Permit· Ponce· Other Caribbean
Puerto Rico ROAM / CBP Arrival Reporting
17° 58.0′ N · 66° 37.2′ W · approximate
Every boat arriving in Puerto Rico from a foreign port, including the DR, must report to CBP immediately. The free CBP ROAM app or a phone call starts the process.
Practical
Pinned near Ponce as a representative location; the rule applies island-wide. CBP (2024–2025): report arrival immediately (19 CFR 4.2). Use the CBP ROAM app (free on iOS and Android), which can also enroll you as a Verified Traveler, or phone 1-877-529-6840 / (787) 729-6840, staffed 8am to midnight, seven days. SVRS is no longer in service and float plans are no longer accepted. Have ready: name, date of birth and citizenship of everyone aboard (passports and visas as applicable), boat name and registration, CBP user-fee decal number (vessels 30 ft and over; buy online via DTOPS or on arrival), the cruising license number if you are a qualifying foreign vessel, and a return phone number. You may be directed to an inspection site: Ponce Pier (Caribbean Image Marina), Mayagüez Seaport, Fajardo, San Juan marinas, Vieques or Culebra. Failure to report: penalties of US$5,000 for a first violation and US$10,000 for subsequent ones, with possible seizure. The Virgintino guide adds: fly the Q flag the moment you anchor, and foreign-flag boats should get a cruising license at the first port of entry.
Best for
Getting legally into US waters from the DR