Just running through a couple of things first before we get into the nitty gritty.
For those smaller yachts Ventura Yacht Agency offers the service of preparing your arrival documentation and emailing them to you, only for you to print, sign and present to officials. If interested you can contact ventura@btl.net.
We should have already by now received from you the following:- — {mprestriction ids=”1″}
- vessel’s registration
- crew list
- passenger list (if any passengers)
- and you should have already filled in the General Yacht Information form either on line or they would have emailed you a folder.
If any of the above has not yet been completed then please either email them or visit the following links:-
http://www.belizemegayacht.com/pre-arrival/general-yacht-information-form
and by now the following should have all been arranged.
- Nationalities requiring visa for Belize should have already been checked at this link.
- Notice of arrival should have been tendered.
- If inbound clearance is being done in Belize City you should have already received from us an approved pilotage waiver OR arrangements for pilot should have already been made.
- Visa application if required have been taken care off for those crew members requiring visas, if any.
- Animal importation permit if required has already been obtained, should you have pets on board.
- Permission for use of helicopter has already been obtained if needed.
- Two digital files with your arrival documentation and forms for you to print and sign. These are to be presented to the officials upon their arrival.
We will need to receive via email from you the below:-
- Copy of your clearance from your last port of call or what you tendered with US Customs
- Copy of your Continuous synopsis record
- Copy of your P & I insurance
- Listing with details of your tender(s)
Once you have received our email with attachments please print a copy of paper work requirements and print the number of copies from the attached files, it should be pretty straightforward. You DO NOT need to email us any of the paper work. All that needs to be done from your end is to print, sign and stamp, if you have a stamp. Documentation will be distributed to the various officials once they are aboard.
Inbound for Belize City from English Caye Pilot Station or Grennell’s Channel.
If you are using the services of a pilot, the pilot will board you at either English Caye pilot station if you are approaching from the east or just off Grennell’s Caye if you are approaching from the south via the inner channel. 
The Belize Port Authority has offices in all four ports of entry, but only in Belize City do they actively monitor the VHF. If you are using a pilot, once the pilot is aboard, the pilot will normally contact the Belize Port Authority on channel 16 and inform them that he is aboard and once anchored he will give them GPS for the anchorage position. The Belize Port Authority actively monitors and tracks all vessels on the AIS system on the internet 24×7.
It is not compulsory to give the Belize Port Authority a call, the decision is yours if you wish to do so as a matter of courtesy. Call sign is Belize Port, on channel 16. Additional anchorage information for Belize City can be found at http://www.belizemegayacht.com/cruising-belize/anchoring/belize-city
Regulation dictates that vessels have a grace period of 24 hours, by which time they need to be officially cleared in.
Please ensure to fly Q-flag and courtesy flag. Officials can get a bit upset about this and you give them a better reason for a hustle.
Normal hours of work for the officials is:-
Monday to Friday
08:00 to 12:00
13:00 to 17:00
For those yachts anchored you will need to put tender in to pickup the officials ashore. Normally the pickup point for officials is from either Cucumber Beach Marina or the Radisson Fort George Marina at 17°29N – 88°10W. We recommend Cucumber Beach Marina as it is sheltered, whilst the dock at the Radisson is exposed.
Boarding party in Belize City consists of 6 persons, Customs, Health, Immigration, Quarantine, Belize Port Authority and a representative from Ventura for the larger yachts.
For inbound clearance regulation dictates that the officials should go aboard the vessel. This is really only done in the port of entry for Belize City. At times it is done in Big Creek, but not always and it is rarely done in San Pedro and Punta Gorda for the smaller yachts.
In their visit the officials will be looking closely for plants, orchids, origin for meats, fresh produce, fruits, etc. Customs should technically rummage the vessel in search for guns and ammunition, but this is rarely done. Official may ask for tour, especially if it is a nicer looking yacht. The quarantine inspector will normally ask to visit the kitchen, place of storage for fresh produce, want to look inside refrigerators, coolers freezers, walk ins, pantry, etc.
Upon arrival in Belize it is the norm for foreign visitors to be given initially by the immigration officer 30 days to remain in the country. The customs department also normally grants the vessel a permit for 30 days. Should the vessel remain longer than 30 days an extension needs to be requested for vessel. Should anyone remain longer than 30 days application for an extension needs to be made with the immigration department. Extension from the immigration department would be given normally for an additional 30 days and would be stamped in each passport at a cost of US$25.00 per person. Extension from the customs department for the yacht would be made on the reverse side of the customs ships report, again for a further 30 days.
With all the paper work prepared the visit by the officials normally takes about 30 minutes.
Once vessel has been cleared in and after the officials depart a representative from Ventura Yacht Agency normally remains onboard to answer questions and go over items captain or crew may have.
Procedures after having been cleared inbound.
Once you have been cleared by the officials you are free to go anywhere within the country. You do not need any clearance from port of port within the country. The only time you will need a clearance is when you are ready to depart the country for another country. There is also no need to inform anyone of where you are departing to.
The only restriction you would have in your movements would be if you have not obtained a pilotage waiver, then a pilot would be needed, but this would only apply in the Belize City area where there is the compulsory pilotage area.
END OF ARTICLE
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