Anguilla

Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory. Private yachts arriving internationally must first clear customs and immigration. Official tourism guidance directs private vessels to contact the authorities and complete formalities at Sandy Ground (Road Bay). Private-vessel procedures should not be confused with airport or passenger-ferry formalities.

Official tourism guidance expressly directs private vessels to Sandy Ground for customs and immigration. Road Bay is the location it refers to. This entry does not infer from unofficial material that other ports can clear private yachts. Confirm arrival arrangements with the Road Bay customs office before departure.

Before departure, check crew passports and individual visa eligibility, prepare registration papers, a crew list and the previous port's clearance, and ask Sandy Ground customs about current forms, submission methods, arrival arrangements and whether advance reporting is possible. Customs law generally requires internationally arriving vessels to proceed directly to a customs port; pleasure craft are specifically covered by the Pleasure Craft Regulations. A current mandatory SailClear pre-arrival requirement for yachts was not confirmed, so do not assume an online registration has been accepted.

All crew should carry valid passports. Visa requirements depend on nationality and applicable exemptions. The government's immigration page publishes visa requirements and links to applications and the official eVisa service. Check the current list before travel; do not assume that a visa or residence status from another country provides an exemption. Private vessels must complete immigration at Sandy Ground.

Arrival, reporting and departure are governed by the Customs Act and Pleasure Craft Regulations. The latter specify that pleasure craft may not carry cargo; a vessel carrying cargo does not fall within their definition of pleasure craft. Follow customs officers' instructions and declare onboard items. Confirm forms, the number of crew-list copies and reporting arrangements with Sandy Ground customs.

Before bringing dogs, cats or other pets, apply to the agriculture department for the appropriate import permit and confirm health documents and quarantine conditions. The official pet page provides an application form. Plant and plant-product imports require prior contact with the department; official guidance calls for freedom from visible pests and disease, an exporting-country phytosanitary certificate, and arrival-date and port details. Do not bring in or unload controlled animals or plants before permission is granted.

Firearms and ammunition are strictly licensed. The law allows customs to detain them, with release subject to import permits, possession documents and other conditions. Obtain written customs guidance before arrival. CITES-controlled species and products require permits and inspection. Confirm other prohibited or restricted items and onboard declarations with customs. Do not turn unverified personal-watercraft rules into a general ban on all yachts.

Official tourism guidance directs private vessels to contact the authorities and proceed to Sandy Ground for customs and immigration. After an international arrival, proceed directly to a customs port as the law requires and follow officers' instructions. Anchoring outside Road Bay and activities in marine parks or protected areas may require separate permission. Confirm permits, anchoring restrictions and current procedures with the responsible authority before sailing; unofficial cruising guidance is not legislation.

The comprehensive seaport tariff handbook available on the AASPA website is the 2021 revision. It lists vessel port charges and seaport fees for different passenger categories, but is too old to establish current 2026 yacht-clearance or cruising-permit charges. Whether and how departing passengers pay embarkation tax is governed by legislation and regulations, with collection by the carrier. Confirm applicable charges and amounts with AASPA, customs or the carrier before departure.