Leaving US . . . and Not on a Jet Plane

[joker4142]

Posted a question last week and got some great comments and info, thanks to all. New question. I was looking at FAQ and other links dealing with red tap and others. Saw something about a ZARPA. So ya get some training, you read, dream, look at stuff, cheek out charts of exiting destinations, Buy a vessel, clean it up, all that good stuff. The time comes to take off. You have all the vessel documentation and your own. Do you just go or do you need permission from big brother to leave the plantation?

[ozskipper]

You will need to clear customs. Once you have cleared you cant go back onto land without re-entering. Same deal for pretty much every country. I dont know your area. But every international port has a customs office at the waterfront (ish).

Sail/motor to thier dock. Stamp the passports, get the paperwork sorted and off you go. Sounds nice and easy doesnt it ? It generally will be in your own country. But each other country will have its own documentation and hurdles to jump over.

Cheers
Oz

[zeehag]

not to leave. they like it when we leave. to go to other places we need stuff and things but to leave home--we absolutely fine. oin home is a different story-- d-top sticker is a good thin to have -- makes returning easier. get from us customs. see online.

zarpe is what ye needs going into mex-- use a fuel receipt if going from us to mexico on gulf side. ob pacific side i never had a problem entering mex.

US CITIZENS DONOT NEED ANY THING TO LEAVE. NO CUSTOMS NOTHING. just getting back. that is why the frequent flyer(d-top) sticker is important.

[osirissail]

"Zarpa" is actually probably "Zarpe" which is Mexican Spanish for "exit documentation" in other Spanish countries it is called a "Dispachio."
- - A USA boat and citizen does not need an "exit document" to leave the USA.
- - But - when leaving another country (e.g. Bahamas, D.R. and all the other island/countries in the Caribbean Basin and probably the rest of the world) you have to "Check-out" when you are ready to leave. The officials give you a stamped "exit document" which you hand in at the next country you check-in.
- - The idea is that each country wants to know who is visiting and where they came from and then who has left after their visit is finished.

[bljones]

General rule of thumb- if you had to check in when you arrive, you gotta check out when you leave. If you are an AMERICAN leaving the US, no problem. If you ain't from around here, yep, you gotta get stamped.

[joker4142]

Thanks all for clearing up that little issue.

[Vasco]

You don't need to check out when leaving the States nor the Bahamas but it might be a good idea to do so in the Bahamas if going further south.