Fernando de Noronha - Clearance
Fernando de Noronha is an official port of entry and yachts are expected to arrive with appropriate visas for all crew (see Immigration for visa details).
See Brazil Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of Brazil.
General Process:
Once anchored, head into the small harbor in Baia de Santo Antonio – watch out for local boat lines. Tie your dinghy to the pontoon (3°50.04’S 32°24.12’W) and report to the Port Captain’s office, which is the first building on the right at the top of the wooden steps leading up the hill from the beach.
The Port Captain will arrange your clearance and brief you on all applicable charges (there is an anchoring fee [226.40 Reais per day] and an environmental fee [87.71 Reais per day per person. No charge the first day]).
There is an additional fee if you want to visit the marine reserve part of the island – this opens up a few more beaches and trails – which is a one-off payment for 10 days of access.
Office hours: 08:00-11:00 and 14:00-17:00 (immigration may only be available in the afternoon).
You will need to complete formalities with the Port Captain, Park Administration officials and the Military Police who handle Immigration. The Port Captain will either have officials come to his office or drive you to them and, bar timings as to who is available when clearance is straightforward and easy.
There are no Receita Federal (Customs officials) on Fernando de Noronha, so if you visit another Brazilian port a visit to Receita Federal is due. Read this useful blog by a boat that cleared in with the remainder of the authorities in Recife (Feb 2023) after leaving Noronha.
On arrival you will need to provide your next port of call and your expected departure date – officials have no problem if this changes. Clearing out is a similar process.
The Port Captain is very helpful and will happily brief you on the island and arrange transport etc. Speaking Spanish is an advantage, otherwise, he uses Google translate.
Last updated: March 2022
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Related to following destinations: Brazil, Fernando de Noronha, Offshore Islands (Brazil)
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Reported by Paul Lever – SY Georgia:
We cleared into Noronha.
The island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil is open to cruising boats. All crew MUST show proof of Covid vaccination. Unvaccinated crew will be sent back to their vessel immediately and not allowed to land. Visas for Brazil are issued for 90 days (for most nationalities). Daily anchoring and environmental fees are not insignificant (you can get one day at no fee). We paid for 2 crew for 4 days at approx, 1,450 Brazilian real. Port Captain and other officials are extremely helpful to cruisers. The anchorage can be rolly.
There is no shortage of restaurants on the island and several can be found close to the main village (3°50.7’S 32°24.68’W).
Cafe San Miguel is popular with Brazilians for its lunchtime buffet.
Bar do Meio 3°50.38S’ 32°24.89W’ is a firm favourite for sundowners with its view over the I Da Conceicao.
In the port, the Shark Museum has a good menu with views to the east.
We were able to clear immigration to enter Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.
The port office was the building on the right at the top of the wooden steps leading up the hill from the beach, then all the officials came to us there.
Office hours are 8:00-11:00 and 14:00-17:00 (immigration may only be available in the afternoon).
When we arrived in Jacare we still had to visit customs and the Port office (but not immigration which was apparently the very slow bit).
Costs to stop at Fernando de Noronha are:
Anchoring fee: 226.40R$/day (10m boat)
Park preservation tax: 70.66R$/person/day (first day free). Our 2-day visit with 2 people cost us 594.12R$.
There is an additional fee if you want to visit the marine reserve part of the island which is 1 payment and allows 10 days of access (we didn’t do this and just explored the northern beaches).
We arrived at night, but with a torch we could stay well off (west) the anchored / moored boats and find a suitable spot in 11m. In the morning we moved closer to the harbour entrance (breakwall). Depending on the direction of the wind, it can roll quite a bit and a calmer spot would be more to the east, beyond the breakwater.
Checking in with Marcos went fine. He had immigration and the park authorities come to his office and we got a 90-day visa for Brazil. Note that the anchoring fee and environmental taxes have to be paid for each calendar (including the day of arrival). We could pay Marcos later that day after our visit to the the village (ATM). In town, you can buy the visitor pass for the national park, but we found the “free” part of the island offered enough for our short stay, including beautiful beaches. Turtles and dolphins swim in the bay of the anchorage. The island is absolutely stunning.