Mayotte - Clearance
Mayotte Pre-Arrival Procedures
Full guidance document by the Mayotte Authorities can be read here.
Inward Declaration for Leisure Yachts
- At least 48 hours before arrival, download and fill out the Declaration d’entree pour navire da plaisance.
- Links to PDFs are also available at https://www.mayotte.cci.fr/nos-implantations/port-de-plaisance/ [links in the first blue box, right of site].
- If you are not able to fill this in on your device, you will need to print it, fill it in, scan it and mail it back to the authorities.
- E-mail to the following: maitredeport@mayotte.cci.fr; contact@mayotte-plaisance.com; & clearance@mayotte-plaisance.com.
- If you are not able to download the Inward Declaration, it is possible to get one from the Yacht Club on arrival.
Mayotte Arrival Procedures
Advance Notification
Customs and Immigration procedures have to be done when approaching Mayotte Island – the procedure is simple:
- When entering the 12 nautical miles area, you have to contact MAYOTTE TRAFFIC – on VHF: Channel 16
- Make sure your Q flag and French courtesy flag are hoisted.
- You have to declare any weapon or dangerous goods on board.
Note: It is important to enter the lagoon via the Mzambouru pass and not through the Bandrele pass. Be sure to radio for permission as stated above. However, it is not the best entry if there is an easterly swell so ask the Port Captain for advice. The channel is well marked, including lit ranges, making night entries feasible.
Head towards the anchorage area near the ACHM (next to the Petite Terre Harbor Office). Waiting areas are marked with an orange buoy. Tie up, or anchor next to it.
You may also be directed to go to the Balou quay. If this has been requested then Customs should contact you within one hour.
General Clearance Procedure
Once anchored/moored, Customs will decide whether they wish to visit your boat or not. If a visit is needed, they will let the skipper know.
If you were unable to complete and send the Inward Declaration in advance of arrival, then the document can be obtained on arrival from:
- Mamoudzou Marina office
- Harbor Master’s Office in Mamoudzou
- Tourist Office in Mamoudzou or Dzaoudzi
- Maritime Affairs Office – opposite the ACHM
If no Customs visit is required, the skipper will be invited to go to the airport and have the completed Inward Declaration stamped. If you don’t have a printer, the police at the airport will ask you to email it to them so they can print it off and stamp it. Take crew list, passports and the Inward Declaration.
You can walk to the airport, or take a taxi (Euro 1.40 per person).
Immigration/Border Police:
There is only one official office in the DZAOUDZI airport terminal – the sign is very clear: POLICE DE L’AIR ET DES FRONTIERES – P.A.F. They do immigration and Customs at the same time.
Contact them using the phone on the counter at the airport (the telephone number is posted on the wall next to the phone). They will come and meet you.
Get your Immigration stamp on the Inward Declaration and in your passports. There is no fee.
Maritime Affairs:
The skipper then has to give a copy of the stamped form to Maritime Affairs – located opposite ACHM on 41-39 Boulevard des Crabes. There is a mailbox on the wall outside.
Alternatively, go to the ACHM and post it in their dedicated mail box.
Harbour Master:
Finally, go to the Marina office in Mamoudzou to file a copy of the Clearance document. There are no fees, charges or taxes payable for the clearance document.
Once this declaration and formality is done, you can explore the lagoon freely and anchor wherever you want.
Notes:
- Clearance is possible on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
- Basic French is required as the officials do not normally have any English.
- All boats, whether French or not, must clear in.
- In Dzaoudzi the yacht club (Ecole Voile) is to the south of the dinghy dock/marina (open 11:00 to 20:00). They are very helpful, speak English and can answer questions about Mayotte.
Mayotte Departure Procedures
Exit formalities can be carried out up to 3 days prior to departure.
At the latest, outward clearance must be obtained and a 24 hours’ notice sent to Mayotte Plaisance.
Fill out the outward declaration, indicating the date of exit, and email it to contact@mayotte-plaisance.com (this can be downloaded from the link at the top of the page, or obtained from the Yacht Club).
The declaration, once received by Mayotte Plaisance, will generate an official CLEARANCE FORM.
You will again, need to go and see the Border Police at the airport to get the form stamped, then drop off a copy at the Maritime Affairs as outlined above.
The boat will then be permitted to leave Mayotte waters.
Notes:
- There does not appear to be a problem with departing the day after outward clearance has been granted.
- Be sure to keep hold of all your entry and exit paperwork.
- Due to concerns over a multi-country outbreak of Cholera in Indian Ocean countries, Madagascar has closed to foreign yachts coming from Mayotte for some time now.
Mayotte Plaisance
VHF : 09 / 16
Telephone + 262 639 696 740
Email:
Last updated: October 2024
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Country Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
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Buy Now On YachtFlags.comFormalities
Courtesy Flag Discounts
Free Moorings (map)
Note anchoring is only permitted at the one place (Dzaoudzi where most will arrive to clear in). However there are Park moorings all around the main island (and on some of the smaller islands) – Just be careful to match the mooring to your boat weight. Free park Mooring map – https://parc-marin-mayotte.fr/documentation/carte-des-mouillages-du-parc
And while I’m posting – here are a bunch of other notes I made during our 2022 visit…
Snorkel tips
* https://www.snorkeling-report.com/destination/snorkeling-mayotte/
* https://generationvoyage.fr/spots-plongee-mayotte/
You can expect to see Turtles, fish, dolphins, and if you are lucky manta rays and even dugong
Clearing in – helps if you have a printer and can revive attachments via your at device email account – as the port clearance can the be done via email – customs and immigration require a trip to the airport (walk or taxi) and then send (email) copy to port captain.
Dinghy dock – to south of ferry landing and navy/police dock. It’s a floating dock but often crowded and can be subject to swell.
ATM – at Dzaoudzi ferry landing (near the dinghy dock and just inside the entrance cage – no entry restrictions so you can come and go as you please into the ‘cage’ area) – so you can soon get some Euros to start spending.
Ferry between Dzaoudzi and Main island is 75c for a return trip (you only pay one way), the ferries run regularly and seem in good order.
Taxis are ‘collective’ or ‘bush’ meaning they may pick up other passengers during your ride (more like a on demand bus but a car – €2 per person per ride for most trips (fuel cans / groceries may be €extra per can/bag) – can be found at most public places or just hailed as you see them.
Free internet at yacht club (buy a drink). Also laundry machines at 1.50 Euro per load!
3 major sim providers – Orange, Only, and SFR (and other smaller providers no doubt)
– orange – we didn’t use this one, but others were happy with it
– SFR – we paid €2 for a SIM that came with 3gb free and then paid €5 for 5gb (lasts for 5 days) – we went with a data only plan. If you top up at the machines in official SFR stores then extra data is automatically added (at least that was offered during our visit)
– Verify in store that internet and hot spot is working (and ask how to top up if required)
Grocery
– Covered market on main and petit islands
– Afternoons have a few women selling veggies at ferry landing area (Dzaoudzi)
– Big covered market at Mamoudzou by ferry landing
– Supermarkets on Petit – Carrefour, sodifram (Kawani)
– Mall on Grand terre also has hardware store (Mr Bricologe) and grocery (Jumbo Score)
– We found supermarkets were poorly stocked with fruit and veg, often they would have nothing, or maybe just pears – lots of empty areas. Also we were surprised (even at the markets) at the lack of fruit/veg options. Carrots and potatoes were hard to come by. Grapes, Avocados, seemed an impossible dream.
Chandlery
– grand Terre- SV Nautique – not a great lot of stock, but very helpful
Note: Clearance section reference a link to documents at https://www.mayotte.cci.fr/ports-de-plaisance/ – however that link is no longer valid.
Thanks MaryAnne – again – web link has changed and forms are now easier to find in the first blue box – top right of page. Go to https://www.mayotte.cci.fr/nos-implantations/port-de-plaisance/ [links for arrival form and exit form in the first blue box, right of site]. Noonsite updated.
Posted on behalf of Brian Simm
All paperwork is shore-based and free. Entry and exit forms are held by yacht club 200 m to the left of the ferry landing at Dzoudri. ( open 11 am to 8 pm ) visits to the airport for immigration and to customs are needed on arrival and departure.
http://www.sailingadventureworldwide.com/index_htm_files/ACHM/index.htm
We are here in the moment and having a great time with this French people… the ACHM club is fully supporting us and give great service…
Greetings, Hans