Before leaving, ensure that everyone has their ID with them.
For EU residents, an Identity Card is sufficient as long as you do not navigate beyond Martinique. Customs and immigration formalities will be completed upon your arrival at the airport. For minors, parental authorization may be required for leaving the country.
However, if you leave French waters during your cruise, a valid passport is required. Customs and immigration procedures must be cleared upon arrival and departure from each island or archipelago you visit. A valid passport is required for all non-EU citizens.
Upon departure from Martinique, you must clear customs at the harbor master's office. You can pre-fill your clearance document online and collect your validated clearance at the Harbor Master's Office.
Procedures to follow:
For each new island or archipelago, you must follow strict procedures. Upon arrival, you have 48 hours to complete customs and immigration formalities. Be aware that it is forbidden to set foot on dry land before completing these procedures.
As soon as you arrive at your anchorage, hoist the yellow ‘Q’ flag on the starboard side of the mast. Only the skipper is permitted to disembark to complete the clearance process. Ensure you bring the boat’s papers, valid passports for each passenger and crew member, several copies of the passenger list (for territories outside French jurisdiction), your previous clearance document, and a means of payment.
Costs vary depending on the island, the boat, the number of passengers, and the timing of the formalities.
Since 1 September 2024, you can enter and exit French islands online via www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/declaration-clearance-antilles. These declarations are mandatory, and the charter company must receive a copy. (Note: Pending full recognition of the digital declaration by Caribbean States, the clearance certificate must still be printed and stamped at a Clearance Approved Point to present to the relevant authorities).
There is also an online pre-entry declaration service for English-speaking islands available at www.sailclear.com.
Once clearance is completed, you may lower the yellow flag and replace it with the flag of the island you are visiting.
New: Saint Lucia now offers an online immigration service at travelslu.govt.lc.
