Small Crafts (yatch)

  1. Small Crafts Arrival
  2. Small Crafts Departure

Arrival to Port Louis

Masters of yachts are required to call at the Customs Landing Steps at Port Louis which is the only port of entry for yachts upon immediate arrival for completion of Health & Quarantine, Passport and Immigration and Customs formalities.

Protocol for entry and departure of Vessel in Port Louis is available on the MPA website on the following link http://www.mauport.com.

Arriving yacht need to make an arrival declaration in the VCS (Vessel Clearance System) through their shipping agent if one has been appointed.

In case no shipping agent has been appointed to act on behalf of the yacht master/owner (which is not mandatory by the law) then the yacht master/owner is required to contact the MRA-Customs through mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for insertion of their arrival credentials in the VCS. The list of required documents will be forwarded via mail to the yacht owner/skipper/master.

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Health & Quarantine Formalities

  • Please stay on board. No person except the Health officer is allowed on board, nor can any person, animal or article leave the yacht until health clearance has been obtained.

  • Any plant, animal and any agricultural item on board the yacht has to be declared to the quarantine officer.

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Customs Formalities

  1. After clearance from Health Authorities, the yacht will be boarded by Customs.

  2. The following information must be declared by the master/skipper or owner of the yacht through VCS by their appointed agent or the MRA-Customs who will insert the necessary information in the VCS:

    1. General declaration by master/Owner of pleasure boat as per IMO FAL Form 1.

    2. The Crew members and their possession, including dutiable goods as per IMO FAL Form 4.

    3. Any Parcel on board to be landed or in transit.

    4. Any arms and ammunitions or allied products.

    5. Any narcotics and controlled drugs.

  3. Once clearance has been obtained by Health Authorities, then the yacht master/skipper or owner must call at the Customs office at the Customs Landing Steps to complete the boarding documents.

  4. Any yacht once cleared by all authorities is allowed to leave port and move to any other mooring place around the island. However, the duration of stay and place of stay will have to be clearly indicated on the Declaration by Master/Owner of Pleasure Boat - Form 20 which shall be approved by the Boarding officer and handed over to the yacht master/owner at time of boarding.

    Customs must be notified of any change in the duration of stay and a mail must be sent on the following address:

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  5. Any foreign yacht is allowed to stay for a period of 3 months as from date of arrival.

  6. Any controlled drugs and dangerous cargo shall be declared to Customs and shall be accompanied by supporting documents.

  7. Arms and ammunition or allied products shall be detained and handed over to police for safe keeping. Same will be returned back at time of departure of the vessel.

  8. Underwater Fishing is strictly prohibited in Mauritius. Underwater Fishing Gun must be declared and same will be detained by Customs and will be returned back on board at the time of departure.

  9. Any vessel may be rummaged by Customs Officers as per Section 128 of Customs Act.

  10. Currency or Bearer Negotiable Instruments of an amount of more than 500, 000 rupees (Section 131A of the Customs Act) or its equivalent in any foreign currency shall be disclosed to the Customs officer.

  11. Report any suspicious behavior of other yachts to the boarding Customs Officer or to the Customs Hotline: 8958.

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Immigration Formalities

All people on board will be required to produce a valid passport. Visa will be issued by the Immigration Authorities upon presentation of required documents.

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Departing from Port Louis

Certificate of Clearance

Any departing yacht to a foreign port shall call back to Port Louis Harbour to complete the departure formalities which are also processed through the VCS either by the appointed agent or by the MRA-Customs. The yacht master/owner must send mail to the MRA-Customs on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and confirm the actual date of departure, the next port of call as well as the departure crew/passenger list.

A departure clearance certificate is automatically generated through the VCS once same has been approved by Customs and does not need any signature. However an endorsed copy may be requested from the Customs office at the Customs Landing Steps if required by the Yacht master.

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Return of detained goods by Customs.

Items detained by Customs at time of boarding, pending reshipment, will be returned on board by Customs prior to the departure of yacht. For this purpose, necessary arrangements have to be made by contacting Customs on the following phone numbers 59421449 or 52519296 in order to avoid any delay in the time of departure.

Wild Life & Endemic products.

Wildlife and endemic products are strictly controlled. In the event that it is intended for any such goods to be transported from Mauritius, necessary permits/certificates have to be requested from the Ministry of Agro Industry & Food Security.

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