreign boat entering Cyprus, to hold third-party cover and keep the certificate on board. It is not in force: as of 23 October 2026 we found no decision setting a start date, and the law fixes no amount.
What the text of article 57 says
Third-party cover for the use of the boat. The duty sits with the owner. It covers boats within the law and foreign boats entering the Republic (art. 57(1)).
A cover note counts. For this article, "policy" includes a cover note (art. 57(1), proviso).
Policy in force, certificate on board. The policy must be current and the certificate of insurance must be kept on the boat (art. 57(2)).
Certificate language. The certificate must be in an official language of the Republic or English. Otherwise it travels with a certified translation by a sworn translator into an official language of the Republic, that is Greek or Turkish (art. 57(2), proviso).
No figure yet, and checks. The amount of cover may vary with the sailing area, the use and the type of boat. The law sets no figure (art. 57(3)), and as of 23 October 2026 we found no Regulations setting one. The competent authority and any police officer may check that a boat under way carries a valid certificate (art. 57(4)).
How to know when it starts Article 99 says the law, or each of its articles, comes into force on a date set by a Council of Ministers decision published in the Official Gazette. So the law may start one article at a time. We check the Gazette every month and update this page when a date appears.
Want the yes-or-no version? Read the short answer for Cyprus, Greece and Malta side by side.
Source
This page explains the law; it is not legal advice.
Get cover ready for article 57Marinas today
What does your marina ask for until the law starts?
Until Law 4(I)/2026 starts, the requirement for a boat in a Cyprus marina comes from the berthing contract. Limassol Marina's Berthing Terms & Conditions (v1.2, clause 2.2) ask for cover with a reputable insurer against all risks, third-party claims, public liability, wreck removal and environmental damage. Other marinas write their own terms.
What Limassol Marina's terms say (limassolmarina.com/legal, captured 23 October 2026)
The owner must hold cover with a reputable insurer that includes "all risks, third party claims, public liability, wreck removal and environmental damage", for or caused by the vessel, its owner, crew, family and guests (clause 2.2).
The owner must provide a copy of the insurance cover note if the marina asks, and tell the marina about material changes (clause 2.2).
When the boat changes hands, the marina asks for a Certificate of Insurance in the new owner's name (clause 3.2).
The terms state no minimum limit.
A third-party-only policy that leaves out wreck removal or pollution can fall short of a contract like this one. We have read only Limassol's terms, and yours may differ.
Five questions to put to your marina
What minimum third-party limit do you require, if any?
Must the policy cover wreck removal?
Must it cover pollution or environmental damage?
Does the policy period need to cover the whole berth contract?
Must the certificate name both the owner and the boat?
Put these to the marina office before you renew, not after it sends the paperwork back.
Still buying or registering the boat? Start with our guide to buying a boat in Cyprus.
Which boats
Which boats does the new law cover, and where does Law 14(I)/2012 take over?
Law 4(I)/2026 is written for recreational boats with a hull of 2.5 to 24 metres, whatever drives them, and for personal watercraft under 4 metres. Boats marked as racing-only, human-powered canoes and kayaks, pedalos and windsurf boards fall outside it. Ships of 300 GT or more already have to be insured under a different statute, Law 14(I)/2012, which is in force.
Recreational boat, hull 2.5-24 m, sail or motor
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · Yes
Note · Article 57 will apply once it starts
Personal watercraft (jet ski), hull under 4 m
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · Yes
Note · Defined in article 2 as a jet-propelled craft ridden on, not in
Racing-only boat, including racing rowing boats and sail-only dinghies up to 6 m with no engine, marked as racing-only
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · No
Note · Excluded by article 3(2)
Human-powered canoe or kayak, gondola, pedalo
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · No
Note · Excluded by article 3(2)
Wind-powered surfboard (windsurf)
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · No
Note · Excluded by article 3(2)
Ship of 300 GT or more
Under Law 4(I)/2026? · No
Note · Law 14(I)/2012 applies, and it is already in force
Article 3 and article 57 describe foreign boats in different words, so this page does not rely on any grace period for visiting boats. Insure before you arrive.
Running or managing a ship of 300 GT or more? That is a different product: see ship management insurance in Cyprus.
Visiting boats
Will a foreign insurance certificate be accepted in Cyprus?
A foreign insurance certificate can work in Cyprus if the policy's navigation area includes Cyprus waters, the certificate is in English or an official language of the Republic (or carries a sworn translation), it is kept on board, and it meets your marina's contract. Check each point before you sail in.
Before a foreign policy sails in
Navigation area. Read the area clause. Some Cyprus and foreign policies are limited to one country's territorial waters, and a policy that stops there does not follow the boat to Cyprus.
Language. Law 4(I)/2026 accepts a certificate in "an official language of the Republic or English". Otherwise it needs a certified translation by a sworn translator into an official language of the Republic.
On board. Keep the certificate on the boat, not in a drawer at home.
Marina contract. The berth contract may ask for more than the law, such as wreck removal and pollution (see the marina section above).
Certificate in Hebrew, Polish or Russian? Once article 57 applies, it will need a sworn translation into Greek or Turkish. It is simpler to ask your insurer for an English certificate.
For a boat kept outside Cyprus, or to check who can insure you by residence and flag, start at yacht insurance.
Sailing to Greece
What does Greek law ask of a Cyprus boat sailing to Greece?
Greek Law 4926/2022 applies by length and type, not by flag. A Cyprus boat in Greek waters needs third-party cover if it is a recreational boat over 7 m below 300 GT, or any speedboat, jet skis included, whatever its length. The law sets minimum limits, fines per metre of length and, for boats over 7 m, a ban on leaving port.
| Cover | Minimum per person or per incident | Aggregate per policy period |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury | €150,000 per person; €700,000 per incident | €2,100,000 |
| Property damage | €150,000 per incident | €450,000 |
| Marine pollution | €150,000 per incident | €450,000 |
Fines without cover: €150 per metre of length for the owner (a 10 m boat: €1,500), €100 per metre for the skipper, and €50 if the certificate is simply not on board. For boats over 7 m the Coast Guard can also ban departure until the certificate is shown.
The certificate can be in Greek or English. Engine power, hull type and whether the engine is inboard or outboard decide whether a small boat counts as a speedboat. Before you cross, check that your policy's navigation area includes Greek waters and that its limits meet the table above.
Prices
How much does boat insurance cost for a boat kept in Cyprus?
Boat insurance for a boat kept in Cyprus starts from €25 a year for third-party cover on a small motorboat of up to 25 hp. Hull cover, which pays for damage to your own boat, typically costs 1-3% of the insured value a year. The table shows indicative premiums from policies we place for Cyprus-kept boats.
| Boat | Indicative annual premium |
|---|---|
| Small motorboat (up to 25 hp), third-party | From €25 |
| Motorboat (up to 100 hp), third-party | From €59 |
| Motorboat (up to 200 hp), third-party | From €68 |
| Cabin cruiser or speedboat (€40,000 value) | €400-1,200 |
| Yacht (€100,000 value) | €1,000-3,000 |
| Yacht (€500,000 value) | €5,000-15,000 |
Prices checked: 14 July 2026
Indicative premiums from policies we place for Cyprus-kept boats. The insurer and your boat decide the final figure.
What moves the price
The boat's insured value
Its age and condition
Hull type
Where it is kept
The navigation area
The skipper's experience
The cost FAQ explains how these prices are worked out.
To see which insurers are active in Cyprus, read our comparison.
Get the price for your boatChoosing cover
Third-party only or hull cover for a Cyprus mooring
Third-party only cover pays for damage or injury your boat causes to other people, their boats and the sea. Hull cover adds damage to and theft of your own boat. For a Cyprus mooring the choice comes down to the boat's value and what your berth contract asks for.
Damage to other boats
Third-party only · Covered
Hull (comprehensive) · Covered
Injury to other people
Third-party only · Covered
Hull (comprehensive) · Covered
Pollution liability
Third-party only · Usually covered; check the wording
Hull (comprehensive) · Usually covered; check the wording
Damage to your own boat
Third-party only · Not covered
Hull (comprehensive) · Covered
Theft of the boat
Third-party only · Not covered
Hull (comprehensive) · Covered
Personal effects on board
Third-party only · Not covered
Hull (comprehensive) · Usually covered; check the wording
Salvage and wreck removal
Third-party only · Depends on the policy wording
Hull (comprehensive) · Usually covered; check the wording
Typical annual cost
Third-party only · From €25 (small motorboat)
Hull (comprehensive) · 1-3% of insured value
Usually chosen for
Third-party only · Small boats of modest value
Hull (comprehensive) · Valuable boats, longer cruising
Limassol Marina's berthing terms ask for cover against "all risks" as well as wreck removal, which a third-party-only policy may not meet. If you choose third-party only, check the wording against your berth contract.
Charter and rental
Chartering or renting out a boat in Cyprus
The 2026 law will require charter businesses and their boats to carry cover for death or injury to people aboard and to third parties, for damage, and for marine pollution (art. 43(2), not yet in force). Tell us how the boat is used and we check whether a market can place it.
Tell us how the boat is charteredHow it works
How DigiCare arranges cover for a Cyprus-kept boat
DigiCare Insurance arranges cover for a Cyprus-kept boat in three steps: you tell us about the boat, the berth and the cruising area; we compare 10+ insurers and markets whose terms fit; you receive the policy and a certificate to keep on board. Claims are handled by the insurer named in your policy documents.
Tell us the boat, berth and cruising area
Type, length, engine, value, where it is kept and where it sails. The form also asks your residence and flag.
We compare 10+ insurers and markets
We look for insurers and markets that accept your boat as it is. If none does, you hear that from us straight away.
You get the policy and the certificate
Keep the certificate on board. Ask for it in English, which Law 4(I)/2026 accepts without translation. The certificate takes 1-2 days, depending on flag, residence and cruising area.
DigiCare Insurance: licensed Cyprus insurance agency, ICCS licence 2451 · 15+ years in Cyprus (est. 2009) · office in Paphos · English, Greek and Russian · 5.0 on Google.
Start your Cyprus boat quote
Costas Matheou — Licensed insurance agent, DigiCare Insurance, Paphos, Cyprus
Last reviewed: 23 October 2026
Licensed Cyprus insurance agency, ICCS licence 2451
We re-check the Official Gazette every month for a start date under article 99 of Law 4(I)/2026, and the price table when insurer rates change.
DigiCare Insurance is a trading name of Costas Matheou Insurance Agent, a licensed Cyprus insurance agency registered with the Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS licence 2451). DigiCare is not an insurer, does not carry risk and does not handle claims; claims are handled by the insurer named in your policy documents. The firm that arranges your cover is named in the documents you receive.
FAQ
Questions Cyprus boat owners ask us
Tell us where your boat is kept and where it sails
We check what your marina's contract and Law 4(I)/2026 will ask of the boat, compare 10+ insurers and markets, and send you terms you can show the marina office.
Licensed Cyprus insurance agency, ICCS licence 2451 · 15+ years in Cyprus · 5.0 on Google · English, Greek and Russian