Trinidad and Tobago

Scope

The current official yacht-specific clearance guidance verified here mainly covers Tobago (Scarborough and Charlotteville). Foreign-flagged vessels at Trinidad also have maritime arrival-notification and navigation-aid fee requirements, but the notice is not yacht-specific. Confirm requirements separately for each island and voyage with the port, maritime, Immigration, Customs and health authorities.

Official sources: Tobago Yachting Guide · MOWT: SEW/TTBizLink

Ports of entry / departure

Yachts proceeding directly to Tobago should first berth at Scarborough or Charlotteville and complete port health, Immigration and Customs formalities in that order. A Tobago government notice confirms that yachts may proceed directly to Tobago. A current complete official list of common yacht-clearance points on Trinidad was not confirmed in this review; check with the authorities before arrival rather than relying only on third-party port lists.

Official sources: Tobago Yachting Guide · Tobago House of Assembly: Direct berthing of yachts

Pre-arrival notification

Before arrival, contact Tobago Port Health at [email protected] or +1 868 639 1433, advise them of the expected arrival time and prepare a Float Plan and Maritime Declaration of Health.

Official reference (the specific rules in this section have not been individually checked online): Yachting Guide

Immigration

All crew must carry passports and health-department documents for Immigration inspection. Complete applicable arrival, crew, stowaway and health forms.

Official reference (the specific rules in this section have not been individually checked online): Yachting Guide

Tobago Tourism’s yacht guide requires visiting yachts to submit a pleasure-craft declaration and crew-related documents to Customs and complete Customs formalities on departure. This procedure covers Tobago; confirm the specific process for Trinidad with local Customs.

The Tobago yacht guide requires yachts to report to Port Health on arrival and obtain pratique. It does not give a complete list of restrictions on onboard food, plants, animals or pets; confirm these separately with health/quarantine authorities.

The Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Finance Customs and Excise Division’s general import list identifies categories requiring import permits, including live poultry, fish/crustaceans, some agricultural products and vessels under 250 tons. Its page separately lists firearms and ammunition among goods requiring export permits. These cargo rules do not establish how foreign yachts, onboard personal stores retained aboard or re-export are treated. Declare the vessel and confirm applicable permits for food, pets, plants, medicines and firearms with Customs before arrival.

The Tobago yacht guide says to contact Port Health on arrival for pratique, then present crew passports and entry forms to Immigration, followed by the pleasure-craft declaration to Customs. Departure and inter-island transfers must also follow the guide. This process applies only to Tobago as covered by the guide.

Fees and departure

The official Tobago yacht guide lists a Customs boarding fee of $264.20 and a navigation fee of $50.00, and says out-of-hours services may cost extra. The guide uses a dollar sign but does not specify the currency, so the figures are reproduced without converting them to USD. Depart Tobago through the port of entry where Customs clearance was completed; if a port transfer is authorized, follow the permit. The Trinidad and Tobago maritime authority also requires Harbour Master’s clearance for applicable voyages, but its public page does not list a uniform departure-clearance fee for private yachts.

Official sources: Tobago Yachting Guide · MOWT: Harbour Master’s Clearances