Antigua & Barbuda - Clearance

Antigua & Barbuda Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts

Pre-register with either eSeaClear or SailClear and note your ID Number. Skippers can use either system (both are not required) to pre-register.

eSeaClear: Antigua & Barbuda is currently the only country using the eSeaClear system for pre-arrival customs notification. This service allows the Captain to submit an electronic notification to Antigua Customs Officers, up to 72 hours in advance of arrival, which aims to speed up the process of clearing into the country by around 75%. In reality, cruisers have reported that as well as entering information electronically, forms are often printed, need to be signed or filled out again and then processed by each department. The process remains cumbersome.

The eSeaClear website can be found at https://eseaclear.com/ and eSeaClear have a single computer kiosk in the English Harbour Customs & Immigration Offices. This computer can be used if you are unable to pre-register your arrival. If no pre-registration (eSeaClear or SailClear) has been previously completed, cruisers should first go to the computer terminal to complete their registration before joining any cue to check in. There may be a line and pre-registration is recommended.

SailClear: Antigua & Barbuda are currently also testing SailClear, the most commonly used clearing in system in the Caribbean. This means once you move to another Island, you will not have to register your information again. There is a $25 yearly fee to use SailClear. Cruisers report that Antigua is picky about all crew information being filled out in SailClear to include home addresses, even if all crew members have the same home address. Additionally, children under 18 will have to be listed as passengers and can not be listed as crew. They will make you change it.

For a full explanation of Caribbean web clearance services see report Eastern Caribbean Cruising: Clearance Procedures Simplified.

Clearance in Barbuda

After filing advanced arrival notification with eSeaClear or SailClear, skippers must send an e-mail to the Comptroller of Customs, 48hrs before arrival, requesting permission to enter. E-mail Raju.Boddu@ab.gov.ag, copy to Customs@ab.gov.ag.

See Barbuda Clearance in Codrington for more information.

Antigua & Barbuda Arrival Procedures for Yachts

Ports of Entry

English Harbour / Falmouth Harbour and Jolly Harbour are the only entry ports for private yachts on Antigua. St. Johns was only used during Covid to centralize Health operations, because other entry ports were closed. Jolly Harbour is the cheapest option for entering and exiting the country, however, it should be noted that credit cards are not accepted.

Codrington, Barbuda, is also a port of entry.

There are certain clearance procedures common to all ports for vessels clearing in.

General Procedure

The Q flag must be flown along with the Antigua & Barbuda courtesy flag.

The Captain/Skipper should proceed ashore to complete clearance. The skipper is the only person required to be present for formalities. Be sure to clear in within 24 hours of your arrival.

Proceed to Customs with ships papers, clearance from last Port and the unique eSeaClear/SailClear ID number. The clearance number must be presented in order to receive and fill out the General Declaration Form. See Documents for additional details. See Customs for more details and information if you plan to leave your boat in Antigua and depart the country.

Proceed to Immigration and present Passports, General Declaration and Official Crew & Passenger Lists (6 Copies required for the clearing in process: in the absence of a Crew & Passenger list the names may be written on the General Declaration). You may be asked to fill out ED cards, though this is reportedly going away with the use of the online clearance systems. Also take airline tickets for any crew disembarking. See Immigration for more details and important rules if crew are departing or joining the yacht in Antigua.

Go back to Customs for final approval.

Proceed to Port Authority. Pay fees for clearance, and if in English Harbour or Falmouth the park fees which include garbage, anchorage or moorage and your cruising permit. See Fees for details.

Euros, US and EC dollars are accepted. Jolly Harbour does not accept credit cards. English Harbour accepts VISA or MasterCard only.

Arrival Process in Barbuda

Upon arrival you should send a WhatsApp message to John at Barbuda Customs, at +1 (268) 464-5012 to make sure they are in the office. Let them know you have received permission from the Comptroller of Customs (which you should have secured from the Pre-Arrival Procedures above). When you check in at Barbuda you will pay no fees, but will be instructed to pay them when you get to Antigua at a Port Authority office.

Notes:

• If a vessel arrives after hours, the captain must ensure that no crew goes ashore until clearance has been completed at the first opportunity (i.e., immediately the next morning).
• Crew leaving a boat by plane must have a valid airline ticket to a country that will accept them without question (no chance of being refused entry). This ticket must be presented to the Immigration official at the time of arrival to Antigua. For additional requirements and rules, see Immigration.
• If a vessel arrives after hours and there are crew/passengers who are leaving the country by air, then special arrangements can be made to facilitate this. Departure of crew/passenger will not be facilitated without entry clearance of the vessel.
• Captains wishing to exchange crew members with another vessel must do so in the presence of an immigration official.
• Heavy fines have been levied in both Jolly Harbour and English Harbour ($5,000 EC), against yachts whose crew leave the boat before Customs clearance, or against Captains who send a crew to complete clearance.
• See Customs for more details and information if you plan to leave your boat in Antigua and depart the country.

Domestic Cruising in Antigua & Barbuda:

Every vessel in Antigua & Barbuda’s waters must carry a valid cruising permit which you receive at check in. See Documents for additional details.

Vessels anchored in English Harbour or Falmouth Harbour or berthed at Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua Slipway, Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Falmouth Harbour Marina and Catamaran Marina are subject to National Parks Authority fees in addition to Port Authority Fees. See Fees for details of charges.

Antigua & Barbuda Departure Procedures for Yachts

Once registered with eSeaClear or SailClear, outgoing clearance and later re-entry is straightforward. Fill in your departure details, note your ID number and then proceed to the authorities to clear out.  In Barbuda, it's recommended to call or send a WhatsApp message to John at Barbuda Customs, at +1 (268) 464-5012 prior to going ashore for clearance, to make sure they are present in the office to complete clearance formalities.

International Clearance

1. First visit the Port Authority to pay any outstanding fees and receive a certificate of clearance. Receipts for all Port and National Parks fees must be shown even if clearing out through a different port from the original Port of Entry.

2. Next visit Customs and present the clearance certificate, receive and fill out the General Declaration.

3. Then proceed to Immigration with the General Declaration, passports and the bottom part of the ED card (if used when clearing in) and 4 copies of the crew list.

4. Return to Customs and if all papers are in order, you will be given clearance to leave. All vessels must depart within 24 hours of completing the clearance procedures.

Notes:

• Children are not considered crew by the Antigua authorities, because they are too young to work. Instead they are deemed passengers and incur an additional charge of 75EC (or $30 USD) per passenger on clearing out.
• In the case of a departing vessel awaiting crew or passengers, passports/IDs must be seen along with other requited documents, by Immigration to facilitate the clearance.

Contacts:

Antigua Port Authority Marine Dept.
Contact: Chief Pilot Sam Beresford - samberesford900@gmail.com
Tel: 1 268 732-4157

Antigua Coastguard
VHF Ch 16 or call 268 462 3206/2841/2843 and 268 462 067

Barbuda Customs
WhatsApp John at +1 (268) 464-5012

Last updated:  March 2025