The French Subantarctic Territory Clearance for Yachts

Anchoring of pleasure craft in the territorial sea of ​​Crozet, Kerguelen and Saint-Paul and Amsterdam and access to the islands are very limited and strictly regulated.

To request to conduct activities in the French Austral Islands, an application must be completed and submitted to the Prefect, Senior Administrator of the French Subantarctic Territory (TAAF), at least two months before the planned start date of the activity.

Download the Austral Islands Access Form (FR)

The form is in French and requests:

• Applicant information
• Planned dates and locations of activity
• Purpose of activity
• Crew / passenger information – See Immigration for more details.
• Vessel information
• An expedition leader declaration
• Insurance certificates
• Emergency plans
• Environmental impact of activity
• Waste management plan
• Contact information for where vessels need to report on entry into the EEZ
• Mooring and tourist fees – See Fees for more details.
• Application signature

Send completed applications to: saji@taaf.fr. Arriving without an approved application is not permitted.

See the TAAF – Access and Anchorage in the Austral Islands to confirm the details and ensure you are using the latest form.

Yachts planning to visit Antarctica should see Antarctica Clearance for information and guidance.

Mooring Zones for the French Austral Islands

Crozet Islands

Only two anchorage areas are authorized and regulated by order of the Prefect of Reunion, government delegate to the state action at sea:

• Within a circle of radius, 240 meters centered on the point 46° 25.55’S, 51° 52.79′ E
• Within a circle of radius, 80 meters centered on the point 46° 25.45’S, 51° 52.5’E.

Kerguelen Island

Use the Sailing Directions (volume L9: Islands of the Indian Ocean (southern part) – Adelie Land) for descriptions and recommended mooring areas.

Mined areas were it is not recommended to anchor:

• Eastern Entrance to Tucher Strait: 49° 06’S, 69° 19 E
• Gazelle Basin: 49° 18’S, 69° 42 E.
• Port des Îles: 49° 28.7’S, 70° 03.7 E
• Prince Albert Pass: 49 ° 34 S – 70 ° 01 E

There are mooring buoys that are maintained by the TAAF, provided for vessels of 42 tons (used primarily by TAAF ships):

• Port-aux-Francais: 49° 21.232′ S, 070° 13.277’E (main mooring) and 49° 21.187′ S, 070° 13.224’E (emergency mooring)
• Port Bizet (île Longue), 49° 30.90’S, 069° 53.9’E
• Armor (baie d’Hurley), 49° 26.9’S, 069° 55.6’E
• Port des Belliers (île aux moules), 49°24.8’S, 069°57.3’E

Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands

Use the Sailing Directions (volume L9: Islands of the Indian Ocean (southern part) – Adelie Land) for descriptions and recommended mooring areas.

Anchoring inside the crater of the island of St. Paul is prohibited.

Landing

On Amsterdam Island, the landing is only possible at La Cale (37° 47.718’S, 077° 34.394’E). In St., Paul, one landing zone, after prior authorization, is possible at the landing represented by a large rock with a mooring dolphin, located at the north end of the basin (38° 42.855’S, 077° 31.872’E).

Useful Links: 

• TAAF – The Austral Islands – information about the islands including their history and climates
• TAAF – Access and Anchorage in the Austral Islands – outlines prohibited areas and requirements to visit / land
• TAAF – Visa Application Information – outlines who needs a visa and how to apply for one
• French Polar Institute – Discover the Subantarctic Islands – information about the islands including their history and climates
• French Polar Institute – Logistics and Implementation of Science – information about the scientific activity being performed

Last updated:  November 2025

We are not seeing users access the French Subantarctic Territory (Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises (TAAF) – Les Iles Australes) information regularly. We are prioritizing and focusing efforts on keeping the most visited countries up to date.

If you plan to visit the French Austral Islands or believe that we have made an error, please send us an email at noonsite@noonsite.com. We will assign a team member to work with our contacts to update the formalities information that you are interested in. If you have visited the French Austral Islands on a yacht, we would love to hear from you, please send us an email or leave a comment about your experience.

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