How to check in in Isla Mujeres without an agent (Clearence proccess for sailors and sportfishing boats)
- Maik Ulmschneider
- Mar 9, 2024
- 3 min read
I am happy to update the process description for everyone who dares to check in without an agent:
0) Anchor in the bay
1) Get five fotocopies of
a) boat registration,
b) passports of entire crew,
c) crew list,
d) last port’s clearance.
Fotocopies: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TBVgBa8Wodk6rPWU8
2) Go to the Port Captain office in Centro during office hours (Mon-Fri 09:00 - 14:30). No radio announcement is necessary. If you arrive on a weekend just go there Monday morning.
Port Captain office Google Maps location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/RqiCMYpEuqKsS51v8
3) The guy at the window (most likely Oscar) will call the representative of the Sanitation Department. That might take a while.
4) The representative of the Sanitation Department will check your set of documents and will ask you some health related questions. He will take your body temperature, too. He will also ask you for a fumigation certificate. If you don’t have one and if you haven’t entered Mexico in the last six month on the same boat he will give you 72 hours to obtain the fumigation certificate. (I have made a separate post on the fumigation certificate.) When all is done he will issue the Certificate of Free Practique.
5) Make two more copies of that certificate.
6) Next usually is customs. They come from Cancún so it also may take a moment unless they are already there for other reasons. Customs most likely requests to board your boat. The customs officer will accompany you to your boat and inspect your boat. If you happen to have a temporary import permit mention this to him, it may accelerate the process. Please take into consideration that according to Mexican law tax exempt quantities of tobacco, alcohol and merchandise do not apply to captains of vessels.
7) After customs usually comes SADER (ex SAGARPE), the veterinarian agency. While sometimes they ask to board your boat usually they don’t. Import of fresh meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and plants is prohibited. Most likely they are accommodating and just tell you to consume it on your boat and not take it ashore. They have the right to confiscate, though.
8. Then you will need to present yourself and the entire crew at immigration, two blocks down the street from the Port Captain office. You will need to pay the immigration fee and return to the Port Captain office after all is done there.
Inmigration office Google Maps Location:
9) The guy at the window will hand you a bunch of forms to fill out, examples of how to fill them out are displayed at the window.
10) He will then give you a payment order that needs to be paid at one of the banks in cash and in MXN. They will hand you a receipt and you turn in this receipt at the Port Captain office. List of banks in Isla mujeres:
CITIBANAMEX: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AwJotBdd72hrimMt6
11) Then you will need to wait until your Certificate of entry is issued and signed by the Port Captain and you are good to go.
12) Make sure the set of documents you receive from the Port Captain with the Certificate of Arrival shows five stamps of the five agencies involved. This will become necessary when you apply for your temporary import permit later.
A few remarks:
1) Mexico takes the clearance of the last port very seriously. However, if you fail to have one, there is an emergency process that involves a letter and a proof that you were where you claimed you were but (usually) no fine.
2) Officially you can only start the process while your boat is anchored or docked in one of the two certified marinas (Marina Puerto Isla Mujeres and Marina Lima). Only after successfully clearing in you can pull into any marina you want. This is not always enforced but this is the rule.
3) Please know that customs and SADER are not based on the island. They come to attend us which is a voluntary service and spares us to go to see them in Cancun. Just think of this when you start getting annoyed about waiting time.
4) Fire arms are a big no go to import to Mexico on a boat. Don’t dare to declare them!! Hide them or don’t bring them!
5) If you or parts of your crew plan to leave Mexico by plane please make sure you keep the copy of the payment receipt for the immigration fees. Most likely when checking in to your flight you will be asked for it. If you fail to present it you will need to pay the immigration fee again.
And one last tip:
Don’t be on a schedule!
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