21 hours (avg) needed to clear-IN and OUT in Isla Mujeres

(text Diane and Claude - SV /Picasso )

MARCH 2006. We heard so many stories about clear-IN and OUT at Islas Mujeres that it is difficult to have an accurate understanding of the situation. This is because the local situation changes when a new regional manager is appointed in the zone. In spite of the law, the procedures are different on the Pacific coast than the Caribbean Coast. But the general observation is that Caribbean coast of Mexico is the worst area for clearing-in and out. They are professionals to complicate what is simple. For payments, Immigration use HSBC bank in Isla Mujeres, Port Captain use Banamex bank in Cancun and Customs use Banjercito in Puerto Morelos. Also the photocopies business should be a profitable one in that country. Many stories also about the hassling Port Captain in Isla Mujeres. So look the way that happened to us. This story can be tiresome because it is only facts.

STEP ONE . HEALTH. We had to go at the clinic for the Health procedures. In fact, all the forms (copies and original) for Immigration and Port Captain should be stamped first, for approval, by Health. And the captain of the boat should fill and sign forms in 5 carbon copies to certify that everybody is in good health on his boat. Asd we needed photocopies, we found an internet café that will do it, just on the other side of the street. Health services are free. They issued us a permit of circulation

STEP TWO. IMMIGRATION. Located in front of the beach. It costed to us 214 pesos per person. Firs,t they wanted to look at the previous Zarpe, then they asked 2 copies of crew list stamped by Heatlh and the passeport with 2 copies stamped by Heatlh. We filled a Visa entrance form with carbon copies. They indicated the price on it and gave us the carbon copie. They stamped the passport. They asked us to go HSBC bank to pay the amount of the Visa. At the bank, they stamped the Visa copy when paid. We kept it as official Visa.

STEP THREE. PORT CAPTAIN. Located in front of the beach. It costed us 163 pesos for the boat. He asked for the original previous clearance Zarpe with 5 copies. The original crew list with 3 copies. The boat Documentation with 5 copies. 2 copies of the passports. 2 photocopies of the Visa.

Then he produced an invoice of 163 pesos that you have to pay at the Banamex Bank located in Cancun . So you have to take the ferry 35 pesos per person one way, take a taxi from the Puerto Juarez to the bank 10 pesos per person. After they have stamped the invoice, you take the taxi back, plus the ferry back and show the payment to the Port Captain who will issue the Clearance-In ZARPE. As per the agent, there also an anchorage fee for the ones who are not in a marina. We were not anchored.

ABOUT THE AGENT. Miguel is also the manager of the Paraiso Marina. He is involved ONLY in these STEPS 3 and 5 . He will prepare all the forms needed in your company and will send all these to the Port Captain who will send the Clearance-In ZARPE to Miguel, few hours later. The agent have a special authorization to pay the fee without going to the bank. He will charge you 275 pesos to do that job. We used his service because we saved time and expenses to go to the Banamex bank in Cancun. (see the end of text). So the difference worth it in our point of view. The 2 first STEPS needed to us 4 four hours of our time and you can figure that STEP 3 will need an other 4 hours if not using an agent.

Without charging any fee, Miguel helped us during half an hour to prepare all documents needed for the sensitive STEP 4. Add an other big session of photocopies in town.

STEP 4. CUSTOM PERMIT OF BOAT IMPORTATION. Everybody have to go to Puerto Morelos, 30 kilometers south of Cancun, for that STEP. This import permit cost 49.50$US. Not in pesos. They prefer credit card but accept cash. They are operating only Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10 am and 1 pm. You must be there early, 8h30, to have a first rendez-vous number. At 1 pm, people still waiting or with missing documents would have to come back.

Up at 5h. we left the marina at 5h30 to take the ferry at 6h. At 6h20, in Cancun, we took a taxi to the bus terminal. The bus to Puerto Morelos leave at the hour and need 35 minutes to get at this bus station on the highway. We took a taxi (2.5km) to the gate of the harbour. We arrived at 7h45 to get the number ‘one’ on the list, to be the first one at 10h. The employee arrived at 11h that day. We ate a very long breakfast at a Café waiting for her. 45 minutes for the formalities. At 10 h, there were 12 scheduled appointement.

Puerto Morelos is a Custom Containers Inspection High-Security Area. To get in, you need an ID pass and to have it, you have to leave, as a caution, a personal document with your photo at the gate. I just had my passport but needed it for my rendez-vous. They accepted the Diane passport as a caution.

Banjercito have the contract in the whole Mexico to issue that permit and collect the money. But there is no Banjercito outlet in the Cancun Area. So they send an employee of Chetumal, 4 hours away, for that purpose at the Customs Area in Puerto Morelos. Funny, you are not dealing with a custom employee but a Banjercito clerk. Why the choice of Morelos instead of the Custom office at the Cancun Airport.? Because the actual Cancun Regional Manager of Custom decided so. A new one can decide an other location. Until ! Until they will built a new office at the ferry dock in Puerto Juarez, Cancun, regrouping Port Captain, Immigration, Custom, Banjercito, Health as they did on the Pacific Coast. They say in six months. Mexican Time of course. Later for sure.

So for that STEP 4, you need the following documents:

Documents of the boat (original + 2 copies)

Zarpe Clear-In (original + 2 copies)

Visa Captain (original + 2 copies)

Passport Captain (original + 2 copies)

A list of all electronics in the boat

Serial number of the hull

Serial number of the inboard motor

Serial number of the outboard

The Banjercito employee will issue the permit. Your marina manager will have to phone at the custom office in Cancun Airport and fix a visit appointement of a real Custom Officer at the boat and drive him or her from the ferry to the marina. Photo of the boat will be taken. Also the Officer will check the veracity of all informations you gave in Puerto Morelos. Then they will hand over the official permit, valid for 10 years. Custom said to us that people at anchor will have to move their boat to any dock because the custom employee do not enjoy anymore the dinghy rides.

We returned that day in Isla Mujeres at 2h pm after using back all the transportations involved. 9 hours for that STEP.

Some boaters skipped that trip and used instead the Mexican Web Site to fill forms and paid the fee by credit card. They were supposed to received documents through the mail but after two months, nothing was received. Without the permit in hand, the Port Captain refused to issue the ZARPE-OUT and without this last one, Immigration won’t stamp. So, they left the country without it and went in the States where authorities don’t require these documents. Problem should occurs for people who are heading to another country.

We met boaters who skipped the STEP 4 ad 5. Nobody will care unless a check of boat or if an accident occurs.

STEP FIVE. PORT CAPTAIN. Clearance-OUT. Same procedures and fees than STEP 3 but without fees for STEP 2. You still may use or not an agent. Many boaters, heading for the USA skip that STEP 5 as the USA don’t require these documents.

CONCLUSION

We counted a total of 12 hours, using an agent. Add 8 hours without an agent.

Including transportation, a total of 104$US for 1 person and 146$US for 2 persons.

Using an agent to Clear-IN is 26$US but, without an agent, for two persons, the transportation to the bank will cost 18$US. A difference of 8$US. Same result for Clearing-Out.

Rate US and Pesos = 10.45

In Isla Mujeres, as holding is not so good , and as anchoring is no more permitted in the lagoon except in bad weather, we used one of the little marinas (one dock) in the lagoon for 250$US a month including water and electricity. We learned that many of boats in these marinas where there during hurricane Wilma without or with minor damages.