See South Africa Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of South Africa. Remember, before setting sail for South Africa you must register with OSASA. Full details in Formalities.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS:

Yachts must report to either the V&A Marina or Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC).

Pratique and Port Health

​All yachts visiting the Port of Cape Town from international waters must obtain a Pratique before arrival in Cape Town.

Inbound Health Procedures

1. All yachts, local and foreign, arriving from international waters must complete the pre-arrival notification forms online through the OSASA website www.osasa.org.za at least 96 hours before arrival in Cape Town, and these will be submitted by OSASA to the relevant Department of Transport authorities.
2. It is suggested that this online application should be completed and sent from the last port of call. On arrival at the marina the captain must report to the RCYC office or the V&A Marina office and obtain a letter stating they have a berth
3. The RCYC or V&A Marina offices will notify the Port Health office of your arrival.
4. Captain and crew must remain on board until such time as Port Health have cleared the boat in.
5. Customs clearance can be done online.

Once cleared by Port Health, Captain and crew (with passports) can then proceed to the Immigration Department which is located opposite the Cruise Terminal.

Inbound Immigration Procedures

Once cleared by Port Health, Captain and crew (with passports) can then proceed to the Immigration Department which is located opposite the Cruise Terminal. Office hours are 24hrs.

Inbound Customs Procedures

For both foreign and local arrivals coming in from international waters to use the Port of Cape Town as a first Port of Entry, send a scanned copy of the completed (inward) DA1 form together with a crew list and last port of clearance issued to CTN-correspondence@sars.gov.za

It is not necessary to contact Customs if you have come from another South African port.
This will be the inward clearance for the duration of your stay.

For Inward and Outward Clearances the DA1 and DA3 forms can be obtained at the Customs office or requested from CTN-correspondence@sars.gov.za

Customs is located next door to Immigration in the Transnet Building. Customs office hours are 07h00 – 17h00 daily.  (Customs currently prefer clients to not go to the office for clearance and to communicate with them by email at CTN-correspondence@sars.gov.za)

If boats arriving from a foreign port are not checked in with Customs on arrival in Cape Town, the fine is 15,000 Rand.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES

All boats exiting the Victoria and Alfred Basins must sign ouT or radio call out with Port Control on VHF Channel 14.

Departure can be made from any marina, but if it is not from the RCYC the skipper needs to collect three letters:

1. From the Marina stating that all bills are paid;
2. From RCYC stating that all bills are paid;
3. From Transnet National Ports Authority (11th floor “yacht clearance”) stating that all bills are paid and the yacht is allowed to clear out.

Letters are to be collected in the above order. After collecting the three letters the skipper can move to the Immigration and Customs offices to clear out in the following order:

Immigration:

On departure, the Captain and crew must present themselves to the Immigration Department with the crew list and passports as well as the documents listed below, within 24 hours of sailing:

• For departures from the Port of Cape Town, for another country, Immigration requires the following from Royal Cape Yacht Club (or V&A in exceptional circumstances):
  • Letter of Good Standing showing no monies are owing
  • Completed Flight Plan
• This is not needed if department the Port of Cape TOwn for another South African Port.

Customs:

Customs currently prefer clients to not go to the office for clearance and to communicate with them by email at CTN-correspondence@sars.gov.za

When clearing out of South Africa, the DA3 form must accompany the (outward) DA1 together with an RCYC or V&A Letter of Good Standing, Immigration clearance, and crew list, sent to CTN-correspondence@sars.gov.za in pdf format.

After clearing out the skipper (or any crew member) can claim the VAT on any good purchased in SA. You will need:

• VAT refund form
• Receipts originals
• Skipper (or crew member claiming the VAT) – passport copy
• Stamp in and out copy

After departure clearance, one must leave within 48 hours.

Domestic Clearance:

If arriving from another South African port of entry,  (Richards Bay, Durban, East London or Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha), it is not necessary to clear in with Port Health, Immigration or Customs Departments on your arrival.

Inbound Health Procedures from Local Waters (Coastal sailing) require that if you are coming from another coastal port, you must contact portctn@health.gov.za with the name of the boat, crew list, last port of call and your eta to the Port of Cape Town.

If leaving for another South African port, lodge an itinerary with the Port Authority (time of departure, intended destination, and ETA) and clearance obtained from the yacht club or marina you are in.

Local Sailing:

All boats leaving the V&A Marina on local sailing trips have to be signed out by the skipper and on return sign in in the logbook outside the V&A Marina Yacht Office.

Note:  

Officials are trying to crack down on bribes and unofficial fees.  See this link for a notice posted from the Department of Home Affairs in the Cape Town office.

Last updated:  October 2022

Read Related Comments

If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).

Explore Port

• Info
• Main Ports
• View on Map
• Comments
• Downloads

---

Offline Access (Downloads)

Select your download option below

This feature is only available to Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access port and formalities downloads.

---

Special Offers for Noonsite Members

This feature is only available to Basic and Premium members. You need to Login or Register to access special offers.