Part 3Entry and exit of goods, persons, and craft
Arrival and departure of goods, persons, and craft: Departure of craft
37Certificates of clearance
A Customs officer may grant a certificate of clearance in respect of a craft.
Before a certificate of clearance is granted in respect of a craft, the person in charge of the craft must—
- within the prescribed time, provide Customs with an advance notice of departure; and
- produce any other documents required by a Customs officer in relation to any of the following:
- the craft:
- the craft’s passengers, crew, cargo, or stores:
- the craft’s intended journey; and
- the craft:
- comply with all requirements under this Act or any other enactment in relation to the following:
- the craft:
- the craft’s passengers, crew, cargo, or stores:
- the craft’s intended journey.
- the craft:
Before a certificate of clearance is granted in respect of a craft, a Customs officer may ask the person in charge of the craft any question in relation to any of the following, and the person must answer the question:
- the craft:
- the craft’s passengers, crew, cargo, or stores:
- the craft’s intended journey.
A Customs officer must not grant a certificate of clearance in respect of a craft if the person in charge of the craft refuses or fails to answer any question asked under subsection (3).
A certificate of clearance may be granted subject to any conditions that the chief executive considers appropriate.
A certificate of clearance must be granted in the form prescribed by the chief executive’s rules.
The advance notice of departure referred to in subsection (2)(a) must—
- be provided in the way prescribed by the chief executive’s rules; and
- be accompanied by any supporting documents that the chief executive considers appropriate.
The advance notice of departure and any supporting documents may be provided, on behalf of the person in charge of the craft, by—
- the owner or operator of the craft; or
- an agent of the owner or operator.


