How Much do Visas & "Just Visiting" Fees Cost to Travel through Countries?

[liveaboardL]

If I'm sailing & stop by Haiti, the Galapagos, or Bermuda to fill up on fresh water or something, will the governments change me an entrance fee? or is it free? Do I have to be out in 2 weeks for face a fine? Where are all these fees listed for each country?

I read that Mexico charges a fee if you have any fishing poles for catching their fish, even if just passing through.

Do all countries charge their own cut? What if it's an emergency and your just seeking safe harbor?

What if they deny you entry cause you don't have a VHF license or something stupid? Are they obligated to give you enough water to get to the next country even if it's 500 miles away?

I don't have a lot of money but I'd like to know I wouldn't be turned away if I ended up in Sam Hill somewhere.

[biker6977]

Is there a place to go for finding fees? A web link? A recent book?

[onestepcsy37]

All countries charge entrance fees. Once you enter their territorial waters you are required to raise "Q" flag and proceed to their customs/immigration office to check in. In most cases you will need a passport and ownership/registration papers for the boat. Fees vary greatly. In the bahamas the fee is $150 for boats up to 30 ft, $300 over 30 ft. That includes a fishing permit.

All of the above notwithstanding, there are many variations and exceptions, but I wouldn't count on visiting other countries for free.

[Svdestiny]

This site gives you most of the info you need, including fees: Noonsite.com

[Jim Cate]

All countries charge entrance fees.

NO, they don't ALL charge entry fees. In our neck of the woods, neither New Caledonia nor New Zealand do. Of course, many do charge, and some charge serious money for a fiscally challenged cruiser.

It is surprisingly hard to get accurate and current info about these matters. Noonsite is often woefully out of date, and telling that to an official who is berating you for not following protocol is not often useful. Best advice IMO is to contact the country's immigration and customs departments websites (if they have one). Download or copy the info so that if challenged one can show your data source... might help!

As to being denied entry because of VHF license, etc, well, we have never in all our years of cruising been asked for anything like that. Boat papers (and we are NOT documented, but state registered), and nowadays at least third party insurance (most but not all places), passports with appropriate visas, and being tidy, friendly, non-combative if things go slowly and generally presenting yourself well... that's all it takes in the way of documents. Many countries are demanding advance notice of arrival now, and some are fierce about it. Do not ignore this requirement!

Cheers,

Jim

[MarkJ]

Galapagos is quite expensive now, several hundred dollars.

The Pacific was 'medium'; Asia was reasonably expensive, in the low hundreds.

Arab countries are quite expensive (it works on a 'how much we hate you' basis.
The Caribbean is cheapest. $10 is about the outside limit. Excpt for the BVIs a bit higher.

Bahamas are $300 and thats just stupid.

Dunno for Bermuda... who would go there?

Filling with gas/oil/water you pay the full fee to clear in in EVERY country in the world. Unless you lie and cheat

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

SNIP

Bahamas are $300 and thats just stupid.

SNIP

I would describe it as the law of supply and demand. There are still plenty of folks who are more than willing to pay. And the $US300 is good for a year if you ask for an easily granted extension, while many of the other places only allow much shorter stays and require you to leave the country.

I first went to the Bahamas in 1959 and have seen the prices go up and up and up; something that does not make me happy. But I would not say it is stupid, just reacting to market forces.

[DeepFrz]

Don't just drop in without a visa. Some places are really not nice when you do that.

[onestepcsy37]

Tomfl, I remember when checkin at bimini was $25. I'm willing to pay the $300 because we stay for months at a time, so the per diem is reasonable - at least to me. Where it really hurts is at places like bimini which used to depend on weekend boaters from florida who are no longer willing to pay that much for a two day visit...

[MarkJ]

So many times I could drop in on the Bahamas for a week or so, but $300 for a week is, as said before, STUPID.

[Canibul]

Here you get a week for $100. Three months for $300.

Do any countries in the Caribbean or Central America even ask about insurance? They don't here, and they didn't in the Bahamas when we brought the boat through on the way down.

[zeehag]

NOONSITE has info.

[CPO]

What about "right of innocent passage"? In other words, just passing through, not stopping or fishing. I would think no fees or visas would apply. Anyone know differently?

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by CPO

What about "right of innocent passage"? In other words, just passing through, not stopping or fishing. I would think no fees or visas would apply. Anyone know differently?

Generally that's true, but you can't rely on it 100%. It is dependent on treaties and conventions, but any particular nation can decide to do things differently in their own waters, so you still need to check.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by CPO

What about "right of innocent passage"? In other words, just passing through, not stopping or fishing. I would think no fees or visas would apply. Anyone know differently?

Innocent passage is passage. Anchoring doesn't qualify. Stopping for fuel, water, provisions, or medicine doesn't qualify. Inland waters don't qualify.

It helps to be a military vessel crossing someplace in contention, like the South China Sea.