Permit· Tobago· Windward Islands
Scarborough Customs and Immigration
11° 10.9′ N · 60° 44.2′ W · approximate
Tobago's main port of entry, where most officials are based; it issues the clearance and bay-hopping permit for the whole island except the north coast.
Practical
Position is the Scarborough Port Authority building by the ferry terminal (OpenStreetMap); the exact office locations are not mapped (approx). Noonsite (September 2024): all crew, even small children, go ashore together immediately on arrival. The Immigration office is hard to find: it has a clear sign, but the entrance is down a narrow alley through a metal gate that looks like a service access, then around the corner and up a flight of stairs. Make copies of passports and boat papers first; there is a copy shop at the mall. Noforeignland reviewers say to bring one copy of every crew passport and the registration, and note holiday arrivals may incur extra fees. Arrive and anchor well within office hours: arrival out of hours is charged as overtime (Noonsite). In 2019 a cruiser was given a 3-month entry stamp. When leaving for Trinidad, Customs and Immigration endorse your papers for Chaguaramas (you get a sealed copy); you must sail directly there without stopping and report on arrival. You may clear out from Charlotteville instead if Customs is told the exact date before you leave Scarborough. No agent is legally required: a 2023 report found officers pushing an agent, so politely decline.
Best for
Clearing in for the south and west of the island
Nearby
- Scarborough Ferry TerminalRight here
- Scarborough Market0.1 NM away
- Scarborough Harbour Anchorage0.2 NM away
- Tobago Heritage Festival0.2 NM away
- Tobago Repairs and Chandlery (none on island: use Chaguaramas)0.3 NM away
- Fort King George (Scarborough)0.7 NM away
- Scarborough General Hospital0.9 NM away
- Bacolet Bay Beach1.1 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).