Application for a seagoing vessel to fly the Dutch flag

What are you applying for with this form?

With this form, you request the Dutch nationality for your ship. The ship will then sail under the Dutch flag and be registered in the Dutch flag register.

The form consists of three pathways:

1. You register the vessel to get an NSI number
2. You apply for a provisional Certificate of Registry to be able to already sail with your vessel
3. After arranging the nationality test and registration at the Cadastre, apply for the final Certificate of Registry and the registration in the flag register.

Note: The ILT always recommends applying for a provisional Certificate of Registry so that the ship can sail as soon as possible. This is because with a provisional Certificate of Registry, you can already arrange all the necessary certificates to sail. However, you are free to arrange registration in the flag register without a provisional Certificate of Registry, but then your ship will not be allowed to sail at sea until you receive the Certificate of Registry.

This form is for registering:

• newly built or newly constructed vessels coming under the Dutch flag
• existing ships coming under the Dutch flag for the first time (for which the ILT has no data)
• existing ships that were previously under the Dutch flag and are now returning under the Dutch flag (for which the ILT has (limited) data)

The above applies to both vessels that will be operated on a regular basis and those that will be operated on a bareboat charter basis.

Trials, drop-offs and one-off trips

This form is not intended for ships newly built in the Netherlands that will be transferred outside the Netherlands. The ILT considers this to be a so-called “bringing out voyage”. For this, you may need a 2bis declaration including an extraordinary Certificate of Registry. You can apply for this declaration using the form Application for authorisation under Article 2bis and/or extraordinary Certificate of Registry.

For whom is this form intended?

In the case of newly built ships, this form is intended for shipyards, clients of the construction of a new ship or the prospective managing owner. In the case of ships being flagged in, this form is intended for the new or prospective managing owner only.

What are the costs of this application?

The costs of the form depend on what you want to arrange with this form. For the cost of the various products, you are politely referred to the ILT's website. Here you can read more about the different forms of registration and their costs.

Which enclosures are needed?

You will find an overview of all required documents as you go through the form.

How does your application work?

Applications are processed in order of receipt. After submitting your application, you receive a confirmation email with an ILT reference number. Please keep this number for your records and use it in all relevant correspondence with ILT.

You will automatically receive a message once your application is processed. You will either receive a decision or a request for further information.

Form instructions

• Prepare a clear photo or scan of your signature (.jpg or .png) to sign the form.
• Please complete this form in English.
• Fields marked with * are required.
• If you are not logged in to MijnILT, you can only save your progress manually. Click ‘Save’ to download a file containing your completed information. If you want to continue later, click ‘Open’ and upload this file.

Please note: if you do not use the form for more than 12 minutes, your session will time out and you will need to start again. Make sure to save the form regularly.

Publication date

18-09-2025