Yacht cruising permits & procedures
Introduction
Indonesia is a breathtaking tropical archipelago spanning both sides of the equator and boasting over 17,000 tropical islands making it a cruising dream destination for yachts. But, in the past, it has been a sort of ‘black hole’ that boats have avoided due to anarchic rules, bureaucratic hassles and unfavourable permits for visiting yachts. However, a lot has changed since those days and the regulations and formality procedures for bringing a foreign yacht to Indonesia have become relatively easy and favourable.
At Eighth Degree South, we specialize in taking care of these formalities for visiting superyachts through our experience, network and relationships with local authorities and departments. Our tailored superyacht agency will make this a smooth and hassle free process allowing the yacht crew to rest and continue their work onboard while we do the hard yards in the background. We have been professional superyacht crew before, we understand the pressures and time constraints the yacht is under and that’s where we step in. This article will present an overview of the process for an inward international clearance into Indonesia for privately registered yachts and superyachts.
Pre-Arrival Preparations: The Vessel Declaration
Preplanning with your Indonesian yacht agent is an essential step for a successful and smooth experience in Indonesian territorial waters. Engaging the services of an experienced and reputable yacht agent like Eighth Degree South, that specializes in bespoke superyachting experiences in Indonesia, make this a streamlined process allowing the yacht to get the best out of the trip experience.
There are quite a few documents that are needed by your yacht agent to apply for the vessel’s cruising permit to Indonesia, which is locally known as the Vessel Declaration. This is a customs temporary import document that allows the vessel to stay 3 years in Indonesia and grants access to all parts of the country. Your yacht agent will apply for this permit majority online and, provided that all the documents from the vessel are in order, then this can be done 48 hours before the yacht arrives into a designated inward clearance port. As there are over 25 international clearance ports throughout Indonesia, consultations with your yacht agent beforehand will determine the best port for the yacht and her upcoming guests trip.
Some of the paperwork that will be required for the Indonesian Cruising Permit (Vessel Declaration) are:
- Yacht’s Certificate of Registration: This should be a privately registered yacht.
- Insurance Certificates: Valid insurance coverage for the vessel with wreck removal.
- Crew and Guest Lists: Complete with passport details of all persons that will be onboard the yacht in Indonesia.
- Last Port Clearance: From the previous outward clearance port.
- Ship’s Particulars: Technical details of the yacht and her tendered vessels.
- Crew Effects: Details of the crew’s possessions of value (mainly electronic). Used for temporary customs import procedures.
- NIL List: Declaration or NILs to certain goods such as firearms.
- Controlled Drugs & First Aid Kit Contents: To be declared and logged on arrival by customs
These documents allow the yacht’s agent to obtain the yacht’s cruising permit for Indonesia which in fact is a customs document that temporarily imports the vessel into Indonesia for a period of 3 years.
Visa Options for Crew and Guests
While the yacht will be granted 3 years stay in Indonesia, the crew and guests are considered tourists in the country as long as the yacht is privately registered. This means that the crew and guests can get any tourist visa available. The types and durations often change so please check with your yacht agent beforehand to see which are available and which will suit the yacht’s program the best. Currently, the two most popular visas available are the Visa on Arrival and the C1 visa.
The Visa on Arrival is for shorter stays and the C1 visa is for longer stays. Both can be obtained online in advance of the yacht’s arrival. Your yacht agent, such as Eighth Degree South, can obtain these for you.
The Visa on Arrival can also be obtained on arrival at an international clearance sea or airport without any pre-arrival work needed. It is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days. It is a single entry visa.
The C1 visa is the longer term visa which needs to be obtained in advance of arrival and will be sent electronically with a QR code which is then stamped in at either the international seaport or airport at which the yacht arrives into Indonesia. This visa will grant 60 days initial and can be extended twice for 60 days each giving a total of 180 days stay in Indonesia. This is ideal for yacht crew as Indonesia’s large cruising grounds can be enjoyed without stopping. Eighth Degree South yacht agents can apply for these extensions without the yacht crew needing to visit immigration allowing for a seamless yachting program throughout Indonesia. It is also a single entry visa.
It is important to note that visa regulations can change, so it is vital to confirm with your yacht agent the most current requirements before arrival.
Arrival CIQP Clearance: Entering Indonesian Ports
There are around 25 designated international clearance ports for yachts to arrive into (and exit out of) Indonesia where yachts can complete an in or outward clearance. Discussions with your yacht agent will allow us to choose the best port for the yacht’s intended program.
Upon arrival, your yacht will undergo CIQP clearance, involving Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, and Port authorities. Each department will separately inspect the yacht whilst the Q Flag is flying, officially requesting Quarantine pratique. Your yacht agent will handle and oversee all of these formalities together with the officials. The separate departments must conduct their inspections in order and so this can take a total of around 1 hour onboard.
After this inspection is completed then the officials will return to their offices on land to input the data in the systems and together with your yacht agent they will finalize all remaining paperwork and once completed, they will be returned with the yacht crew’s stamped paperwork along with the Indonesian Cruising Permit (Vessel Declaration).
Why Choose Eighth Degree South As Your Yacht Agent In Indonesia?
The complexity, frequent changes, and time-consuming procedures involved in Indonesian yacht regulations, including extensive paperwork and multiple government office visits, can be a daunting task. This can be especially challenging for foreign yachts and their crews that are on strict time schedules.
We are Eighth Degree South, have been there, working on yachts, in this region. We understand the importance of streamlining the process and giving time back to yachts and their crew who have time constraints and piling up job lists before the guests arrive. That’s why we and our extensive regional partner network make this an easy process for you, allowing you to focus on keeping the superyacht in tip top condition and ready for the guest arrivals.
Having cruised these waters for most of our lives, we have vast knowledge of not only the cruising grounds, anchorages and activities but also the expanded technical knowledge and network to get work done quickly and professionally.
Conclusion
Bringing your superyacht to Indonesia opens the door to an extraordinary cruising area that will leave a lasting impression in your crew and your guests’ minds. With so much cruising ground available to enjoy, the importance of using an experienced agent such as Eighth Degree South that understands the pressures of superyachting allows you to get the most of this amazing cruising ground.
We have worked on and with many superyachts in this region up to 146 meters in length, we fully understand the importance of an efficient and knowledgeable yacht agent and the time constraints that crew are under. Feel free to reach out to us for any sample itineraries, questions, references or anything else.
Internal Links:
- See Our Services: www.eighthdegreesouth.com/services
- Get in Contact: www.eighthdegreesouth.com/contact
- Cruising Destinations: www.eighthdegreesouth.com/Indonesia
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Key Takeways
- 3 Year Stay, Single Entry
- Free Mobility
- Crew And Guests Are Tourists
To Summarise:
– Privately registered foreign yachts can stay in Indonesia for 3 years with the Indonesian Cruising permit (Vessel Declaration)
– Crew and guests are tourists and are open to any available tourist visa
– Inward and outward clearances are long and bureaucratic processes but are straight forward with an experienced agent
– Indonesia is a massive country with year round cruising, getting the most of the country is our obligation as yacht agents
Remote and sometimes inadequate infrastructure and supply chains can make yacht technical repairs a daunting task. Eighth Degree South’s technical team are vastly experienced and have a large network to assist visiting superyachts.
