Entering by boat: Suriname
What to do to enter Suriname 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
- Call on VHF 12 when entering the river.
- Maritime Authority (MAS) in Paramaribo, 07:00-15:00.
- Immigration (Military Police) 07:30-13:30.
- Departure: return to immigration.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Visas, if your nationality requires them
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Outward clearance from the previous country
Good to know
- Visa or tourist card needed for most nationalities (except CARICOM).
- Call on VHF 12 when approaching the Suriname river; yachts normally do not clear customs.
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
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.