Pattaya - Clearance
For full details on clearing into and out of Thailand see Noonsite’s Formalities.
General Process:
Clearance is at Ocean Marina.
Latest reports from cruisers are that you will be “encouraged” to use an agent to check in here. This is not mandatory, however, officials may make it too complicated to clear in yourself due to language issues, necesitating the use of an agent. Many forms are in Thai.
Currently the agent fee is between 23,500 bahts – 25,000 bahts.
As the offices are very widely spread here (more than 60km apart), using an agent means that they will deal with the authorities and arrange for Immigration to come to the marina.
You need a letter from the Marina about your stay and a specific “Boat Slip and Storage Lease Agreement” form, also provided by the marina. Immigration must stamp your passports and return a copy of your forms back to you.
The agent will also deal with the warranty for the Captain, organise the paperwork with the Port Authority and Customs.
Additional paperwork you will need here includes a photograph of the boat clearly showing the boat name; photo of your engine; copy of all passport showing the latest entry into the country etc. Authorities also want to see a Captain/Master’s license. See Documents for more details.
See Customs for details of length of stay permitted. Extensions of the Customs clearance paper (to be done every 6 months), can be carried out with Customs at U-Tapao airport. Customs operate 8.30-16.30, Mon-Fri. They open at weekends but the fee is doubled. Alternatively engaging an agent to deal with the extension will cost you 3,500 Bahts.
Location of Offices if attempting to do yourself:
- The Immigration office is at Jomtien beach, close to the Post Office.
- Customs is at U-Tapao Airport, about 50km south of Ocean Marina.
- The Port Authorities are away to the north at Laem Chabang Port. To get there you need to take a minibus in the direction of Si Racha and then ask to be dropped off at “the port”. Immigration office can explain the details. Here, there are online forms to complete at the Harbour Master’s Port office. These are in Thai so you need to find someone who reads and speaks Thai to help with this. There is no clearing in fee, but there may be one on Clearing out when you do online forms again. After which have to drop them off at their office at the south end of Pattaya.
- The formalities can take up to 2 days to complete.
- Using an agent is a lot simpler.
Last updated: January 2024
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hi my sailing friends seeking advice gulf of thailand…
1. confirming immigration/ customs only check in and out on entering and departing country not each port….harbour master koi Samui thought each port? sounds insane…
2. how do I confirm which islands the Thai navy has closed each day? ps I don’t speak Thai!
3. best anchorages pattaya /rayong/trat area..
4. last place to check out b4 Cambodia?
5. best mechanic for repairs in the area noted above. want to precondition generator injectors.
much appreciate any help or advice..
Posted on behalf of Brett Finniss of Gulf Charters Thailand
Q / ” Any update on the restriction on anchoring near islands? Particularly interested in Koh Phai?
The restrictions change practically daily depending on how the navy feel. Last I checked Koh PHai was fine to anchor through a bit rolly for a nighttime anchorage. It is also visited by a lot of day boats during the day.
Q / Additionally, does anyone have experience with anchoring off Pattaya Beach itself… towards Naklua?”
Anchoring off the front of Pattaya is impossible during the day as all the paragliding boats are running around. You can arrive late in the afternoon after they have finished but be prepared to leave very early in the morning. The further you move towards Naklua the better and then you will be able to anchor during the day.
However, you will be exposed to any southerly swell making it a rolly anchorage. Holding is good all along the beach but is careful you don’t hook up a crab pot or old rice sack. Just around the corner heading further north, you will find some protection from the southerly roll around from Naklua. Again be careful of crab pots, rice sacks, and the odd crazy fishing boat 🙂
Buzzcuts have an office next to the Marina Office, and for a reasonable fee, they will handle all Immigration, Customs and Harbour clearances for you. Far preferable to the two days of running about, especially now that Customs is a 100km round trip and no guarantee that the one guy who handles shipping will be available when you get there.
Arrived at Pattaya a week ago and have Cleared in. Few changes from the above info. Immigration is still in Jomtien, But you need a letter from the Marina about your stay and a specific “Boat Slip and Storage Lease Agreement” form also provided by the marina. The crew and Passenger list are also essential. Immigration then must stamp your passport and return a copy of your forms back to you.
Cost us 500Bt. Next, is Maritime Office (Harbour Master), but this is done online. Unfortunately, the forms are in Thai, so you need to find someone who reads and speaks Thai to help with this. No fee, but believe there is one on Clearing out when you do online forms again but have to drop them off at their office at the south end of Pattaya. There are Agents, but they charge a fee not only for their help but to pay the “extra’s” to some officials.
Lastly, is Customs which has now moved office down to the U-Tapao Airport about 50km south of Ocean Marina. They charged a 270Bt fee. (agents say they have to pay more). We did Immigration and Customs ourselves and found a friend in the marina to do the Harbour Master. We hired a motorbike to get around. Took us 2 full days to sort out and complete.
Also, a word of warning, that the police do lots of random roadside license checks and you need to have an International License
Note to Cruising Yachts when cruising in the Gulf of Thailand towards Pattaya, more specifically, Ocean Marina located at Jomthien, all of the islands off the coast in and around this area are in fact owned and managed by the Thai Navy.
Up until recently, it has
been possible to anchor off these islands, however, due to overly active day trip operators
in the area, the Thai Navy has recently cracked down on visitors to the island and have
advised that anchoring at these islands is now prohibited and that they will enforce this
restriction with vigilance.
This is a list of the main islands that are restricted:
Koh Rin (northernmost)
Koh Khram
Koh Khram Noi
Koh Samaesan
Koh Chan (southernmost)