Kiribati - Clearance

Kiribati Pre-Arrival Procedures for Yachts

All nationals requiring a visa should apply before arrival. See Immigration.

Kiribati Arrival Procedures for Yachts

No other island must be visited before clearing in or after clearing out.

It is not permitted to go ashore before you have an appointment for clearance.

Kiribati Arrival Procedures for Crew

All crew should apply for a Visitor Visa before arrival.  The form can be downloaded from the Kiribati Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Ports of Entry

Tarawa (Betio) is the Port of Entry for the Gilberts Islands and Kiritimati Island (Christmas Island) is the Port of Entry for the Line and Phoenix islands.  International inward and outward clearances for Kiribati can also be done at Kiritimati Island, without having to return to Tarawa.

Fanning Island and Canton are no longer operating as ports of entry.

General Procedure

Call Customs on VHF Channel 16 to schedule your appointments for clearance.

You can also call Tarawa Radio on VHF Channel 16 on arrival in Kiribati waters, who will help organise Customs, Immigration and Port Authority to come to your boat.

It will be necessary to collect the officials in your own dinghy.

Officials require a number of printed copies of documents, so be sure to have them ready. Full details in Documents. If you have a boat stamp, the officials will be happy.

A cruising permit should be obtained from Customs when clearing in.

Domestic Cruising in Kiribati

You must report to the local police on any island you visit after clearing in to the country; some atolls have a Quarantine officer who may wish to inspect the yacht.

To visit other islands during your stay in Kiribati you will need to write a letter to the Principal Immigration Officer requesting permission - at least three days prior to your intended departure. You will also need to clear with Customs to visit other islands. They will provide you with a letter of introduction to give to the local police on arrival, who will want to see your permit letter and crew passports.

Permission to visit one of the outer islands is granted for a fixed period, usually no more than two weeks, and in some cases permission is not granted at all (for example, currently, permission is not granted to yachts wanting to visit Butaritari (Makin Island).

Kiribati Departure Procedures for Yachts

• There are only two places to clear out of Kiribati - Tarawa (Gilbert and Phoenix)  and Kiritimati (Line Islands - Fanning, Washington and Kiritimati Islands and Phoenix).
• Remember that yachts are not allowed to stop at any of the outer islands after making final outward clearance.
• Before clearing out yachts must pay their port dues at the KPA office (ports office). Be sure to get a receipt for Customs who will issue the departure clearance document.

Sunday Departure

SV Sugar Shack reports (April 2025) that it is possible to depart on a Sunday, but the process is a little different than normal.  Hail Tarawa Radio on VHF Channel 16 when you are ready to depart.  If officials are clearing out other vessels such as fishing boats,  the pilot boat will bring officials to you.   Customs and Immigration will stamp you out with no fees (no overtime, no weekend, and no port fees). See Documents for what is required.

Last updated: May 2025