 Chagos : Formalities
As of 3 March 2007, yachts wishing to visit Chagos must apply for a permit in advance and this is payable by bank transfer only(£100 per month plus £50 per month for gun license if required).
The Yacht Decaration
and the Mooring Permit
Application
must be completed and returned to the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration (address below).
It is also advisable to read the Guidance Notes for Visitors
and to study the BIOT Mooring Sites
The forms can be downloaded from the official FCO website here.
Alternatively contact:
BIOTAdmin@fco.gov.uk;
or request by fax at +44 (0) 20 7008 1589;
or by post from:
British Indian Ocean Territory Administration
King Charles Street
London, SW1A 2AH
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7008 2961 or 2890
Visiting yachts are permitted only to anchor in Peros Banhos and the Salomon Islands at the approved sites. Access to Diego Garcia, in Chagos, is only permitted to those with connections to the military facility.
You are subject to BIOT law when inside its territorial waters. If you break any of these laws, you will become subject, as in any country, to a range of censures and punishments, including fines, imprisonment, deportation, or the impounding of your vessel.
You should be aware that any person who enters BIOT without a permit is liable to imprisonment for 3 years and/or a fine of £3000.
Last updated February 2010.
BIOT Customs and Immigration officials visit the approved mooring sites to check permits and passports. The passports of all passengers/crew will be checked against the details provided on the Visit Permit Request form. You will be asked to explain any discrepancies.
Last Updated February 2010.
There are severe pentalties for importing classified drugs, including cannabis.
Last updated February 2010.
There are no medical facilities in the territory. Search and rescue facilities are limited. You are required to obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.
All combustible garbage is to be burned or removed. All other material is to be placed in the bins provided or removed. Any person found leaving litter/garbage other than in the bins provided is liable to an on-the-spot fine of £500. Failure to pay the fine could result, on conviction, to a term not exceeding 6 months and/or a fine not exceeding £3000.
The current fee for a permit to visit Chagos is GBP £100 for 1 month (or part of a month) - payable in advance by Paypal or bank transfer to BIOT. Visit the above link to get the permit application form and payment details.
When visiting Chagos, you are subject to BIOT law when inside its territorial waters. If you break any of these laws, you will become subject, as in any country, to a range of censures and punishments, including fines, imprisonment, deportation, or the impounding of your vessel.
Any person who enters BIOT without a permit is liable to imprisonment for 3 years and/or a fine of £3000.
Last updated September 2008
You must moor your vessel at the BIOT approved sites only (see Clearance), to help conserve BIOT’s fragile coral environment. If your vessel is not moored at one of the approved sites, you will be issued with an on-the-spot fine of £500. Failure to pay the fine could result, on conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and/or a fine not exceeding £3000.
Any person anchoring at the strict nature reserve of Great Chagos Bank (The Three Brothers and Resurgent Island; Danger Island; Cow Island; Nelson Island) and Peros Banhos Atoll (all the islands to the east of a line drawn between the easternmost point of land on Moresby Island and the easternmost point of land on Fouquet Island - in practice, this means that one may only anchor off
the western islands which is quite unsafe during the SE trade wind season), is liable to an on-the-spot fine of £1000. Failure to pay the fine could result, on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months and/or to a fine not exceeding £5000, and to detention and forfeiture of any boat and equipment used when committing the offence.
The islands are a conservation area and all flora and
fauna, such as turtles, coconut crabs, live coral and shells, are
protected. Spearfishing and scuba diving are not allowed, nor should the heart of palm be taken. The only fishing that is allowed is with a hand line.
Penalties for infringement of the regulations are severe.
For more information on regulations and approved mooring sites go to
http://www.fco.gov.uk/ and
permitted anchorages
See the Chagos page on the UK Foreign Office website for the latest details.
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