Guadeloupe

Scope

Guadeloupe is a French overseas department. French Customs states that it is within the EU customs territory but treated as a third territory for tax purposes. Goods movements to/from mainland France or other EU states may require corresponding import/export procedures. This describes customs scope, not personal visas or private-yacht border rules.

Official sources: French Customs: Traveling to the Caribbean

Ports of entry/departure

French Customs' 2024 Guide Boat lists recognised yacht clearance points including Marina Bas du Fort and Quai Foulon in Pointe-à-Pitre and designated locations in Deshaies, Rivière-Sens, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and Saint-François. These are processing points, not permission for every vessel type to berth without confirmation.

Official sources: French Customs Guide Boat 2024

Pre-arrival reporting

Declare vessel, owner, everyone aboard and voyage through demarches-simplifiees.fr. Without internet, use a recognised clearance service point. Retain presentable clearance evidence.

Official reference link (individual provisions in this field have not been rechecked online): Guide clearance — Antilles françaises 2024

Immigration

Personnel-check reminder: confirm with receiving authorities in Guadeloupe, for every person, passport validity, nationality-based visa/prior-permission requirements, eligibility to arrive by sea, stay dates and crew-change/leaving-vessel arrangements. Air-arrival visas, cruise-group concessions or a travel account for one nationality do not establish visa exemptions for everyone aboard a private yacht. Assess vessel stays and personal residence permissions separately. No blanket visa-free assurance is given.

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.

Vessel customs

Guadeloupe uses French Antilles electronic customs clearance for arrivals from abroad that berth/anchor and departures abroad.

EU legal-territory exception: The European Commission lists this French overseas area 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 sources: European Commission EU customs/VAT territorial table

Quarantine and biosecurity

Private-yacht clearance declarations must identify goods declarable to customs or health authorities. Food, animals, plants and products may face quarantine restrictions. French Customs information gives no complete hull/stores biosecurity procedure; confirm pets and particular goods separately with the competent authorities.

Official sources: French Customs Guide Boat 2024 · Traveling to the Caribbean

Prohibited and restricted items

Some plants/plant products, CITES-protected species, weapons and ammunition may be prohibited, restricted or permit-controlled. Rules depend on item, origin and import/landing. This is not a complete yacht stores list. Verify current French Customs and quarantine requirements before carriage.

Official sources: French Customs: Traveling to the Caribbean

Arrival formalities

Private or professional yachts entering the French Antilles from foreign ports, foreign waters or the high seas and berthing/anchoring, or departing to those destinations, require electronic clearance. Declare vessel, owner, crew/passengers, goods, previous/next calls and arrival/departure times. Print and retain clearance evidence until the destination recognises electronic declarations.

Official sources: French Customs: Navigation dans les départements d’Outre-mer · Guide Boat 2024

Fees and departure

French Customs requires overseas-department yachts to use recognised clearance points and electronic procedures, but no nationwide uniform private-yacht outward-clearance service charge was confirmed. A February 2025 Noonsite Deshaies crew comment reports local terminal/printing charges of €5 with an existing printout or €10 if printing is needed. This is a third-party report of local computer/printing fees, not a French Customs clearance charge; sites and amounts may change. Confirm recognised locations, online steps and printing needs, then actual fees with the on-site provider.