Arrival and departure
Sources: Noonsite (updated August 2024), OSASA, False Bay Yacht Club (secondary). Builds on: L1.1.
CAUTION - Secondary sources The procedure below is drawn from cruising-yacht sources. Superyachts normally clear through an agent, and details differ by port and change often. Treat this as a checklist of questions for the agent.
Before arrival
Pre-arrival notice. Noonsite reports that all yachts must register online through OSASA before leaving their last port, giving the yacht's details, last port, first and second SA ports, ETA and crew. A fee of R400 applies, and entry may be refused without it.
Traveller declarations. Crew complete an online traveller declaration, before arrival if possible.
Visas. Check every crew member's nationality against SA visa requirements well before departure. Extensions are possible but slow.
Choosing the port of entry
| Port | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cape Town | Most experience with foreign yachts; refit hub (L2.1) |
| Richards Bay | Traditional arrival port from the Indian Ocean |
| Durban | Port of entry; large commercial port |
| Mossel Bay | Authorised for yachts in August 2024 (Noonsite) |
| Saldanha Bay | Departure option from July 2024 (Noonsite) |
Simon's Town and Knysna are not ports of entry. False Bay Yacht Club also lists Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and East London.
On arrival
- Port control. Call on VHF Ch 16 or Ch 09 for permission to enter.
- Port health. Proceed to the designated berth. No one goes ashore until port health has cleared the yacht.
- Port authority / harbour police. Present ship's papers, passports and previous clearance.
- Immigration. Passports, ship's papers, previous clearance and the port authority certificate. If officials do not come aboard, the crew go to the office.
- Customs. Complete the paper DA1 form. Noonsite reports that customs clearance must be done within 24 hours of arrival to avoid fines.
Moving along the coast
Once cleared in, a yacht does not need new health, customs or immigration clearance at each SA port (OSASA, Noonsite). It must contact port control at each harbour and file a passage plan, online in some ports and on stamped paper forms in others.
WARNING - Crew changes If the crew leaving differs from the crew who arrived, immigration requires a crew change form. Arrange sign-ons and sign-offs through the agent at the time, not at departure.
Length of stay
False Bay Yacht Club states that foreign-registered yachts may stay a maximum of six months and may not be left stored in South Africa. This is a single secondary source; confirm the current position, and any extension, with SARS through the agent.
Departure
| Step | Notes (Noonsite) |
|---|---|
| Immigration | Letter of good standing, sailing notice, crew list, passports; fingerprints and photo taken |
| Customs | Paper DA3; Cape Town may want documents emailed in advance |
| Cape Town extra | Letter of good standing from Royal Cape Yacht Club |
| Deadline | Leave within 24 hours, no further SA stops |
After clearing out, VAT refunds on goods bought in SA can be claimed; see L4.3.
TIP - December Berths fill quickly in November and December as cruising yachts arrive. Book early and plan an alternative.