KRALENDIJK – Ahead of Dia di Rincon, Dutch Caribbean Customs is stepping up controls on Bonaire. Both at the seaport and at the airport, customs officers will have a heightened visible presence to ensure a safe and smooth holiday period.
For the seaport, vessels are required to report no later than twenty-four hours before arrival. Clearance in and out is mandatory when transporting goods or passengers for payment. In such cases, a manifest must be submitted through the Asycuda system.
Goods must be declared through a customs broker. Recreational vessels are required to register via the Regional Clearance System (RCS) and/or SailClear.
Rules Airport
At the airport, customs makes a distinction between personal and commercial goods.
For personal goods, travelers may make an oral declaration for items up to a value of one thousand five hundred dollars and pay any ABB due on the spot. If the value exceeds this amount, declaration through a customs broker is mandatory.
For commercial goods, the same procedure applies, but with a lower threshold of one thousand dollars. Up to that amount, an oral declaration may be made and any ABB and import duties due may be paid immediately; above that threshold, a customs broker is required.
Dutch Caribbean Customs urges everyone to comply with the regulations in a timely manner, so that checks run smoothly and safety during Dia di Rincon is guaranteed.
