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Clearance Procedures

Vessels and crew wishing to clear into Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique should proceed directly to an official port of entry and anchor with the Q flag clearly visible until the clearance formalities have been completed. Grenada and Carriacou use the American System (LALAB) so red buoys mark the starboard side upon approach from the sea. Red Right Returning! 

Grenada has just introduced a combined Immigration/Customs/Ports Authority Form to ease the clearance procedures. Click to download a printable or online versions of the form. Print five (5) copies of the completed form onto legal (8.5" x 14") sized paper for presentation to Customs and Immigration.

Customs & Immigration. It is customary for the captain to deal with the clearance procedures on behalf of the crew and passengers. The charges are applicable each time a vessel clears in and are valid for the entire duration of the visit. Please note that an official receipt should be issued for all monies paid. 

Captains should prepare the following:

• Four crew and/or passenger lists
• Immigration cards for crew and passengers landing
• Ships, stores and health declaration
• A port clearance from last port of call
• ID for crew and passengers – a valid passport or birth certificate, etc.

The Captain must notify of the arrival of his/her yacht within two (2) hours of his/her arrival. Clearance is provided at the following ports –

• Grenada Yacht Club, St. George’s (Tel: 440 3270)
• Prickly Bay Marina, St. George's (Tel: 444 4509)
• Grenada Marine, St. David’s Bay (Tel: 443 1065)
• Grenville, St. Andrew (Tel: 438 7678)
• Hillsborough, Carriacou (Tel: 443 8399)

Entry Requirements. A valid passport and return or onward ticket is required for all visitors. However, proof of citizenship bearing a photograph is acceptable from British, Canadian, and US citizens. A visa is not required from citizens of the US, Canada, UK, British Commonwealth, Caribbean countries (except Cuba), most European countries, South Korea, and Japan. Work permits are required for all non-nationals working in Grenada. These are issued by the Ministry of Labour, St. George's. For information, call (473) 440-2532 or email: ministry.labour.gd@gmail.com

Official Office Hours. Customs and immigration offices at marine bases are generally open, Mon to Fri from 08:00 to 11:45 and 13:00 to 16:00. When departing, you may clear out during normal working hours and leave within 24 hours. For the convenience of both officer and client, we suggest attending the office by 15:00 in order to complete formalities before the end of the working day.

Grenada Entry Charges. The charges (EC$) are as follows -

In Grenada, the entry fees are payable by the master to the Customs officer, who accepts the formalities and payments on behalf of the Ports Authority. In Carriacou, the Ports Authority office must be visited in addition to the Customs and the Immigration departments (These offices are all located on the same street in Hillsborough). These fees allow the yacht to cruise the waters of Grenada in accordance with the Yachting Act and all other laws of Grenada. 

Exit Fees. There are no exit fees for yachts, however visitors arriving by plane and leaving by boat, are required to pay an Embarkation Tax of $EC 1.00 per person, to the Immigration office at the time of departure.

For visitors leaving by air, a departure tax of EC $50 is charged when leaving the state either the Point Salines International Airport or the Lauriston Airport in Carriacou.

Ship's Stores. Currently ship's stores are listed as duty-free, but a mandatory Customs Service Charge (CSC) of 2.5% of the CIF value is levied by the Customs and Excise Department.

In order to obtain duty free concessions on any goods, a C-14 form must be completed and submitted to Customs, along with a copy of the Customs form titled "Crew List".

On your first visit to a duty free store in Grenada, supply any of them with the above two documents for photocopying and you will be in their system, which will clear you to purchase items at the duty free price.

To clear items yourself, there is a fair amount of leg-work involved it is suggested that the services of a Customs broker be employed.

Incoming Items. It is very important that incoming items should be addressed to: YOUR-BOAT-NAME, Yacht in Transit, followed by the shipping address. Please ensure that original invoices accompany all packages, as this will help speed the process through the Customs and Excise department.

Please note that any warranty replacement items entering Grenada must:

• Show the value/actual cost of the item or the value/actual cost of the repairs
• Certify that the item is repaired under warranty at no cost to you the client
• Show the cost of freight

These are the amounts that the customs department will use to access the 2.5% CSC payable. This is only applicable on goods that qualify as ships stores, otherwise full charges will apply.

Firearms. Firearms are restricted imports and they must be declared to Customs on entry into the territory. Both firearms and ammunition will be held at the police headquarters until you leave the country.

Pets. The procedure for the importation of animals in general (dogs and cats in particular) is as follows:

• A Veterinary officer or an officer of the Pest Management Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture must inspect the animals prior to entry. 
• Any person intending to import or take these animals from their vessels, whether permanent or temporary, must make an application sufficiently in advance to any of the above agencies.
• Such an application must be accompanied by a copy of a certificate from the last place of residence certifying that the animal has been vaccinated against diseases and is free from illnesses and infections.

Cats and dogs that are imported permanently from outside of the CARICOM region attract a 40% CET (Common External Tariff) and 5% CSC.

For more information about Grenada's Clearance procedures, visit the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada (MAYAG).