For full details of Clearance into Australia, see the Noonsite Australia Formalities page.

Requirements for Visiting Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is not a Port of Entry or a Biosecurity first point of entry for Australia and is unable to provide Department of Home Affairs and Department of Agriculture clearances for arriving and departing smallcraft.

Prior to departure for Lord Howe, all private and commercial vessels must apply to the Lord Howe Island Board for entry to the island.

The necessary documents can be downloaded from the Lord Howe Island Board website.  Intending visitors should also read this document –  Information for Visiting Vessels.

Skippers are also advised to contact the Lord Howe Island Port Operations Manager prior to departure for the Island and he will also require to see your mooring permit on your arrival.

Lord Howe Maritime monitors VHF Channels 12 and 16 24/7 (this is a volunteer station) and the island policeman also monitors VHF 12 and 16 during office hours. The designated port operations channel is VHF 12.

To confirm the details of your intended arrival at Lord Howe Island and restrictions that currently apply, contact the Department of Home Affairs – Coffs Harbour Office on +61 2 6656 8500

Contact the Department of Agriculture’s Maritime National Coordination Centre by email on [email protected] for permission to arrive at Lord Howe Island, as this address is monitored regularly every day.

Requests for permission and general queries can also be emailed to [email protected] but this mailbox is only monitored during business hours.

Refuelling/Provisioning Stop at Lord Howe Island

Vessels are still allowed to use Lord Howe Island as a tech stop (refuelling, provisioning) but:

• Small craft landing at Lord Howe Island from overseas, must make their next landfall at one of the Department of Home Affairs declared ports on mainland Australia. (Sydney, Newcastle, Eden, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane).
• Craft departing for overseas via Lord Howe Island will need to obtain their clearance at the Department of Home Affairs declared ports on mainland Australia. (Sydney, Newcastle, Eden, Coffs Harbour and Brisbane).

Passengers onboard arriving and or departing smallcraft are not permitted to break their journey on Lord Howe Island and make their way to mainland Australia by commercial aircraft.

Additionally no arriving and or departing smallcraft can take on passengers on Lord Howe for transport to the mainland or overseas destination.

Normal biosecurity restrictions apply while at Lord Howe Island, no food or animals to be taken onto the Island from the vessel.

Last updated: March 2024

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