Entering by boat: French Guiana
What to do to enter French Guiana by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).
The steps
- Fill in the online clearance form reported by noonsite (or on arrival).
- Police: visit on board or at the office, passport stamps.
- Then customs ashore.
- On departure, same process (possible in Saint-Laurent).
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Visas, if your nationality requires them
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Insurance certificate
Good to know
- No clearance fees.
- Dégrad des Cannes: yacht anchoring/parking banned within port limits since 1 Jan 2023; anchor upriver (Roura bridge).
- French Guiana is not in the Schengen area: check visas.
- Unlit fishing boats without AIS near the coast.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
Prepare your arrival with Hullteam
In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
Create my free accountSources
- noonsite.com/place/french-guiana/formalities
- noonsite.com/place/french-guiana/degrad-des-cannes/view/clearance
- douane.gouv.fr/particuliers/vous-etes-en-outre-mer/guyane-preparer-son-arrivee-ou-son-retour-sur-le-territoire
This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.