Sailing pleasure craft to and from the UK
Find out about the required documentation for people who sail pleasure craft to and from the UK.
Documents
Details
Anyone who owns, or is responsible for, a pleasure craft (such as a yacht) that sails to or from locations outside the UK and the Isle of Man is required to provide information for customs purposes about:
- the vessel
- the voyage
- individuals on board
- goods documentation
Reporting requirements
As the UK is no longer part of the EU single market, pleasure craft owners now need to report in line with the ‘Rest of World’ requirements.
From 1 January 2022, all pleasure craft arriving in and departing from the UK and the Isle of Man (including those arriving in and departing from EU countries) must report in accordance with the requirements published on the Custom rules for sailing your pleasure craft to, from and within UK waters page.
Apply online
You can submit a pleasure craft report online to provide information about the voyage and individuals on board to HMRC and Border Force in advance of travel if you are travelling to and from the UK on pleasure craft.
Submit your form by email and post
The current C1331 (PDF version) format has been updated. The pleasure craft report (sPCR Fallback) template is an excel version that will allow data to be submitted by email to the National Yachtline and the relevant regional Border Force command.
Users of the pleasure craft report Excel version can use the links and the guidance within the template to complete and submit the form without posting it.
The previous PDF version can be downloaded and posted if required. The preference is for the new online service (details above) to be used and where that is not possible for the ‘Pleasure craft Report (sPCR Fallback) Template’ to be used for reporting pleasure craft details to HMRC and Border Force.
If you prefer to post the PDF version of the form, the address is:
Yacht Reports
Freight Clearance Centre
Lord Warden Square
Western Docks
Dover, Kent
CT17 9DN
If you are arriving from outside the UK (and this includes the Channel Islands) you must fly the ‘Q’ flag as soon as you enter UK waters (the 12 mile limit).
Do not take down the flag until you have finished reporting to the customs authorities. If you do not comply you will be liable to a penalty.
If you are arriving from an EU member state into Northern Ireland, there is no need to fly the ‘Q’ flag.
Promotional material
The following promotional material has been provided:
- A3 poster (with QR code and link) – A3 poster that can be downloaded with QR code and link for accessing the submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR) service
- Twitter poster – banner that can be downloaded and used for promoting the submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR) service on Twitter
- Facebook poster - Banner that can be downloaded for promoting the submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR) service on Facebook
- website banner - banner that can be downloaded and added to websites and emails for promoting the submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR) service
- general poster (with QR code and link) - poster that can be downloaded with QR code and link for accessing the submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR) service
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Updates to this page
Published 8 January 2014Last updated 22 August 2022 + show all updates
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Added partner pack containing online campaign assets.
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You can now submit a pleasure craft report online. Added a link to the service and promotional material that can be downloaded and used for promoting the online service.
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Updated version of e-C1331 document published, addition to landing page of link to HMRC page on Notice 8.
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Form e-C1331 added to page, introductory text in 'details' section updated.
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Customer charter for maritime operations added.
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First published.