Cape Town (Table Bay) - Clearance

Cape Town Clearance

See South Africa Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of South Africa. Remember, before setting sail for South Africa you must register with OSASA. Full details in Formalities.

Arrivals

Yachts must have a berth reserved in either the Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) or the V&A Waterfront Marina, before entering the Port of Cape Town.

International Inward Clearance:

Practique and Port Health:
All yachts visiting the Port of Cape Town from international waters must obtain a Pratique before arrival in Cape Town. This must be requested at least two days before entry by email to - porthealth.ctnshipping@bma.gov.za - with your boat name, number aboard, last port and ETA.

Cape Town Port Health hours of service: Monday - Friday 07:30 to 16:00. On weekends, there is no service.

The weekend Free Pratiques and OPLs must reach the Port Health Office by no later than 15:00 on a Friday.

You can reach Cape Town Port Health by email at: porthealth.ctnshipping@bma.gov.za.

General Process:

1. All yachts, local and foreign, arriving from international waters must complete the pre-arrival notification forms online through the OSASA website www.osasa.org.za at least 96 hours before arrival in Cape Town and these will be submitted by OSASA to the relevant Department of Transport authorities.
2. It is suggested that this online application should be completed and sent from the last port of call. On arrival at the marina the captain must report to the RCYC office or the V&A Marina office and obtain a letter stating they have a berth.
3. The RCYC or V&A Marina offices will notify the Port Health office of your arrival.
4. Captain and crew must remain on board until such time as Port Health have cleared the boat in.
5. Customs clearance can be done online.

Once cleared by Port Health, Captain and crew (with passports) can then proceed to the Immigration Department which is located opposite the Cruise Terminal.

Immigration:
Once cleared by Port Health, Captain and crew (with passports) can then proceed to the Immigration Department which is located opposite the Cruise Terminal. Office hours are 24hrs.

Customs:
For both foreign and local arrivals coming in from international waters to use the Port of Cape Town as a first Port of Entry, send a scanned copy of the completed (inward) DA1 form together with a crew list and last port of clearance issued to Customs at e-mail: correspondence@sars.gov.za. Inward clearance form DA1 can be obtained by emailing Customs. You will have to print it off to fill it in.

This will be the inward clearance for the duration of your stay.

If boats arriving from a foreign port are not checked in with Customs on arrival in Cape Town, the fine is 15,000 Rand.

Domestic Inward Clearance:

If arriving from another South African port of entry (Richards Bay, Durban, East London or Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha), it is not necessary to clear in with Immigration or Customs Departments on your arrival. Your Customs clearance at your first port of entry is your inward clearance for the duration of your stay.

Inbound Health Procedures from Local Waters (coastal sailing) require that if you are coming from another coastal port, you must contact portctn@health.gov.za with the name of the boat, crew list, last port of call and your ETA to the Port of Cape Town.

Departures

International Outward Clearance:

All boats exiting the Victoria and Alfred Basins must sign out or radio call out with Port Control on VHF Channel 14.

Departure can be made from any marina, but all skippers must visit the RCYC to file a departure float plan and show passports, before going to Immigration and dealing with Customs.

See this useful report on what to do for international departure in Cape Town and where to go, by Anna Eriksson - January 2024.

Notes:

• The Captain and crew must present themselves to the Immigration Department within 24 hours of departure.
• Once you have cleared out through Immigration, you have officially left South Africa and have 24 hours in which to leave your marina berth.  If you return, you have to go through the whole entry process again.
• Communicate with Customs by email at correspondence@sars.gov.za
• After clearing out the skipper (or any crew member) can claim the VAT on any good purchased in SA. See Customs for more details.
• Officials are trying to crack down on bribes and unofficial fees.  See this link for a notice posted from the Department of Home Affairs in the Cape Town office.

Domestic Outward Clearance:

If leaving for another South African port, lodge an itinerary with the Port Authority (time of departure, intended destination, and ETA) and clearance obtained from the yacht club or marina you are in.

Local Sailing:

All boats leaving the V&A Marina on local sailing trips have to be signed out by the skipper and on return sign in in the logbook outside the V&A Marina Yacht Office.

Last updated:  September 2025