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Entering by boat: Tuvalu

What to do to enter Tuvalu 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

  1. Arrive at Funafuti under the Q flag and anchor off the south end of Vaiaku, near the wharf.
  2. Immigration on the ground floor of the Government Building (form, stamps).
  3. Customs, health (AUD 25-35) and biosecurity, in the same building in 2025.
  4. Lagoon anchoring permit (AUD 70) at the Town Council.
  5. Departure: immigration then customs; no exit fees.

Papers to have on board

  • Passports for the whole crew
  • Crew list
  • Boat papers (registration certificate)
  • Outward clearance from the previous country
  • Biosecurity declaration

Good to know

  • Only one port of entry and exit: Funafuti. Do not stop at any other island first, even in an emergency, or expect trouble with the police.
  • No advance notice of arrival required according to noonsite (May 2025).
  • No clearance from Friday 16:00 to Monday morning: stay aboard.
  • Outer atolls: approval from customs, immigration and the atoll chief, several days' wait; sometimes refused.
  • Much of Funafuti lagoon is a conservation area: notify the Town Council.

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.

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Sources

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.