French Guiana

French Guiana is a French overseas department, but yacht entry differs from European mainland France. Cruising sources identify Dégrad-des-Cannes, Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni as processing locations. French Customs' 2024 yacht guide does not expressly include French Guiana among online declaration areas. Confirm actual procedures with local customs before sailing.

Official references: French Customs 2024 yacht guide · Noonsite French Guiana (cruising reference)

Cruising information lists Dégrad-des-Cannes, Kourou and Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni as yacht processing locations; this is not a verified complete current official entry-port list. Yacht berthing/anchoring inside Dégrad-des-Cannes is restricted by the port. Before arrival, confirm authorised positions, inspection agencies and whether formalities must be completed first with the port and customs.

Cruising references: Noonsite French Guiana · Dégrad-des-Cannes guidance

Before arrival, contact the intended port, French Customs and border authorities to confirm yacht arrival notices, crew/passenger lists, submission channels and deadlines. Noonsite mentions the French overseas online clearance system, but the 2024 French Customs yacht guide does not expressly include French Guiana. Do not rely solely on it without authority confirmation.

References: French Customs 2024 yacht guide · Noonsite French Guiana

Crew and passengers must prepare passports, visas or other entry permission according to nationality and French Guiana's overseas rules. French administrative status does not establish validity of mainland French or Schengen visas. Verify individually through the official overseas visa pages and authorities before sailing. Official and third-party sources still conflict over yacht online reporting applicability.

Official sources: French Interior Ministry: overseas visas · French Customs 2024 yacht guide

Vessel customs

Vessel-document reminder: prepare registration/flag documents, ownership evidence or owner authorisation, insurance, previous-port clearance and an onboard inventory. Ask French Guiana customs whether temporary admission, leaving the vessel, repairs, crew changes, sale or commercial conversion need additional formalities. No duty-free period or guarantee conditions applying to all foreign vessels have been verified. Mooring permission is not customs release.

EU legal-territory exception: The European Commission lists this French overseas area as within the EU customs territory but outside the EU VAT Directive. Confirm local import/regional taxes and actual yacht temporary-admission conditions with customs. Mainland French entry visas and tax rates do not automatically apply.

Official source: European Commission EU customs/VAT territorial table

On arrivals from abroad, onboard food, plants, animals and animal products may be subject to French/EU health and quarantine rules. No publicly verifiable official French Guiana yacht-specific biosecurity procedure or onboard-goods checklist was found. Before departure, declare pets, meat/dairy, fruit and vegetables, plants, seeds and onboard waste to local customs and health/agricultural quarantine authorities. Follow instructions and do not land them independently.

Official references: French Customs overseas-department navigation guidance · French Customs yacht guide

Firearms, ammunition, controlled medicines, endangered-species products and health-restricted food, plants and animal products may need advance permission or declaration. No complete official list of applicable overseas rules and yacht onboard-retention/sealing procedures was found. Check with local customs and responsible authorities before carriage; do not carry or land them without confirmation.

Official references: French Interior Ministry overseas visa/regime portal · French Customs overseas-department navigation guidance

Before arrival, ask the receiving port about yacht positions, customs/border contacts and appointments. Canadian Government boating advice says French Guiana river navigation requires familiarity with local conditions and reliable navigation information. This is not port-clearance permission. Additional restrictions apply to yacht berthing/anchoring in Dégrad-des-Cannes; confirm with the port beforehand.

References: Noonsite Dégrad-des-Cannes · Canadian Government travel advice

No official uniform clearance tariff for all private yachts in French Guiana was found. Noonsite reports clearance is free, but this does not establish free port, berth, agent or other services. Before departure, confirm outward declarations, port release, charges and payment evidence with customs and the receiving port. Verify amounts by port and service.

References: French Customs overseas-department navigation guidance · Noonsite French Guiana