Socotra - Clearance
This is an official Port of Entry.
See Yemen Formalities for full details of clearing into and out of Yemen.
Before Arrival:
Immigration and the Port Authority want to know in advance about the arrival of yachts on Socotra. This can avoid any misunderstanding with security at the sea port.
A few days in advance of your arrival send an e-mail (with a copy of all passports, name of the boat, ETA) to your agent.
The agent will inform the officials about your visit and prepare all the necessary papers.
General Clearance:
When you enter the harbor, a security boat will meet you and help choose a place to anchor.
A port official will check the number of people on board, after which you will be allowed to go ashore by dinghy. Port staff will need your passports, ship papers and last port clearance for check-in and visa. At the same time, a customs officer will do a quick yacht inspection.
Fees:
The total cost of obtaining clearance, including agents fees is approx. $230.
There is an additional $10 charge for boats that bring passport and customs control aboard.
A tourist visa costs approx. $150.
Fees for Immigration services is $50 per person if you stay for a week and $100 if you stay up to a month.
Short Stopover:
If you are just planning on making as short stop in Socotra to refuel, get water and provisions, then as long as you don’t go ashore and see the Island a visa nor clearance is required, saving a lot of time and money. The agent can bring supplies on board.
Last updated: January 2020
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Report from Denis Romanov of Socotra Tamam Agency – December 2018:
Last year, some yachtsmen who stopped at Socotra faced certain difficulties. Some of them were not allowed to go ashore. This was due to the presence on the island of soldiers from the Emirates and the tightening of the security regime.
This year, with the advent of the new governor and the withdrawal of the military from the Emirates from the island, the situation has changed for the better. All papers are issued to yachtsmen and tourist visas are issued for those who want to see the island.
However, some confusion remains with different authorities. The bad news is that clearance in Socotra has become more expensive. Now we have to pay extra money to two authorities – the coast guard and the security service.
Additional payment is about $115. Thus, the total amount of clearance on Socotra (including agency fees) is $345 now. A tourist visa costs $100 per person, which allows you to travel around Socotra without any problems accompanied by a local guide.
The boat Formidable 3, which made a short stop at Socotra in early December for fueling, watering and buying food, was the first to be faced with new requisitions from the security service and the coast guard.
We hope that the new government of Socotra soon sorted out with unauthorized extortion by security forces in the future the cost of registration of yachts will be as before.
It is possible that in this case it was the payment for urgency (yacht wanted to stay on Socotra only one day), and in the future we can avoid these costs, but the sailors, who plan to stay on Socotra, should be ready for such unplanned spending.
In any case, we will try to minimize your expenses on Socotra.
Hi
Interested in visiting Socotra for a few days in August, on the way from Seychelles to Maldives, what is the current security situation at the moment, thank you