Tourist Permit Requirements
All visitors to Antarctica require advance permits under the Antarctic Treaty Protocol on Environmental Protection. Understand the permit framework, who issues them, and how operators handle compliance.
Applicable Regions
Every person who sets foot on the Antarctic continent or its surrounding islands requires authorization under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol). This is not optional -- it is international law.
Who Issues Permits?
Permits are issued by the national government of the country from which you depart or whose flag your vessel flies. For most Antarctic tourists:
- United States: National Science Foundation (NSF) issues permits under the Antarctic Conservation Act
- United Kingdom: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Polar Regions Department
- Australia: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Argentina: Direccion Nacional del Antartico
- New Zealand: Antarctica New Zealand
- Chile: Instituto Antartico Chileno
How Permits Work for Tourists
In practice, individual tourists rarely need to apply for permits themselves. Licensed tour operators (IAATO members) obtain blanket expedition permits that cover all passengers on a given voyage. The operator submits:
- Advance notification of the expedition (at least 90 days before departure)
- Environmental Impact Assessment for each landing site
- Passenger manifest with nationality details
- Waste management plan
- Wildlife interaction protocols
Your booking confirmation from an IAATO-certified operator constitutes your permit documentation. You should carry a copy of the operator's expedition permit number.
What Permits Prohibit
Regardless of permit type, all visitors are prohibited from:
- Disturbing, harassing, or harming any Antarctic wildlife
- Collecting biological, geological, or historical specimens
- Entering designated Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) without specific ASPA permits
- Introducing non-native species, seeds, or organisms
- Leaving any waste, markings, or structures
- Operating drones without specific authorization
Independent Travel
Non-operator-organized visits (private yachts, independent expeditions) require individual permit applications filed directly with your national authority. Processing times range from 3-6 months. Independent travelers must demonstrate:
- Adequate vessel safety certification
- Complete self-sufficiency for waste management
- Environmental impact assessment for planned activities
- Communication equipment for emergency reporting
- Adequate insurance (minimum $2 million liability)
Birdland's Position
Birdland recognizes all permits issued under the Antarctic Treaty framework. The Guins government additionally requests that visitors respect all Birdland territorial markers and wildlife sovereignty zones. No additional Birdland-specific permit is currently required for visits of 30 days or less.