Clearing Into Grenada: Best Tips for Sailors

Arriving in a new country is always exciting! But clearing Customs? That can be a bit daunting, unless you know what to expect. And clearing into Grenada is no different with its own quirks to know about. 

We arrived in Carriacou, Grenada on a Saturday in June 2024, with haunting stories of a mean Customs lady here! Lucky for us, we got a nice Customs official and a very smooth check in, even with our dog.

We spent the following 6 months in Grenada for hurricane season, learning all of the ins and outs. We have been to all of the ports of entry, and even extended our VISAs so we could stay here longer.

This article will put all of the information for checking in at Grenada Customs in one place:

• Overview of Grenada Customs and Excise and Ports of Entry
• Clearing in and out process – step by step instructions
• VISA information
• Sailing to Grenada with a Dog
• What to do when you get to Grenada

If it’s your first time checking into Grenada, or it’s been awhile and you are wondering what has changed, check out the information below and be well prepared to drop anchor in Grenada and discover this wonderful island.

Overview of Customs and Excise in Grenada

Ports of Entry

After sailing to Grenada, the first thing you will need to do is clear in with Grenada’s Customs and Excise. They are located in three different ports – one in Carriacou and 2 in Grenada:

• Tyrell Bay, Carriacou Marine, Carriacou
• Port Louis Marina, St. Georges, Grenada
• Prickly Bay Marina, Grenada

Note: Customs and Immigration are up and running in Carriacou. When we arrived in June 2024 (Pre-Hurricane Beryl) both officials were located at the office at Carriacou Marine. When we departed in December 2024 (Post-Hurricane Beryl) the Customs official was still at Carriacou Marine but the Immigration official was located at the Ferry Dock Office complex (next to Tyrell Bay Marina).

The typical office hours for Customs and Excise are:

• Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday – Sunday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Note: Overtime charges will apply when clearing in or out on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. The overtime charge is determined by the position of the agent working that day and thus varies. We were charged $143 XCD ($53 USD) when we cleared into Carriacou on a Saturday in June 2024.

Clearing Out of Grenada

You will need to go to one of these Customs offices during normal working hours to clear out of Grenada when you are ready to leave. You can clear out up to 24 hours in advance of your departure. 

Clearing out a day early is very helpful, as a lot of times we like to leave early in the morning. We can clear out the afternoon before we leave, and have all of the paperwork taken care of.

Use SailClear for Clearing In and Out of Grenada

Along with many other countries in the Caribbean, Grenada uses SailClear for sailors to submit their customs declarations in electronic format. 

SailClear is Grenada’s online customs form, and an online system used by several islands in the Caribbean for clearing in and out of their country. 

It is very easy to use and keeps your information such as details about your sailboat (make, model, length, beam, draft) and details about your captain and crew (name, Passport ID). 

For each use, you add your declarations for stores and spirits, and declarations about ammunition and pets you are traveling with in the Caribbean.

While there is now an annual charge of $25 USD to use SailClear, it saves a lot of time when you get to the Customs’ offices. All you have to do is give them your Notification ID from SailClear and they can pull up all of your information.

Note: While some countries indicate that it is optional, we have found that it is becoming required for entry in many islands. Some Customs’ offices have computer stations for you to use to complete your SailClear (you will still need an account with them), however, this varies by island.

Documents Needed to Check Into Grenada

As with most every country you sail to, you will need the following documents to bring to the Customs and Excise office for clearing in and out of Grenada:

• Passports of all passengers
• SailClear Notification ID
• Stamped departure paperwork from country previously visited
• Vessel Documentation (we use our USCG Vessel Documentation)

Step-by-Step Process for Clearing Into Grenada

1. Anchor, moor or dock your boat at or near one of the 3 Ports of Entry
2. Put up your Quarantine Flag (yellow flag) until you are cleared in
3. Complete SailClear and have your Notification ID on hand
4. Check in at the Customs and Excise Office
   • Captains only – in Tyrell Bay, they ONLY allow the Captains in the office for clearing in and out. I have found the other offices are a bit more lenient and both of us have gone into Port Louis Marina and Prickly Bay to extend our cruising permit and to clear out.
5. Pay Cruising Permit Fees
   • Bring local currency, Eastern Caribbean Dollars (ECD), if you have it, or smaller US Dollar bills. While using a credit card may be an option, the Wifi (and thus the credit card machine) may or may not be working at the time you are clearing in or out.
   • Fees depend on length of boat, length of stay, and any extra fees if clearing in/out during overtime hours (this fee changes based on person/rank who is working the overtime)
6. Keep your clearance documents for when you need to clear out of Grenada, or extend your cruising permit.
7. Upon returning to your boat, raise your Grenada flag!
8. Enjoy your passage drink (optional of course!) and the beautiful island of Grenada

Helpful Tips and Information

Grenada Cruising Permit

Your cruising permit will be valid for 1 month. You can pay for additional months as necessary. 

We arrived in June, and went to the Customs office in Port Louis in July and received a 3 month extension on our cruising permit for $83.70 USD ($226 ECD).

If you are hauling out for any reason in Grenada, your cruising permit “pauses” or gets extended for the amount of time you are hauled out. 

We hauled out for one week in November, and that extended our cruising permit for one week.

Note: Be sure to get a letter from the boatyard you are hauled out at to bring to Customs. All of the boatyards in Grenada are very familiar with this letter.

VISA Information

When you arrive in Grenada and clear in, you are allowed to stay for 90 days. Before the 90 days are up, and you haven’t left Grenada for any reason, you will need to extend your VISA.

We stayed in Grenada for 6 months during hurricane season. Within our first 90 days, both Scott and I flew home to visit our family in the States. Since we left the country, our 90 days were reset when we returned to Grenada.

However, we did need to extend our VISAs after our visits home. To do this, you must visit the Immigration Office in St. Georges. It is a short walk from the dinghy docks from Island Water World (9-minute walk), Grenada Yacht Club (11-minute walk), or Port Louis Marina (22-minute walk).

Bring with you:

• Passports 
• Clearance paperwork
• Vessel documentation

The cost is $75 per person per month for the VISA extension.

Checking Into Grenada with a Dog

There are extra hoops to jump through when bringing your dog to Grenada, just like the other Caribbean countries (well, except for the French Islands, where nothing extra is required!).

I have detailed everything you will need to sail with your dog to Grenada in another article, and how the process went for us. In short, we had an easy time getting our dog, Mangaux, into Grenada. Here are the items you will need to have ahead of time:

• Rabies Vaccination within last 12 months
• DHLPP Vaccination within last 12 months
• Health Certificate
• Pet Import Permit

Mangaux truly loved playing on the beaches in Grenada, and meeting the friendly local dogs!

Frequently Asked Questions about Clearing Into Grenada

You’re All Cleared In – It’s Time to Enjoy Grenada!

After taking care of all of the paperwork side of things, it’s time to relax and check out the beautiful island of Grenada. 

Check out great cruising grounds in Grenada with Doyle’s helpful cruising guide.

Swim in their wonderful waterfalls, stop in at the popular cruiser restaurants, and hang with the Grenada Hash House Harriers. Even after that, there are still several other things to do like swimming in some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

After all of the fun activities, and you need to get some chores done, check out how to get around in Grenada and these helpful tips for grocery shopping in Grenada. 

I hope you enjoy Grenada as much as we do! Have any favorite places or activities here? We would love to hear from you!

Read More Posts about Grenada

• Sailing to Grenada: Helpful Information for Cruisers
• Spending Hurricane Season In Grenada
• 20 Best Restaurants in Grenada for Sailors
• 7 Best Waterfalls in Grenada: Rated Easiest to Hardest
• Bringing a Dog to Grenada: Steps for Stress Free Travel
• 10 Tips for Successful Grocery Shopping in Grenada
• How to Get Around in Grenada: 7 Best Methods of Transport
• 15 Best Things to Do in Grenada: The Ultimate Guide
• Grenada Hash House Harriers: On On to Fun Adventures!
• Clearing into Grenada: Best Tips for Sailors