Permit· Luzon (Subic Bay Freeport)· Philippines

SBMA Port Operations and Clearance

14° 49.0′ N · 120° 16.9′ E · approximate

Subic Bay is an official Philippine port of entry, but Freeport rules run through the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Seaport as well as the national agencies. Done through the marina, clearance is painless; arriving unannounced is not.

Practical

Coordinates are approximate: the pin sits on the SBMA information office in the Freeport CBD (OSM). Officials come to the marina, not here. Procedure (Noonsite 2023 and cruiser reports 2023-24): get permission before you arrive by sending all paperwork early to SBYC, your boatyard or an agent. Email a Notice of Arrival with crew list 48 hours ahead to the Bureau of Immigration address bi.bss.noa@gmail.com. Each person also completes the eTravel declaration (etravel.gov.ph). On arrival, call port control on VHF 16 at Grande Island. You may be told to wait at the quarantine anchorage; one crew was asked to wait outside in 30-50 m and anchored off Grande Island instead. Quarantine, Customs, Coast Guard, Immigration and SBMA Seaport then clear you, usually at the marina. Fees: officially there should be none, but Subic charges. One 2023 report paid US$300 in and out; another gives US$150 standard, $50 per authority. Boats that stayed at anchor may be charged a Harbor Cleaning Fee of US$10/day plus US$60 pilotage on departure; boats berthed at SBYC are exempt. If the port authority has lost your paperwork, the SBYC General Manager can sort it out. Independent agent listed on Noonsite (2025): George de Leon, subicyachtserv.george@gmail.com. Visa extensions are available in Olongapo (office in the new shopping centre) or at the Freeport One Stop Shop. Bring cash, expect an 'express' fee of about US$20 per visa (2023), and note there is no 3-day renewal option here. Arriving from the south? Puerto Princesa charges no clearance fees.

Best for

Clearing into the Philippines with marina support

Nearby