Clearing in and out in the Caribbean: Systems in the Lesser Antilles

Sailing in the Caribbean – meaning the Lesser Antilles – involves a considerable amount of organizational effort in some cases, as clearing customs and immigration is always required when moving between islands. This is because many of the islands are independent states or at least separate territories with their own administrative and customs systems. To my knowledge, there are currently five different procedures in the Lesser Antilles, which are applied depending on the state or territory. These range from fully digital solutions and hybrid systems to classic paper-based processes and, in most cases, personal visits to the authorities. Many sailors find the first steps in the French system particularly challenging, as it uses its own procedures, terminology, and, in some cases, special links that are not easily accessible or difficult to find. To make matters worse, some screens have only been partially translated into English. I hope this video has provided some initial guidance and helped some people to use the various systems. The video does not claim to be exhaustive, nor can it be adapted to situations that are sometimes subject to change. It is based on my knowledge of the past few years up to 2026.