There are age restrictions for getting your Jet Ski or personal watercraft (PWC) licence in every state in Australia.
Most states in Australia won’t issue a Jet Ski (PWC) licence until a person is 16 years of age or older – after successfully completing a knowledge test and, in some cases, a practical assessment on a Jet Ski or personal watercraft.
Some jurisdictions permit riders as young as 12 to operate a Jet Ski or personal watercraft (PWC) – but with strict conditions.
In most instances, anyone applying for a Jet Ski or personal watercraft licence must first apply for a boat licence and complete a safety assessment before conducting further tests related specifically to Jet Skis.
Regardless of which state your licence is issued, the laws of the waterways you are riding in apply.
For example, if you were issued a Queensland licence and are operating a Jet Ski or personal watercraft (PWC) in NSW, the laws and restrictions of NSW apply.
And vice versa: NSW licence holders operating a Jet Ski in Queensland must abide by Queensland waterway laws.
Any interstate licence holders operating a Jet Ski or personal watercraft in NSW must observe restriction zones, such as the ban of Jet Skis on Sydney Harbour and associated waterways.
Young riders in particular need to be careful when operating a Jet Ski or personal watercraft interstate, as they may not be permitted to do so.
For example, in Victoria you must be at least 16 years old to operate a Jet Ski or personal watercraft – regardless of your eligibility or provisional licence status in your home state.
Check the age limits in each state in Australia using our quick guide and the links to the authorities in each state below.
New South Wales Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- Provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licence available to riders aged 12 to 15 years (after passing a Jet Ski/PWC knowledge test);
- Must not ride faster than 10 knots (18.5km/h) when operating the vessel solo;
- Must not ride faster than 20 knots (37km/h) when accompanied on the vessel by a Jet Ski/PWC licence holder who is over the age of 16;
- Must not ride at night (between sunset and sunrise). This rule applies to Jet Ski/PWC riders of all ages in NSW;
- Riders in NSW who obtain a provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licence from the ages of 12 to 15 years can buy a one-year, three-year, five-year or 10-year licence at half price that will be valid beyond their 16th birthday if it expires after their 16th birthday. There is no need to reapply for a full licence. Once they turn 16 they can ride as an adult.
- Riders in NSW who have never held a licence before can apply for a full Jet Ski/PWC licence from the age of 16 years.
Queensland Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- No provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licence available to riders aged less than 16 years old;
- However if you have a supervising rider with a valid Jet Ski/PWC licence on board, you can operate a personal watercraft without a licence;
- No minimum age for a supervised unlicensed rider is nominated by authorities in Queensland, however the licence holder (and supervised unlicensed rider) must comply with general maritime safety obligations;
- A supervised unlicensed rider is not allowed to carry passengers other than the one supervising licence holder;
- The Jet Ski ‘engine kill switch’ lanyard must be attached to the licenced rider’s life vest or wristband;
- The licensed supervising rider must be able to take immediate control in case of trouble;
- Persons aged 16 and over can apply for a Jet Ski/PWC licence after gaining their boat licence, passing a knowledge test, attending a boat safety course, and then getting their marine licence endorsed for Jet Ski/PWC use for an additional one-off fee;
- You can only operate a Jet Ski/PWC that is towing a person – for example, someone riding a tube – if you are 16 years or older and hold a Jet Ski/PWC licence;
- When operating a Jet Ski/PWC with a child as a passenger, authorities recommend the child be seated behind the rider and never between you and the handle bars;
- Only have passengers who can place both feet at the same time firmly in the foot wells of the Jet Ski/PWC;
- Have the correct number of people on board for the number of seats available. It is no longer considered safe to count children under 12 years of age as half a person. Three seats means 3 people – no matter the age;
- Riders in Queensland can apply for a full Jet Ski/PWC licence from the age of 16 years.
Victoria Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- Riders in Victoria can apply for a Jet Ski/PWC licence from the age of 16 years.
- A provisional or ‘restricted’ boat licence is available to persons aged 12 to 15 years, however this is not valid to operate a Jet Ski or PWC;
- Victoria previously made provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licences available for riders aged 12 to 15 years, but this is no longer the case.
South Australia Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- No provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licence available to riders aged less than 16 years old;
- Riders aged 12 to 15 years can apply for a ‘special permit’ to operate a boat but not a Jet Ski/PWC;
- In South Australia, riders can apply for a boat licence (which also covers Jet Ski/PWC vessels) from the age of 16 years;
- Unless zoned otherwise a 4 knot (7km/h) speed limit applies to all Jet Ski/PWC operated within 200 metres of the metropolitan shoreline (between Outer Harbour southern breakwater and the southern end of Sellicks Beach) and the backwaters of the River Murray.
- There are a number of other areas within South Australia where waters with similar restrictions are marked with signs including specified areas located at Beachport, Kangaroo Island, Meningie, Southend and Victor Harbour.
Western Australia Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- You must be 14 years or older to apply for a ‘Recreational Skippers Ticket’ (RST), which is the description given by authorities in Western Australia for a boat licence;
- A boat licence can be used to operate a Jet Ski/PWC in Western Australia;
- A person aged between 14 and 16 years who holds an RST must only operate a Jet Ski/PWC during daylight hours and at a maximum speed of 8 knots (15km/h);
- Riders can apply for a full boat licence (RST) to operate a Jet Ski/PWC in Western Australia from the age of 16 years;
- You cannot use a Jet Ski/PWC anywhere in the Swan Estuary Marine Park and all waters upstream of the Windan Bridge in East Perth;
- Western Australia previously had offshore distance limits for small craft such as Jet Skis and PWCs however those restrictions were eased in late 2023;
- The length of a vessel no longer determines how far from the shore it can travel;
- It is now the responsibility of the operator to determine how far from shore it is safe to operate after considering weather conditions, capability of the vessel, including the vessel length, and the experience and ability of the rider.
Tasmania Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- Provisional or ‘restricted’ Jet Ski/PWC licence endorsement is available to riders aged 12 to 16 years (after passing a Jet Ski/PWC test);
- Jet Ski/PWC riders aged from 12 to 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult, must not exceed 20 knots (37km/h), and are not permitted to tow any person or object;
- Riders in Tasmania can apply for a Jet Ski/PWC licence endorsement on their full boat licence from the age of 17 years and over after completing a practical assessment and knowledge test.
Northern Territory Jet Ski and PWC age restrictions:
- No boat or Jet Ski/PWC licence required;
- No requirement to register a boat or Jet Ski/PWC.
Footnote: While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, please check with your local waterway authorities and click on the links for each state in the headlines above.
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