Clearance formalities vary greatly from country to country, being extremely simple in some and ridiculously complicated in others. The complexity of formalities is often a reflection of the nature of the regime in power and it can be safely assumed that the less liberal a country the more complicated its entry formalities.
Regardless of the country visited, or the kind of government in power there, formalities should always be taken seriously and even what look like illogical restrictions should always be complied with. Moreover, however lax or strict a country may be known to be, entry formalities must be completed as soon as possible, and the intention to do so must be indicated as soon as one enters that country’s territorial waters by flying the Q flag and contacting the relevant authorities by radio.
In the current security climate, it is now not unusual to have to advise the customs or coastguard authority of your ETA two or more days in advance. Advance arrival procedures are always outlined on Noonsite, and you clearly find them in the opening Facts section for each country too.
It should also be noted that once a vessel enters the territorial waters of a country, local authorities—including Customs, Navy, and Police—have the right to board and interview those on board. If suspicions arise regarding illegal activities, including drug trafficking, officials can conduct a search without a warrant. Read this Advisory for more details.
Details of the Formalities for your country of choice can easily be found on Noonsite by clicking on the "Explore Country" blue button and then selecting the "list" icon for formalities in the drop down.
Ports of Entry are easily viewed by clicking the "anchor" icon in the same drop down, or via the Noonsite Map (if you are a paid member).
See the individual Noonsite Formalities pages for each country for full details. For example:
https://www.noonsite.com/place/bermuda/view/clearance/
Each port of entry also has localized clearance information listing location of offices or if different from the overall country clearance procedures. Use the "Explore port" blue button and then the "i" icon in the drop down to find the clearance information. For example: https://www.noonsite.com/place/bermuda/st-georges-harbour/view/clearance/
Be sure to research the options for clearance ports in advance, so you can select the most suitable one for clearing into and out of the country.
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