Effective 1st April 2023 All visitors travelling to the Turks and Caicos Islands will NOT be required to show proof of the Covid-19 Vaccine.

PRE-ARRIVAL

On 31 January 2023, the Government announced that effective 1 February 2023, the owner or master of a pleasure craft (yacht or other vessel for recreational use) sailing to or from the Turks and Caicos Islands must use SailClear to submit information about their voyage to Customs and Immigration at least 24 hours before arrival or departure.

Once approved, email a copy to the marina where you will be clearing in.

See Turks & Caicos – getting here by yacht

For a full explanation of SailClear and other web clearance services in the Caribbean see report: Eastern Caribbean Cruising: Clearance Procedures Simplified

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

Advance Notification:

The Turks and Caicos Government operate a radar surveillance station that monitors vessels entering and departing their territorial waters.  Vessels entering or leaving the twelve-mile limit can contact the station by calling “Provo Radio”. The station operates 24/7 on VHF Channels 16 and 64 and also broadcasts navigational warnings and weather forecasts. [note: cruisers have reported not getting any answer during the weekends.]

The radar and radio transmitters are mounted on a 40-meter tower located in the South Dock area on Providenciales at 21° 44.44′ N/72° 16.26′ W

When within range of the harbor, try to call the Harbour Master on VHF channel 16. They do not however always monitor the radio, particularly if it is a cruise ship day.

Customs: +1 649-338-6232

Ports of Entry:

Your initial stop, once you arrive in the islands, must be at a port-of-entry. These include government docks and marinas at Grand Turk (Cockburn Town), Providenciales and South Caicos. See the port links for more details. Some of the marinas that have difficult entrances can be contacted on channels 16 or 68, either for advice, or they may send out a pilot boat, for which a charge is usually made.

While the harbormaster at the port of entry has the authority to grant an Immigration permit for crew to enter for one-week, if you wish to stay longer or cruise among the islands you must get a Cruising Permit (valid for 90 days) and visit one of the immigration offices on Providenciales or Grand Turk.

General Process:

Boats waiting to clear-in should either anchor in the designated anchorage zone or moor alongside the dock and await the boarding officer. If necessary, the skipper and all crew should go ashore to the office to initiate clearance. This must be done immediately after arrival.

Paperwork you will need to complete on arrival includes:

• Customs Temporary Importation Declaration [C108].
  This is the official entrance declaration for the duration of your stay, but is only valid for seven (7) days. This form captures details pertaining to the crew, passengers and the vessel.
• Subsequently, if the intended stay in the Turks and Caicos will exceed seven (7) days, the skipper is then required to purchase a Cruising Permit valid for up to an additional three (3) months (90 days). See Documents for more details.
• Customs Declaration for every crew member.
• Immigration Form – to be completed by each crew member.

All forms will be provided on arrival to complete.

Customs normal working hours are 08:00 to 16:30, Monday through Thursday and 08:00 to 16:00 on Friday.

Domestic Cruising:

Boarding officers will also give information regarding National Parks Regulations and details of the regulations that affect cruising while in national waters.

CLEARING OUT

Departure Clearance:

All skippers are required to complete an Application for Clearance for Departure (Form C124) for clearance to their next Port of Call, which will cost $50 USD. This paperwork will be given to you on check-in.

Note: Debit & Credit Cards may be accepted, but it is better to arrive with enough cash to pay entry fees (and exact change may be required).

Last updated:  February 2023

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