Entering by boat: Réunion
What to do to enter Réunion by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Based on official sources, checked on 28 October 2026.
Before you arrive
- Notify the authorities 48 hours before arrival.
- Online procedure: Préavis au bureau des maîtres de port (arrêté préfectoral n° 401 du 9 mars 2017) — tco.re/plaisance/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/10/Arrete-N401-relatif-aux-formalites-dacces-dans-les-port-de-la-reunion-1.pdf
The steps
- Send the arrival notice to the harbour masters' office 48 h ahead and wait for berth confirmation.
- Call the Pointe des Galets marina on VHF 9 or 16 on arrival.
- Report to the harbour master's office, then stay on board 1 h for Customs inspection.
- Customs stamp passports and the form; give 2 days' notice before departure.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Visas, if your nationality requires them
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Ship’s stores declaration
Good to know
- First call must be Pointe des Galets (Le Port) for every boat arriving from abroad.
- Notice at least 48 h before arrival to the harbour masters' office (crew, passports, goods, previous and next ports).
- Berthing only during office hours; stay on board 1 h after berthing for a possible inspection.
- Réunion is not in the Schengen area: check visas for non-EU crew.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
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- tco.re/plaisance/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/10/Arrete-N401-relatif-aux-formalites-dacces-dans-les-port-de-la-reunion-1.pdf
- noonsite.com/place/reunion-island/pointe-des-galets-le-port/view/clearance
- noonsite.com/?p=48442
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.