 Christmas Island : Formalities
Arriving yachts should contact Christmas Island Police on VHF Channel 16 to arrange clearance and the Port Captain to arrange for a mooring.
Night arrivals are discouraged for safety reasons.
The police keep watch on channel 16 on a 24 hr basis, the Port Captain can be reached on Ch 16 during office hours. All persons must remain on board until the yacht has been inspected and cleared.
Formalities are preferably conducted on shore by Customs and Quarantine officers. Customs will instruct where and when to land. If necessary, Customs will launch a boat and perform the necessary paperwork onboard.
Quarantine is strict, and eggs and some meat products may be confiscated, or sealed on board. Depending on the officer in charge, some fresh fruit and vegetables may be kept.
No quarantine charges will be levied if one arrives from the Australia mainland. Also there is no charge if your yacht has spent five months in the past six in Australia.
Mooring is mandatory to prevent damage to the coral reef, and a mooring fee is charged of $10AS per day which must be paid to the harbour master prior to clearance being issued. It has been reported that yachts will be allowed to anchor if numbers are too many for the moorings.
On departure yachts are to notify customs and immigration, located at the police station. A customs clearance form will be issued, which must be handed to customs before departure.
Outward clearance is also required by the harbour master on leaving, when all bills must be settled. The customs office is open 0800-1600 Monday to Friday.
Last updated August 2008
Christmas Island Quarantine Service
Tel:(08) 9164 7456 , Fax:(08) 9164 7468
Christmas.Island@aqis.gov.au
Australian visa requirements are in force and every person must arrive with a valid Australian visa. The only exception are holders of New Zealand passports. See http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Australia/Immigration
Yachts travelling to or from Cocos Keeling) and Christmas Islands and the mainland of Australia are deemed to have not left Australia if their trip is within 30 days of departure from the mainland Australia or these islands.
Persons on board these yachts must ensure that their visa covers the entire period of their stay including travel time between the mainland of Australia and these islands.
Last update August 2008
Firearms must be declared to customs. The firearms will be kept by customs and returned when the yacht is ready to depart.
Last updated August 2008
Customs
Christmas Island
Tel:(08) 91647228, Fax:(08) 91648440.
DMWACI@customs.gov.au
There is available a small hospital with an A & E department and modern facilities.
It is important that visitors to the Island have appropriate travel insurance to cover emergency evacuation from Christmas Island.
$A20 departure tax per person. Other fees may be introduced in the future. Mooring fee of AU$10 per day or AU$50 per week.
No garbage or galley washes to be dumped into the waters anywhere around the Island. All garbage or galley washes to be placed into sealed, double plastic bags brought ashore and placed into the receptacles near the jetty.
Birds and turtles are protected species in the National Park.
Last updated August 2008
PET REGULATIONS - Pets only eligible to travel to Christmas Island with valid AQIS import permit and all conditions met. Strict quarantine regulations are in force.
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