Clear Into Foreign Ports

When you first anchor or dock in a foreign country, you must "clear in" and process your passport and entry papers. A universal signal that you have just entered port and are "requesting pratique" is a yellow signal flag hoisted to your starboard spreader. The captain (and only the captain) then goes ashore with the crew's passports and ship's papers. Once you've cleared in, you should fly the host country's courtesy flag in place of the yellow "Q' signal flag.

The following checklists describe the items needed to clear into most foreign ports. You should also check on a country-by-country basis to find any new or local requirements.

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Equipping Your Boat for Clearing Into Foreign Ports

	Item	Link to Detail
Clear Into Foreign Ports / Return from Foreign Ports
	Cash for cruising permit (Example: USD $300 for the Bahamas)
	Courtesy flags for countries you'll be visiting	Index of flags
	Crew list / passports / personal papers (e.g. visa)	Sample crew list document
	HF radio license (for SSB) and/or reciprocal Ham radio license
	Ships registration Papers
	US Customs & Border Patrol vehicle sticker - Needed for reentry into US ports after visits outside the US.	Link to website
	Vetinarian's health certification for any pets on board , and any locally required document such as a "Permit to Import" (Bahamas)
	Yellow "Q" flag (quarrantine)

Links to Outside Resources

The following links provide links to further reading, manufacturers websites and more information on "how to"

	Item	Link to Detail
Cruising Permits, Forms, Regulations, etc.
	Bahamas cruising information, forms, regulations, etc. - Official Bahamas Ministry of Tourism website	Link
	Information on Bahamas cruising fees, customs, HF radio licensing, pets, etc.	Link
	Information on cruising paperwork in Mexico from Latitude38.com	Link

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