Barbados - Clearance
Barbados Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts
Barbados uses the SailClear advance web notification service. Boats that would like to visit should pre-register and submit their arrival notification online with SailClear and note the notification ID number.
For a full explanation of this service and other web clearance services in the Caribbean see the report: Eastern Caribbean Cruising: Clearance Procedures Simplified.
A visa is not required for citizens of many countries including most western and northern European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the USA. Nationals of certain countries require visas to enter Barbados. See Immigration for further details.
Barbados Arrival Procedures for Yachts
Advance Notification
Yachts approaching the island are requested to call the Signal Station (call sign 8 PAPA BRAVO) on VHF Channel 12 and inform the Radio Operator of their intention.
Barbados complies with the IALA B Maritime Buoyage System so port lateral marks and lights are colored green and starboard lateral marks and lights are colored red, which means the red buoys are to starboard when entering a port.
Ports of Entry
Arrivals proceed directly to the Port of Entry with their yellow Q flag up.
The official port of entry is Bridgetown. Many cruisers report success anchoring in Carlisle Bay (and walking or taxing to the clearance offices) by-passing the need to go into the Deep Water Harbour with their vessels. It is also possible to arrive in Port St Charles and clear in / out through the offices at the marina.
If entering the Deep Water Harbour of Bridgetown for formalities, contact the authorities on VHF Channel 16 or 12 for permission to enter and berthing instructions. Cruise ships and mega-yachts take priority, and if arriving in the afternoon when the cruise ships move in and out of port, vessels may be circling outside the harbor until clearance to enter the Deep Water Harbour is granted. Facilities for yachts in Bridgetown are basic. Vessels are moored alongside a concrete wall in the commercial harbor with industrial fittings suited to tankers and cruise ships. Climbing up onto the dock is difficult.
Skippers requiring further information should contact the Harbour Master at 246 434 6100 (Office) or the Signal Station on VHF CH 12 or telephone number 246 434 6102.
Anchoring in Carlisle Bay: In the past, boats were not officially supposed to anchor and dinghy ashore (in case the authorities need to see or visit the vessel), but that does not seem to be enforced currently. If in doubt, check with other cruisers as to the current situation.
Port St Charles: This is considered the more boat-friendly port at which to clear in. This is a private residential port complex and there are no facilities apart from a yacht club and restaurant. Vessels can anchor out and dinghy to the marina to conduct clearance formalities in the marina building.
General Procedure
All crew should remain on board until clearance formalities are completed.
The Barbados Customs’ rule that yachts must clear in and out of the same Customs station no longer applies.
Clearance occurs at the Passenger Terminal of Bridgetown. The offices are all next door to each other. They are upstairs on the west end of the Duty-Free building near the cruise ships. The hours are from 0600 – 2200, 7 days per week (however, in reality you may find certain authorities have gone home at 5pm and you’ll have to come back the next day). It is advisable to avoid checking in around any cruise ship arrivals (typically best after 10 or 11am). Lunch time is observed around 1300.
The order is to visit Health, Immigration and then Customs. See Documents, Immigration and Customs for additional details.
Domestic Cruising in Barbados
Any vessel wanting to cruise or anchor along the coast must first obtain permission from the Customs Boarding Officer and the Harbour Master’s office, preferably upon arrival when conducting clearance formalities. Permission can be requested later by contacting Customs at telephone number 246 430 2355 or on VHF Channel 16.
Expect to provide your planned itinerary, ie anchorages and days planned, to Customs and the Port Authority.
Captains must inform the Coast Guard of cruising outside of the West Coast.
Barbados Departure Procedures for Yachts
Domestic Clearance
Requires permission and a schedule. See Domestic Cruising in Barbados above for details.
International Clearance
This requires a visit to 3 offices, both in Bridgetown and in Port St Charles.
- First visit the Port Authority who will issue Barbados Port Clearance on paying the anchorage/clearance fee. See Fees for more.
- Customs will want to see a copy of the Port Authority Clearance and a copy of the crew list, and will then issue final clearance from the country.
- Immigration requires a copy of the crew list and all passports.
Outward clearance can be obtained up to 24 hours prior to departure.
Remember that the Bridgetown offices are busy when cruise ships are arriving / departing.
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Last updated: December 2025
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Clearing in and out of Barbados is quick and friendly at Port St. Charles. Anchor outside and take the dinghy ashore to the “superyacht” marina. All officials are in the same room in the building at the inner end of the breakwater. The marina only has six berths, all with water and electricity. No toilets, showers or laundry. High end restaurant also at the inner end of the breakwater.
Thank you for the feedback and information on what cruisers can expect when using Port St. Charles!
Megan
Researcher / Sub-Editor
noonsite.com
hello,
do not go to the customs wharf at the Port of Bridgetown.
it is dangerous for the boat and for the crew.
the port is not made for small boats (less than 20m).
there is no pontoon to disembark.
do not show up at the vhf.
disembark with the dinghy and walk to the passenger port.
Feedback from Darren Macgregor:
Hey folks,
Just an update on a recent arrival in Barbados from Mindelo after 16 days at sea solo sailing.
For the record, I’m not vaccinated, I’m not anti vaccine, I just haven’t had it done yet….
I arrived in Barbados after 16 days at sea, arrival in Bridgetown in the large ferry terminal commercial port. Not ideal for yachts coming alongside but manageable. No doubt there is enough on the website from many other cruisers about this situation.
My experience is to share the covid requirements. Clearly if you are double vaccinated or have a valid / recent pcr test (valid being within three days, recent being last port of call after xx duration days isolated days at sea) then entry is not a problem. It seems to take less than an hour before being released to go to the anchorage.
I had none. I was tied up for 30 hours before eventually seeing a doctor to give me a covid test. It should have been a full PcR at cost but ended, with conversation, being a lateral flow test. With that all clear I was stamped and entry allowed.
The cruise liners are busy with covid, one arriving with some 300 cases and being refused entry for passengers ( as I was told by the port authorities).
I saw several boats arrive and depart the port for anchorage all without issue if they had vaccine records.
In summary it seems, be vaccinated for clear passage.
Regards
Darren
Currently, because of covid situation, clearing is only possible in Bridgetown. (Port St. Charles sent me here).
If you have been at sea for 21 days or have a negative PCR test with you, you only need to take one test.
If you don’t have a negative test, then their protocol is to take two tests: one upon arrival, and another one in 5 days, and you are not allowed to leave until the second test.
This information changes constantly, so I would recommend contacting Barbados Ministry of Health for the most current information.
Thanks so much for this update – it’s very helpful.
For a European boat/crew clearing in/out at Port St Charles the only fee we had to pay was BBD100 to the Port Captain on departure.
Repair in Barbados is not easy. There are too few places you can buy spare parts, but MPS (Marin Power Solutions) close to the Barbados yacht club, are very helpful and try their best to get you parts. Propane is easy to fill at Rubis gas station. There is also one more place to fill gas. You can buy diesel at the fishing harbour, but the dock is not that good so jerry cans can be better. There are many jet skies that come very close sometimes, these are tourists so most off them can’t handle a jet ski.
Posted on behalf of Gijs Klumper:
Barbados is a very laid-back Island.
Security: This does not seem to be an issue in Barbados. No pirogues or boat-boys. Very little poverty. Honest fishermen and friendly people. Enjoy the local culture! I never locked the boat and at anchor never took the dinghy on board at night. Nor did anyone else. Mooring in the center of Bridgetown, a “suspect” vagabond only wanted to assist with the landlines and didn’t ask for anything. Safe haven.
Clearance: I read the noonsite info. and comments. I checked in (easy!) at Port St. Charles and checked out at Bridgetown (difficult).
We simply anchored off, took the dinghy ashore and cleared in at our leisure, no problem. On checking out one must carry cash (US$50) for harbor fees because there is no ATM and credit cards are not accepted.
And lastly, philosophically from me and concerning all the Windward/Leeward Islands. Please, please, please be color blind! White yacht-owners sticking together and off-hand distrusting the local people will NOT make this world a better place. Acting like a (valued) guest is the way to go. You will be invited to reggae/beach parties and have lots of fun. Or else you will be up all night guarding your dinghy which won’t be stolen if you had made local friends in the first place.
Shallow Draft Marina fully operational in Bridgetown. However, fully booked by rallies for all of December.
This comment was posted by “Delphinius” elsewhere on noonsite on January 28 2016:
We arrived in Barbados at 2 am after an Atlantic crossing. We went straight to Carlisle Bay and dropped anchor (and slept), then later that morning proceeded to the cruise terminal to sign in. It can be tricky to moor for yachts as it is designed for large ships. We found a decent gap by the small building on the far starboard side of the harbor, otherwise, we have heard of people mooring against tugs. The officials did not seem at all concerned that we took 12 hours to check in, and were extremely courteous and friendly.
They didn’t ask to see our boat so I guess, with a decent outboard, you could take your tender around to sign in (I have heard other reports of this but not witnessed anyone doing it). We have found Barbados to be a wonderful place with wonderful friendly locals. We are still here 20 days later!