Apia (Upolu) - Clearance
See Samoa/Clearance for full details. Clearance in Apia is reported to be slow but with friendly and nice officials.
Inward Clearance
Vessels are expected to call Apia Port Control two hours before entering the harbor on VHF Channel 16 for permittion to enter the channel. The VHF won’t be answered before 09:00 and in fact, that frequency isn’t always monitored so you may not get a response.
You will be directed to anchor at the head of the bay (21 feet mud, decent holding). The anchorage can easily accommodate a dozen or more boats and is very well protected. No boats should come into the marina until directed.
All arriving boats may come into Apia Marina for official clearance, even if they are anchoring, without paying any additional fees for clearance. However, there is a fee for dinghy access to the marina.
Outward Clearance
Visit first Immigration (in the Prime Minister’s office building) where you will have to fill in two forms. They will provide a letter for you to give to Customs (located next to the marina).
Because of several cruising vessels departing without paying mooring fees, Customs now needs to see a receipt from the marina as proof of payment of dockage or dinghy fees before issuing an outbound clearance.
Last updated: September 2022
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Related to following destinations: Apia (Upolu), Samoa
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Just wanted to clarify something about the anchoring out situation. I was in a meeting with two representatives from the American Embassy in Apia, The CEO of the Port of Apia and the Port Captain. They assured me and the American Embassy reps, in no uncertain terms. It is Perfectly LEGAL to anchor in the harbor as long as you are not interfering with the port operations. Basically, anchor inside the large yellow bouy near the marina entrance. And the official cost to do so was $110 Tala for a lights and buoy fee and for our 38 foot boat, a $7.60 Tala fee.
The owner of the marina will try to tell you other wise, but ignore him. He is just trying to get you into his marina. You can use the Ports “dinghy access” for access to shore, which is just inside the area where the ports tugs are docked.
May 15, 2015 … Plenty of room inside the marina but our 20 meter POWERCAT was not allowed inside.
There is also limited draft at 2.2 meter; a sailboat with 2.6 meter draft was denied entry.
The Samoa PQort Authorities have just leased the marina to a private operator who promised that the fees would go up.
Finally, even at anchor in the harbor, we were obliged to pay the same as inside the marina, 87 Talas/day for our 20 meters, AND we’re also charged for the 2 days we were NOT in port but cruising in Sava’i… Very distressing
The marina repairs have been completed. Pier A is now open for use and power and water have been restored to every berth. Pier B has been completely dismantled and removed.