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World Cruising Handbook Corrections and Updates 7: Caribbean
Created by
doina.
Last modified on 2007-10-03 00:30:05
Caribbean Aruba P216 Yachts must contact Aruba Ports Authority on VHF channel 11 for instructions. All yachts must clear in at one of the two commercial harbours before anchoring or proceeding to any marina. Failure to do so will probably result in the yacht being boarded by the Coastguard and escorted to one of these harbours for clearance. Most yachts use the cruise ship terminal at Oranjestad. Immigration: Passports, although preferred, are NOT required for citizens of the United States and Canada, but they must have an original official State issued birth certificate with a raised seal AND a government issued (State or Federal) photo i.d. (i.e. a driver's license). Canadian citizens born in Canada must have a miniature birth certificate OR miniature baptismal certificate OR a miniature Proof of Canadian Citizenship. If not born in Canada, they must have either an original Certificate of Naturalization OR a miniature Certificate of Proof of Canadian Citizenship. Visitors from European Union member countries must have either a valid passport OR a European Union Travel Card. Nationals from the following countries are allowed to stay in Aruba for a maximum of 3 months: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, U.S.A., United Kingdom, Venezuela. A visa is required for citizens of the following countries: Afganistan, Haiti, North Korea, Burma, Iran, Ghana, Peoples Republic of China, Cambodia, Iraq, Cuba, Libya, Syria, Dominican Republic, Mauritania Nigeria, Vietnam, Russian Federation and all other former Republics of the Soviet Union with the exception of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Bahamas P217 US and Canadian citizens may be able to enter with proof of identity only, for a stay of up to three weeks, but it is recommended that all crew carry a valid passport. From December 31 2006 passports will be required for those travelling between the US and the Bahamas. A stay of up to six months, which may be extended to eight months, may be granted. Different immigration officers, in different ports, give varying of amounts of time allowed, when you clear in. A careful note should taken of the time allowed, and be sure to apply for any necessary extension a few days before it expires. This can be done by going to a local immigration officer. Barbados P222 The Barbados Customs' rule that yachts must clear in and out of the same customs station no longer applies. On arrival a boat must proceed directly to the Port of Entry and contact them on VHF channel 16 or 12 for directions on where to berth. You are not allowed to anchor and dinghy in. At Port St Charles, contact the Customs directly on VHF ch. 16 or 77 and stay aboard until visited. Once cleared into Bridgetown, you can move to an anchorage in Carlisle Bay. Visiting any other areas outside the Port of Clearance requires permission from Customs and Port Authority, and they will require a copy of your schedule. At present customs are reluctant to give you permission to visit other anchorages lying along the west coast of the island. There are plans to open up more cruising areas and marker buoys are being placed at several locations where there are sandy areas big enough to permit anchoring. A chart showing these authorized anchoring areas will eventually be available from the Barbados Port Authority. Bonaire P224 Clearance must be made with Customs and Immigration. Immigration will normally provide clearance out of Bonaire free of charge. However, if one wants a Zarpe, or proof of exiting Bonaire, there is fee of about US$9. Usually yachts are granted a stay of 3 months, extendable for another 3 months. If one leaves and returns to Bonaire (reports are that this should be at least 4 days), one can obtain another 3 months as long as one has proof of having been out of the country (for example, clearance papers from Venezuela). Cuba P233 Clearance can only be obtained at ports which have a marina. The main port of entry for yachts is Hemingway Marina immediately to the west of Havana. All ports with marinas have tourist facilities and are used to clearing in yachts. The commercial port of Havana should not be entered as it has no provision for clearing yachts. Immigration: A 30-day tourist visa should be obtained in advance; it is available from travel agencies, Cuban consulates, or foreign airports with flights to Cuba. The Tourist Card is valid for 30 days, beginning the day you arrive. It is renewable for a further 30 days (but no longer) in most major cities. This process is speeded up if some six copies of the crew list are prepared with all crew passport details. The cost of the card depends on the country in which it is purchased (usually $15 -25 US). The 30 day extension costs $25 US and can be arranged at the Cuban immigration offices, with a stamp that must be purchased at an international bank before going to the immigration office. Curacao P236 As tying up to the dock in Willemstad for clearance is both uncomfortable and dangerous, due to the heavy wash from commercial traffic, many yachts prefer to berth at Spanish Water. For Customs and Immigration, it is necessary to visit the Harbour Police office in Willemstad (Customs no longer come to Spanish Water). After clearing Immigration, ensure an anchoring permit is requested. On departure one has to contact Immigration only, not Customs. After having cleared out of Curaçao to sail to Aruba one is technically not allowed to stop anywhere en route, although the authorities do not seem to mind genuine overnight stops. Immigration - add It has been reported that US citizens coming from Bonaire may only be granted a 2 week permit, commencing from their arrival in Bonaire, in which case an extension must be obtained in Curacao from the Immigration headquarters, located at the post office building. Passports must be left there for 2 days to be processed. Dominican Republic P241 No visa is required (just a tourist card) for stays of up to 60 days by nationals of Andorra, Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Curacao, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Finland, France (includes Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and Reunion Island), St. Kitts, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Turks & Caicos Islands, Italy, Jamaica, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, the United States (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), Ukraine, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Tourist cards, valid for up to 60 days from the date of entry, can be obtained on arrival for US$10, for the nationals listed above. All others, including Cuba, require visas; all applications must be authorised by the authorities in the Dominican Republic. NOTE: From Jan 2007, US citizens must have a passport. Grenada P244 Visas are not required by nationals of the European Union, Commonwealth (except Pakistan, who require a visa), United States, Japan, Bulgaria, Chile, Iceland, Israel, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan and Venezuela. All others require visas, although a visa-free stay may be granted on arrival if continuing on to another destination within 14 days. Guadeloupe P247 No restrictions for French citizens with a valid passport. Citizens of the EU, the USA, Canada, Switzerland and Norway need a valid passport for stays up to 3 months. Visas are required by nationals from South Africa, Bolivia, Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Turkey, Australia, Dominica, St Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Visas can be obtained on arrival. Visitors from South America and some Caribbean islands need a certificate of vaccinations against smallpox and yellow fever. Jamaica P251 It is recommended that yachts clear in at Montego Bay or Port Antonio marina and then cruise to the other ports as officials will be easier to locate and are used to clearing cruising boats. Martinique P253 Outward clearance: It is essential to clear out at one of the official ports so as to obtain the clearance certificate which is requested when clearing in at all other islands. Therefore one must try to clear out during office hours. Montserrat P255 Outward clearance: The captain must visit customs and, accompanied by crew, also immigration in Little Bay when clearing out. A departure tax (port dues) is to be paid at customs. Puerto Rico P258 Boats arriving from outside the territory must contact customs immediately at one of the following telephone numbers: San Juan (787) 729-6850, (787) 729-6802 Fajardo (787) 863-0950, Mayaguez: (787) 831-3368, Ponce (787) 841-3130. The regional offices are open Monday to Saturday, 0800-1200 and 1300-1700. Yachts arriving after business hours, Sunday, or holidays, must report arrival by contacting US Customs Service at Tel. (787) 253-4538. Culebra 742-3531; If the agent is absent the phone rings in Fajardo and the agent there will advise as to agent's availability. American yachts coming from the US Virgin Islands must clear customs on arrival in Puerto Rico the same as other yachts. US boats can do this by telephone provided they have paid the annual $25 customs fee. If not, the captain will have to visit the nearest customs office to pay that fee before being considered cleared. It is normally sufficient to inform customs by telephone of one's intention to depart. Non-US nationals must return the immigration docket in their passports, issued on arrival, but this can be done by post. There is more detail on increased security and clearance measures since 9/11 on the Noonsite US pages at http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/USA/?rc=Formalities#Clearance Sint Martin P273 All vessels arriving in or departing from St. Maarten waters must clear in and out with the Immigration Department. This can be done either in Great Bay or Simpson Bay, as follows:- Great Bay: The Immigration Department is located just outside the port gates on the right hand side. The office is open from 0700 to 1800hrs 7 days a week. The Clearance Office is open 0800 to 1200hrs and 1300 to 1630hrs Monday to Friday and from 0900 to 1200hrs on Saturday and Sunday. It is closed on public holidays. Simpson Bay: The Immigration Department is located in the Police Station adjacent the channel into Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Immigration Department is open every day from 0700 to 1800 hours. The Clearance Office is open Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1200 hours and 1300 to 1630 hours. It is closed at weekends. However, you can clear out in advance or at Great Bay. The Immigration Department monitors VHF Channel 12. On the French side, the procedure for clearing in and out is the same. The waiver of liability form required before a vessel can pass through the Simpson Bay Bridge, can be obtained from the Clearance Office. Immigration: A valid passport is necessary for all nationalities. Visa regulations as for Curaçao. In general, visiting yachtsmen are permitted to stay on the island for a maximum period of three months. This will sometimes vary according to nationality and so it is best to enquire when clearing in. Crew joining a boat have sometimes experienced difficulty with immigration officials if they are unable to show an onward ticket.Captains of yachts expecting crew are advised to contact immigration in advance. Outward clearance papers are necessary if sailing to another island, even another Dutch one, though not if sailing across to French St Martin. The Immigration Department can be contacted through, central Police Department operator at ++-(599) 542-2222, or the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority: ++-(599) 545-3183 |
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