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Customs and Immigration Martin / Barts / Anguilla
#322548
07/22/2024 07:01 PM
07/22/2024 07:01 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 75 USA
Higgins78
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 75
USA
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Looking at a 7 day bareboat to Martin / Anguilla / Barts.
Can anyone describe the customs and immigration process? Do we need to clear out of Martin, get a zarpe, then into Anguilla? Repeat from Anguilla back to Martin, Martin to Barts, etc? Can the captain (me) do it for everyone or do all crew need to be present?
Probably tight to see all three islands in a week, weather permitting.
Thanks for any guidance you might have!
Last edited by Higgins78; 07/22/2024 07:01 PM.
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Re: Customs and Immigration Martin / Barts / Anguilla
[Re: Higgins78]
#322555
07/23/2024 01:14 AM
07/23/2024 01:14 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,571 St. Lucia
Zanshin
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,571
St. Lucia
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C&I when clearing in and out can take from 10 minutes to over an hour; but is a relatively simple process. 1. First you need to clear out. The captain (and only the captain) goes to the office with the boat's paperwork (registration) and the passports of everyone aboard and fills out the form(s). Once you have pratique (the outbound clearance), you have 24 hours to leave the country. 2. When entering foreign waters, you fly the yellow flag on the starboard spreader and the captain (and only the captain) takes the paperwork, passports and exit clearance to C&I and fills in form(s). This process repeats for each country. Which side of the island are you chartering from - the Dutch or the French? If on the French side in Marigot you can clear out at the Island Waterworld store or the ferry dock, or you can clear out at my favourite location in Anse Marcel. Clearing in on the French islands such as St. Martin and also St. Barths is identical, they have a standardized identical French system and the costs are usually around €5. The non-French islands are different and not as relaxed or cheap. Anguilla uses the https://www.sailclear.com/ online system. Clearing into and out of the Dutch side is done at the Simpson Bay Bridge police station. I've been clearing in-out for years and on most of the islands. I always wear a clean polo shirt and shower/shave beforehand and bring my Kindle for reading material. It can take 10 minutes if all goes well, but I've often had over an hour of waiting - hence the Kindle. ![[Linked Image]](https://zanshin-sailing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230519-clearance-papers-768x432.jpg)
Last edited by Zanshin; 07/23/2024 01:22 AM.
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Re: Customs and Immigration Martin / Barts / Anguilla
[Re: Higgins78]
#322556
07/23/2024 03:52 AM
07/23/2024 03:52 AM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030 U.K. and Spain
Jeannius
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,030
U.K. and Spain
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There is one extra thing to be aware of on the French islands, on a charter boat. The forms are quite long and the keyboards are French (some characters are in different places compared to a U.S. keyboard so don't try and touch type!!!). Charter boats that have been to the island before will already be entered into the system but, you need the password for the boat. The guys behind the desk in the Capitainerie USUALLY know the password and if you get that, it'll save you a load of typing.
Don't be put off by the procedures, it is well worth the effort to get to these other islands. I did a trip with Dreamyacht last month out of Anse Marcel, St Martin (Zanshin is right, that is the best port to do the formalities on St Martin). We didn't get to Anguilla this time but went down to St Barts, Nevis and Montserrat and the formalities were easy and actually pleasurable on all occasions.
Last edited by Jeannius; 07/23/2024 03:54 AM.
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