Do You Need a Licence for a Jet Ski in Rio? The Rule Explained
Do you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Rio? To ride one yourself, the Brazilian Navy requires a Motonauta (MTA) licence. See how to go as a passenger.
Jet Life
20/06/2026 · 5 min read
It is the most common question about jet skis, and the short answer is: to ride one yourself, yes, you need a Motonauta (MTA) licence from the Brazilian Navy. Without one, you can ride as a passenger behind a licensed rider.
What the Brazilian Navy requires to ride
To ride a jet ski yourself, the Brazilian Navy requires a Motonauta (MTA) licence, the recreational category specific to personal watercraft, set out in NORMAM-212/DPC. The rule applies to your own jet ski or a rented one.
Riding without the required licence is an offence, even on a short or guided trip.
What about the Arrais Amador licence?
The Arrais Amador boating licence does not cover jet skis. The recreational categories in NORMAM-211/DPC (formerly NORMAM-03), such as Arrais Amador, Mestre Amador and Capitão Amador, cover leisure boats except personal watercraft. Anyone who got their Arrais licence on or after 2 July 2012 also needs the Motonauta licence to ride a jet ski.
Without a licence: as a passenger
If you do not have an MTA, you can go as a passenger, sitting behind a licensed rider. The rider is in control and you enjoy the views of the bay without worrying about handling the jet ski. Nobody sits in front of the rider.
Minimum age and children
18 to ride. For passengers the rule is different: children under 7 cannot go on a jet ski, and children aged 7 to 11 can only go with permission from their parents. Everyone on board wears a correctly sized life jacket.
Summary
- To ride: Motonauta (MTA) licence from the Brazilian Navy
- Arrais Amador: does not cover jet skis
- Without a licence: as a passenger behind a licensed rider
- Minimum age to ride: 18
Why the Navy requires a licence
It is not just paperwork. A first-timer does not know how to judge braking distance, does not know how to react to a wave hitting side-on, and does not know how to get back on the equipment alone after falling off.
That is what the licence is for: whoever is in control needs to have learned how to handle those situations before riding.
How to get the Motonauta licence
The MTA requires an exam and hands-on training on a jet ski. Timelines and fees vary, so check with a nautical school accredited by the Brazilian Navy before making plans.
It is worth it if you want to ride, on your own jet ski or a rented one. For anyone who just wants to try it a few times a year, going as a passenger behind a licensed rider does the job without the cost or the time of the course.
How it works in practice
The Jet Life jet ski trip leaves from Marina da Glória and runs accompanied inside Guanabara Bay. Arrive 15 minutes early for the briefing. After that, a mandatory life jacket and a departure onto the water, with support for the booked duration. The clock starts when you enter the water, not during the briefing.
No licence? Talk to our team to find the best option.
Prices and available durations are in how much a jet ski costs in Rio, and the full booking steps in jet ski rental in Rio de Janeiro.
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