International Operations
Boats operating in the waters of foreign countries usually must have a reciprocal license. A U.S. boat operating in the Bahamas, for instance, will be required to obtain a Bahamian reciprocal license and will identify as X4XXX/C6A to show it is in the Bahamas.
Remember that boats operating offshore are considered maritime mobile and are governed by the rules of the country in which the vessel is registered or documented.
The ARRL web site has comprehensive information on International Operating, obtaining reciprocal licenses as well as a list of those countries with reciprocal agreements with the U.S. and the scope of those agreements.
The following are links to the ARRL web site:
Reciprocal licenses for the Bahamas may be obtained from:
Executive Director and Secretary
Public Utilities Commission
Radio Licensing Department
PO Box N-4860
Nassau, Bahamas
Tel: 242 322-4437 Fax: 242 323-7288
Include:
- Letter of request
- Copy of your amateur radio license, general class or higher
- Copy of identification - birth certificate or passport photo page
- Cashiers check, or Int'l money order for $25/year to Bahamas PUC
Allow one to three months for processing a new application -
to speed up the process, fax the paperwork and airmail the money order.
For renewals, send a letter to renew, quoting your license number and enclose
the required fee - you do not need to send your license and you may continue to
transmit while awaiting the renewal receipt.
If you are renewing a lapsed Bahamian Reciprocal license,
include $6/year for years through 2001, and $25/year for years 2002 to date.
E-mail address is puc@pucbahamas.gov.bs
but chances of a reply are slim.
You may renew in person only in Nassau at the PUC, Agape House, fourth terrace
East off Collins Avenue, South of Doctors Hospital. You may also deliver
your paperwork for a new application, but the approval will still take several
weeks.
12/2003
BERMUDA RECIPROCAL LICENSE:
Reciprocal licenses (VP9) for Bermuda must be applied for at:
Department of Telecommunications
60 Reid Street
Hamilton, Bermuda HM11
Phone: 441 295-5151, Fax: 441 295-1462
Include:
- Letter of request with expected arrival/departure dates and proposed local address while in Bermuda
- Copies of indigenous License and birth certificate or passport photo page
No fee is charged for 3-month permit, $25 fee is charged
for license which will be valid until the following June 30
Allow 30 days if by mail, same day service if applying in
person
MEXICO RECIPROCAL LICENSE:
Reciprocal licenses (XE#) for Mexico may be applied for at:
CoFeTel
Area de Aficionados
Av. Telecomunicaciones s/n
Col. Leyes de Reforma
09310 México, D.F.
Phone: +52 (5) 691-7185 Fax: +52 (5) 691-7601
Prices for a Mexican reciprocal license seem to run from $70 to $92, and that appears to be for six months.
The Mexican reciprocal uses the suffix of XE#, with # being the number for the district you are in.
More (much more) info, including downloadable application forms, can be found here.
TURKS AND CAICOS RECIPROCAL LICENSE:
Reciprocal licenses for the Turks and Caicos may be applied for at:
Turks and Caicos Amateur Radio Society - TACARS
Box 218, Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies
Phone: 809 946-4436 (Jody Millspaugh VP5JM, TACARS Secretary, jody@tciway.tc)
Include:
- Completed application form available at www.vp5jm.com/license/license.doc or:
- Letter of request to include dates, boat name or location of operation and:
- Copies of indigenous license and birth certificate or passport photo page
- $35 fee covers calendar year, personal check or Int'l money order in US funds to TACARS
Allow two months due to slow mail service.
Reciprocal license will not be sent: pick up at island District Commissioner
Ms. Jody Millspaugh can authorize operation by phone or e-mail if application
has been approved