The Short Answers
- How much of our time does each clearing take?
- Budget 1–3 hours door-to-door per country: dinghy ashore, finding the office, waiting in queue, and the counter transaction itself (typically 15–45 minutes). Filling out the online pre-clearance form adds 10–30 minutes the first time per country, dropping to 5–15 minutes afterward once your vessel and crew profiles are saved.
- How long do SailClear / eSeaClear take to process?
- You get an immediate submission confirmation. Approval or a reference/QR code typically arrives within minutes to a few hours; occasionally up to 24 hours. Submit 24–48 hours before arrival so there's no scramble.
- What does clearing in typically cost?
- Anywhere from $0 (French islands) to $100+ depending on the country, plus separate cruising permits in some places. See the table below.
- Can we pay cruising fees online?
- Increasingly yes — several islands now accept payment through SailClear/eSeaClear or their own portals — but many offices still want cash (USD or EC$) or card in person. Assume you may need both options.
- Do we still have to appear in person?
- Yes, essentially always. Online pre-clearance speeds up the counter visit; it does not replace it. At minimum the captain must appear with original documents; some islands want both of you, at least briefly.
- Faster or slower over the years?
- Gradually faster for prepared cruisers. COVID-era health declarations were dropped around 2022, and e-clearance adoption keeps spreading. But staffing shortages at some offices mean walk-in waits haven't improved much. Net: better than five years ago if you pre-clear online and arrive during business hours.
The Typical Clearing-In Sequence
- Before departure: Complete the online pre-clearance form (SailClear, eSeaClear, or a national portal) for your destination. Save your vessel particulars, passports, and crew list — later countries go much faster.
- On approach: Fly the yellow "Q" (quarantine) flag. Everyone stays aboard except whoever is authorized to clear.
- Ashore: Find Customs & Immigration (sometimes two offices, sometimes one combined port station). Bring: passports, vessel registration/documentation, crew list, last port clearance papers, and proof of insurance if asked.
- Pay fees: Entry fees, cruising permit, marine park fees if applicable. Get receipts — the next country may ask for them.
- Clearing out: Usually quick and free (or cheap). Some destinations — especially the Spanish-speaking ones — expect a stamped dispatch/zarpe from your previous port, so always clear out properly.
Captain-only vs. all crew: Practice varies. Many islands let the captain handle everything while the crew stays aboard; others want both passports presented. Copies are sometimes accepted for the non-presenting crew member, but originals are safest.
Approximate Clearing-In Costs by Destination
Ranges below are per vessel/couple, in USD, based on recent cruiser reports. Fees change often — verify current rates before each crossing.
| Destination | Typical entry cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin (French side) | $0–$20 | Essentially free; informal reporting. No formal clearing between French islands. |
| Puerto Rico, USVI, Spanish Virgins | $0 | Domestic (US). Report arrival from foreign ports via the CBP ROAM app instead of visiting an office. |
| Antigua & Barbuda | $0–$50 | Fees have varied year to year; often minimal for private yachts. |
| Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis | $40–$90 | SailClear/eSeaClear territory. Tobago Cays Marine Park adds its own per-person daily fee plus mooring buoy charges. |
| Barbados | $50–$100 | Straightforward; office in Port St. Charles / Bridgetown. |
| Sint Maarten (Dutch side) | $40–$60 | French side across the lagoon is free. |
| British Virgin Islands | ~$4/person/day cruising permit | Plus national parks/mooring fees in popular anchorages. Multi-week stays add up. |
| Turks & Caicos | $50–$100 | Includes cruising permit. |
| Dominican Republic | $100–$250 | Despacho system; an agent is practically required and adds cost. |
| Bahamas (nearby, often paired with Caribbean routes) | $150 (<35 ft) / $300 (≥35 ft) | Cruising permit valid 12 months, multiple entries — good value if returning. |
Overtime warning: Arriving on a weekend, holiday, or after office hours triggers overtime fees (often $50–$150+) in many islands, or means waiting until the next business day. Plan passages to arrive mid-morning on a weekday.
Online Pre-Clearance: SailClear & eSeaClear
- What they are: Regional e-border systems used across much of the Eastern Caribbean. You enter vessel data, crew, passengers, last/next ports, and answer health/customs declarations before arrival.
- Your time: First country: 15–30 minutes. Subsequent countries: 5–15 minutes thanks to saved profiles. Have scans of passports and ship's papers handy.
- Their processing time: Instant acknowledgment; approval/reference number usually within minutes to a few hours. Treat 24 hours as the safe planning window.
- What it buys you: Faster counter service, less handwriting, fewer duplicate paper forms. It does not eliminate the office visit, and some officers will still have you sign or initial printed forms generated from your submission.
- Payment: Some islands integrate fee payment into the platform; others collect at the counter. Carry small-denomination USD and/or EC$ regardless.
Trend Over Time
- 2020–2021: Slowest era — health declarations, PCR test requirements, and reduced office hours made clearing slow and unpredictable.
- 2022 onward: Health forms largely eliminated; e-clearance expanded. Prepared cruisers saw times return to (or beat) pre-COVID norms.
- Ongoing friction: Understaffed offices, systems that go offline, and islands that still demand fully manual paper processing. Inter-island variation remains huge.
- Direction of travel: More online payment, more shared regional platforms, more captain-only check-ins. Expect gradual improvement, not transformation.
Practical Tips
- Keep a laminated folder with: passports, ship's registration, insurance certificate, crew list template, and last port clearance.
- Pre-clear online 24–48 hours out, every time, even for "easy" islands.
- Check office locations and hours on Noonsite or cruiser forums (Seven Seas Cruising Association, ActiveCaptain) before choosing an entry port — some islands have only one staffed port of entry.
- Always clear out formally and keep the dispatch papers; the next country may demand them.
- If traveling with pets, research quarantine rules well in advance — they dominate the paperwork timeline.
- Carry cash in USD and EC$. Card machines at remote port offices are unreliable.
Disclaimer
Fees, forms, and office procedures in the Caribbean change frequently and vary by island and even by individual port office. Figures here are representative approximations for planning purposes only. Before each leg, confirm current requirements via the official government sites, SailClear/eSeaClear announcements, and recently updated cruiser resources such as Noonsite.