Sailseer

Greenland: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors

66 harbours

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Greenland: 66 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.

Formalities

outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Danish krone

Clearing in: Not in the EU, Schengen or the EU customs union. From Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland or another Schengen state there is no passport control; customs remain (for customs and duties, Denmark and the Faroe Islands also count as abroad). Entry and exit across the border with a non-Schengen country (e.g. the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada) only via an approved border crossing point (harbour) during its opening hours. For yachts in Nuuk, the harbour operator Sikuki publishes its own information sheet (harbour fee); arrange your berth with them in advance. Anyone who comes closer than 3 nautical miles to the baseline in the national park in north and east Greenland needs an expedition permit (apply at least 12 weeks in advance) with insurance or equivalent security for search, rescue and evacuation costs, and reports start, end and changes to JRCC Greenland and Arctic Command. In Melville Bay (nature reserve) navigation is severely restricted, with exceptions only for research; the defence area around Pituffik base is only accessible with permission from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Documents: Passport (anyone who needs a Schengen visa must have one valid for Greenland), boat papers, insurance, crew list, radio certificate; a permit for firearms and flare pistols.

Fees: Harbour dues; fee for the expedition permit application. For the permit, insurance or equivalent security in favour of the Danish state and the Government of Greenland: DKK 1 million per group for search and rescue operations, plus DKK 280,000 per participant for evacuation (DKK 600,000 in the national park north of 78° N). A bank guarantee of DKK 200,000 only covers transport to the nearest town without an emergency.

Fairway: Icebergs and drift ice, especially on the east coast and in Disko Bay; inaccurate charts, long rescue distances. The government classifies the entire national park as a high-risk area and, after the 2023 tsunami, is considering restrictions in Dickson Fjord. Position reports to GREENPOS (JRCC Greenland) are voluntary for yachts but recommended.

Nature: Northeast Greenland National Park, Melville Bay protected area, Ilulissat Icefjord (UNESCO); polar bears on the east coast and in the north.

Emergency: 112; JRCC Greenland in Nuuk, VHF channel 16 and DSC; carry a satellite phone and PLB.

Sources: Expeditions Greenland: sailing in the national park, Expeditions Greenland: reporting start and end to Arctic Command, Expeditions Greenland: high-risk fjords, Navigation.gl: reporting systems (GREENPOS), SuperyachtNews: arriving in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Expeditions Greenland: insurance and bank guarantee, Expeditions Greenland: Melville Bay, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: travelling to Pituffik, Sikuki Nuuk Harbour: rates and rules (information sheet for yachts), Order under the Aliens Act for Greenland (§ 38 and § 39: no checks to the Faroe Islands and the Schengen states, otherwise only via approved border crossing points), Grønlands Repræsentation: customs and duties on entry (also from Denmark and the Faroe Islands), Grønlands Repræsentation: passport for Greenland (identity card not recognised), Auswärtiges Amt: Denmark (with the Faroe Islands and Greenland), travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)

Harbours by cruising area

Central West Greenland (Sisimiut, Aasiaat, Ilulissat, Qeqertarsuaq)

East Greenland (Tasiilaq, Kulusuk, Ittoqqortoormiit)

North-west Greenland (Uummannaq, Upernavik, Qaanaaq)

South Greenland (Qaqortoq, Narsaq, Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq)

Southern West Greenland (Paamiut, Nuuk, Maniitsoq)

Frequently asked questions

Greenland: Do I need to clear in?

Not in the EU, Schengen or the EU customs union. From Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland or another Schengen state there is no passport control; customs remain (for customs and duties, Denmark and the Faroe Islands also count as abroad). Entry and exit across the border with a non-Schengen country (e.g. the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada) only via an approved border crossing point (harbour) during its opening hours. For yachts in Nuuk, the harbour operator Sikuki publishes its own information sheet (harbour fee); arrange your berth with them in advance. Anyone who comes closer than 3 nautical miles to the baseline in the national park in north and east Greenland needs an expedition permit (apply at least 12 weeks in advance) with insurance or equivalent security for search, rescue and evacuation costs, and reports start, end and changes to JRCC Greenland and Arctic Command. In Melville Bay (nature reserve) navigation is severely restricted, with exceptions only for research; the defence area around Pituffik base is only accessible with permission from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Greenland: Which documents do I need on board?

Passport (anyone who needs a Schengen visa must have one valid for Greenland), boat papers, insurance, crew list, radio certificate; a permit for firearms and flare pistols.

Greenland: What fees apply?

Harbour dues; fee for the expedition permit application. For the permit, insurance or equivalent security in favour of the Danish state and the Government of Greenland: DKK 1 million per group for search and rescue operations, plus DKK 280,000 per participant for evacuation (DKK 600,000 in the national park north of 78° N). A bank guarantee of DKK 200,000 only covers transport to the nearest town without an emergency.

Greenland: What is the emergency number at sea?

112; JRCC Greenland in Nuuk, VHF channel 16 and DSC; carry a satellite phone and PLB.

Greenland: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?

Sailseer covers 66 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.