Martinique

Scope

Martinique is a French overseas territory outside the Schengen Area. Entry-visa requirements for people aboard must be checked according to each person's nationality, status and itinerary; do not assume that a “French/Schengen visa” allows entry to Martinique.

This page is for pre-voyage preparation for private recreational craft. Visa, customs, health and port formalities are governed by separate rules; this section does not replace confirmation from the authorities for a particular vessel and its crew.

Verification status: Officially checked online. This section describes jurisdiction and the limits of the information; it does not infer individual visa eligibility.

French Customs says private or professional recreational vessels travelling to or from foreign countries, and recreational craft travelling between French Caribbean islands, must complete arrival/departure clearance. The Prefecture of Martinique requires declarations through an online form and publishes a list of authorized processing points. The list updated on 30 January 2026 includes designated service points at Anses-d’Arlet, Fort-de-France, Le François, Le Marin, Sainte-Anne, Saint-Pierre, Trois-Îlets and Trinité. Some are marina offices and others are authorized service providers; their location does not mean each has full immigration or customs-border authority. Before sailing, submit the official form and confirm opening hours and processing arrangements at the intended port/service point.

Pre-arrival notification

Declare vessel, owner, everyone aboard and voyage details through demarches-simplifiees.fr. If there is no internet connection, use an approved clearance service point and retain proof of clearance for inspection.

Official reference (specific requirements in this section have not each been checked online): Guide clearance — Antilles françaises 2024

All people aboard, crew and passengers of any nationality, are subject to French border checks when recreational craft travel to or from outside the Schengen Area. The master must complete arrival and departure formalities. French Customs also requires recreational craft travelling to or from the French Antilles to complete mandatory clearance and file through the official online form. People must hold passports, visas or residence documents applicable to their nationality and itinerary. A vessel declaration does not replace individual immigration permission. Before arrival, confirm the intended port/authorized service point and border-authority hours, and submit information for everyone aboard according to the official list.

Vessel customs

Martinique uses the French Antilles electronic customs clearance process. Recreational craft arriving from abroad and departing for abroad must complete clearance.

EU territorial-status exception: The European Commission lists this French overseas territory as within the EU customs territory but outside the scope of the EU VAT Directive. Confirm applicable local import taxes/territorial duties and the actual requirements for temporary admission with Customs; do not automatically apply mainland France visa or tax rates.

Official source: European Commission: EU customs and VAT territorial scope

No complete Martinique-specific guide to vessel health, yacht biosecurity, food, pets or waste carried aboard a foreign private yacht was found. French Customs says goods entering the French Antilles must be declared as required and that trade in or carriage of certain protected species and products is strictly restricted. This does not replace yacht quarantine rules or establish that goods kept aboard are exempt from declaration. Before sailing, confirm declarations, inspection and disposal requirements for pets, food, plant/animal products and vessel waste with health/agricultural quarantine, customs and maritime authorities at the destination port.

Verification status: To be confirmed. General import-goods and protected-species rules were found, but a verified private-yacht-specific health/biosecurity procedure was not.

Goods entering Martinique must be declared under French customs rules. French Customs specifically warns that commercial trade in CITES-protected species and their products is strictly prohibited and that specific procedures apply to some items. This traveller/cargo guidance is not a complete restricted-items list for goods aboard a foreign private yacht. Before departure, confirm individually with French Customs and the relevant authorities whether firearms/ammunition, medicines, drones, radio equipment, alcohol, animals/plants and their products, or wildlife products must be declared, permitted, sealed or are prohibited, including items that will remain aboard. Do not infer that an item can be brought in or kept aboard merely because it is absent from a general traveller guide.

Verification status: To be confirmed. General French Customs rules for protected species and goods entering were checked; application to yacht stores remains to be confirmed item by item.

Arrival and departure procedures

French Customs requires recreational craft entering or leaving waters of the relevant French Antilles islands to complete clearance; clearance is also required when travelling from one French Antilles island to another. The master must submit the declaration through the French government online form and obtain the clearance certificate bearing the French Customs digital stamp. This certificate is different from a simple filing receipt.

Because digital declarations are not yet accepted everywhere in the Caribbean, take a printed copy to an approved Clearance Point to be stamped. Where there is no internet or electronic device, clearance may also be completed at an approved point. Use the current list published by the responsible authority to check approved locations and hours. Customs clearance does not mean that every approved point provides immigration, health or other port services.

Verification status: Officially checked online. This section describes French Antilles recreational-vessel customs clearance, not all border and port services.

Fees and departure

No uniform total clearance/arrival cost for Martinique was verified here. One verified port charge applies within the jurisdiction of the Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique: for a non-commercial recreational vessel/yacht making no commercial call, the berth charge is €25 per metre of overall length per day, with a one-day minimum; any part of a calendar day is charged as one day. For a vessel anchored within the port's administrative area, the tariff sets half the corresponding rate and includes one day without charge.

Do not apply this rate to other Martinique ports, marinas, agents or services. Before departure, confirm applicable rates, supplements and payment terms with the facility used, and verify departure-clearance requirements.

Verification status: Officially checked online. This rate applies only within the stated port jurisdiction and under the listed conditions.