Bonaire

Scope

This entry provides arrival and departure preparation information for private, non-commercial pleasure craft visiting Bonaire. Vessel, immigration, goods and island-access formalities may be handled by different authorities. Any third-party experience mentioned here should be checked against the vessel's flag, each person's nationality, the purpose of the visit and the route. Unconfirmed matters do not imply exemptions.

Verification status: awaiting confirmation. No independently verified local official source is available for this field. The information is intended for passage preparation and must not be treated as a legally established permit requirement, deadline or fee schedule.

Ports of entry/departure

Port-check reminder: a complete, current list of Bonaire facilities authorised to receive this vessel has not yet been obtained for this section. Ask the intended arrival port to confirm whether port, immigration, customs and any necessary health formalities can all be arranged. An ordinary marina, anchorage, cruise terminal or commercial port facility is not automatically an international entry point for private yachts. If seeking emergency shelter, report promptly and follow instructions.

Verification status: awaiting confirmation. No independently verified local official source is available for this field. The information is intended for passage preparation and must not be treated as a legally established permit requirement, deadline or fee schedule.

Pleasure craft are exempt from the Dutch Caribbean Customs general vessel pre-arrival notification rules, but this does not waive yacht clearance forms, goods declarations or other statutory formalities. The customs notice also requires yachts to report through RCS and/or SailClear. Submit information as required by the local port and confirm receipt.

Immigration

Personnel-check reminder: confirm with the receiving authorities in Bonaire, for every person, passport validity, nationality-based visa or prior-permission requirements, eligibility to arrive by sea, permitted stay dates, and arrangements for crew changes and leaving the vessel. Air-arrival visas, cruise-group concessions or a travel account concerning one nationality cannot be extended to a visa exemption for everyone on a private yacht. Vessel stay and personal residence permissions must be assessed separately. This section makes no blanket visa-free assurance.

Verification status: awaiting confirmation. No independently verified local official source is available for this field. The information is intended for passage preparation and must not be treated as a legally established permit requirement, deadline or fee schedule.

Yacht customs declarations

A 2026 official notice from Bonaire Customs (Douane Caribisch Nederland) requires vessels arriving by sea to give at least 24 hours' notice and expressly states that pleasure craft must declare through the Regional Clearance System (RCS) and/or SailClear. It also states that paid transport or goods transport requires inward/outward clearance and cargo manifests through ASYCUDA; this requirement should not be generalised into a cargo declaration obligation for every private yacht. The BES customs implementing regulations require foreign-registered pleasure craft to notify the customs inspector immediately on arrival, while normally exempting them from formal cargo-vessel inklaring. Exceptions may apply where the vessel or goods aboard involve taxable imports, prohibited or restricted goods, or other specific formalities. Use RCS/SailClear before arrival and confirm this vessel's declaration and temporary-import conditions with Douane Caribisch Nederland.

Pets entering Bonaire must have valid health certificates and vaccination documents. Certain dogs, cats and primates are restricted depending on their origin or residence-relocation conditions. Protected species require the applicable CITES documentation. Confirm food, plant and onboard waste quarantine rules separately with the competent authority.

Dutch Caribbean Customs lists weapons, narcotics and animals lacking valid documentation among prohibited or restricted items. Goods requiring special permission must be declared to customs on arrival. Protected species require the applicable CITES documentation. Consult the current customs list for other restrictions.

Arrival formalities

Arrival reminder: before approaching the intended Bonaire port, use confirmed contact details to obtain berthing or waiting instructions and ask which formalities can be completed aboard and which require a personal visit to an office. Confirm that health, immigration, customs and port formalities are all complete before ordinary shore leave or continuing the voyage. Coordinate with duty staff in advance for an arrival outside working hours. Uniform territory-wide office hours have not been confirmed in this section.

Verification status: awaiting confirmation. No independently verified local official source is available for this field. The information is intended for passage preparation and must not be treated as a legally established permit requirement, deadline or fee schedule.

Dutch Caribbean Customs rules normally exempt pleasure craft from inward and outward customs clearance, but this exemption does not apply if goods aboard still require customs formalities. The information does not specify a standard yacht clearance fee; confirm port and berth charges separately. Visitors arriving by boat may also be subject to Bonaire's visitor entry tax, at the rates shown on the current official page.