Notification (Pre-arrival notification)

With a notification the following deadlines apply:

• Ships: at least 24 hours before the expected arrival time.
• Aircraft: at least 12 hours before the expected arrival time.

If the sailing or flight time is shorter, the notification will have to be made no later than the time of departure to the port or airport on the island of the Caribbean Netherlands in question.

What information should the notification contain?

The name of the means of transport and the country of registration.

• The number of crew members.
• A description of the cargo: per consignment note, a statement of the brands and numbers of the goods, the number and type of packaging, a description of the goods or, if available, the Harmonized System code, as well as the gross weight; 
• The last port/airport of departure.
• The expected time of arrival of the means of transport and the goods transported with it in the port or at the airport; 
• The location of arrival.

This data corresponds to the data stated in the so-called IMO FAL Form 1 and 2 (shipping) and Annex 9 ICAO (aviation).

How should I make the notification?

The notification must be submitted electronically to customs (for the details see below under contact).

Usually, regular scheduled services are used for the supply of goods and fixed agreements have been made with Customs regarding the notification. A simple way to make the notification is to use the customs application Asycuda World.

Must a notification be submitted for each ship or aircraft?

No, the following ships and aircraft do not require notification*:

• Warships and military aircraft.
• Pleasure craft and general aviation aircraft.
• Fishing vessels that return from fishing and are provided with a Caribbean Netherlands indication of the port where they belong;
• Tugs who are registered on the Caribbean Netherlands island of entry;
• Vessels used to provide maritime pilot services.
• Lifeboats.
• Ships and aircraft belonging to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG), which is the coast guard for Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten and the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

*NB! The exemption from making the notification for the aforementioned ships and aircraft does not apply if:

• the ship, aircraft or goods on board are subject to import duties;
• prohibitions or restrictions apply to the ship, aircraft or goods on board;
• certain formalities are required by law to obtain exemption from import taxes;
• certain formalities need to be fulfilled by law when it comes to providing a certain customs destination for the ship, aircraft or goods on board;
• the ship or aircraft is not being used in accordance with its intended purpose.