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.
For inbound clearance we should have by now received from you
- vessel’s registration
- crew list
- passenger list (if any passengers)
- and you should have already filled out our General Yacht Information form.
And by now the following should have all been arranged.
- Notice of arrival should have been tendered
- Visa application if required have been taken care off.
- Animal importation permit if required has already been obtained.
- Permission for use of helicopter has already been obtained if needed.
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http://www.belizemegayacht.com/pre-arrival/general-yacht-information-form
Having received these immediately above, Ventura Yacht Agency will have prepared two files with a number of other sub-files, which we will email to you.
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. From this point 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, and present the paper work we have emailed you ready for when the boarding officials arrive.
Regulation dictates that vessels have a grace period of 24 hours grace period, 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
Anchorage in Punta Gorda is exposed and normally rolly. You may decide to anchor a bit north near Wild Cane Caye and send tender to Punta Gorda to pickup officials. Wild Cane is quite a way up, it may work for the larger yachts with guests aboard, but not for the much smaller yachts with the small rubber tenders.
One big advantage in Punta Gorda is having all the officials housed in one building a couple hundred feet from the dock.
The GPS given to me by one of the tenders for the Customs dock is 16° 06.012N – 088° 48.056W. It is very easy to identify the dock you need to go to. It is a relatively high old concrete dock with a lot of water. In front of the building is the Belizean flag flying high. A bit behind the flag is an extremely antiquated lighthouse, and when say antiquated I really mean antiquated, don’t expect to see a lighthouse foresay. The main building housing all the officials was renovated in 2010 the paint still shines a bright white. The building has painted in large blue letters “Welcome to Belize”. To the north of the customs dock is a dock with large red and black sign saying Texaco where petrol can be purchased.
If you are anchored right in front of Customs the ride in should be no more than 5 to 10 minutes.
Take with you documentation that has been printed, passports, vessel’s documentation and ships stamp if you have any.
Once you are tied up take a walk to the main building and start with Customs, then Immigration, Health, Quarantine and Belize Port Authority. It should be simple and easy.
Ventura Yacht Agency of course always stands ready to assist in every way possible and for those yachts that would prefer our assistance for inbound clearance please send us an email. There will of course be the added expense for us to get a representative to and from Punta Gorda.
Technically for inbound clearance, regulation dictates that the officials should go aboard the vessel. This is really only done in Belize City’s port of entry. At times it is done in Big Creek port of entry, but not always and it is rarely done in San Pedro and Punta Gorda’s port of entry for the smaller yachts. Don’t be surprised should one of the officers decide they want to go aboard to carry out inbound clearance procedures.
Should the officials visit aboard then 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. The same applies for crew or guests. Should anyone remain longer than 30 days application for an extension needs to be made. Extension from the immigration department would be made 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.
With all the paper work prepared this shouldn’t take no more than 30 minutes if the officials come aboard and about 60 minutes if you go ashore to clear in.
Once we do conduct clearance procedures a representative from Ventura Yacht Agency normally remains aboard 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 decide to go into Belize City. Remember that there is a compulsory pilotage area for Belize City and that either a pilot needs arranged or arrangements for a pilotage waiver is required.
END OF ARTICLE
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