How to get the permit to visit Antarctica

If you decided that you want to travel to Antarctica and you are planning on visiting Antarctica independently, you will need to acquire a permit.

Permit to visit Antarctica is required if you wish to conduct scientific, management or recreational and other non-government activities in the Antarctic or sub-Antarctic. You will need to be aware of and to comply with all national and state legislative requirements. Such as: Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, the Antarctic Treaty and Protocol on Environmental Protection.

In other words, you cannot just decide to travel to Antarctica on your own since independent traveling to Antarctica is highly limited.

Getting permit to visit Antarctica is a well established procedure.

Here are some offices that can issue you a permit to travel to Antarctica:

Permit in USA:

Permit in Canada:

There is no fee associated with processing a permit to travel to the Antarctic.

Permit in New Zealand:

• Permission to visit Scott Base and New Zealand field stations. Permission to visit Scott Base must be sought from Antarctica New Zealand’s Chief Executive prior to departure. Visit details must be confirmed with the Scott Base Manager 24-72 hours in advance. Permission is also required from the Scott Base Manager before making visits to any other New Zealand field stations.

• Permits to visit New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands. Although New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands are outside the Antarctic Treaty area, they are often included in Antarctic voyage itineraries. The Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Island, Campbell Island and the Snares Islands are protected as national nature reserves, administered by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC) under the Reserves Act 1977.

All tourist landings at the islands are prohibited except under DoC permit. Tours making approved landings must be accompanied by a DoC representative, who is usually also appointed as the National Representative for the Antarctic leg of the journey (see 3.9.5 and Appendix 6).

For further information and inquiries contact:

Macquarie Island is administered by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service in Australia, and permission to visit it must be sought from that agency.

• Permits under the Antarctic Marine Living Resources Act. Under the Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) Act no marine organism, alive or dead, may be taken from the area without a permit from the Minister of Fisheries. This applies to both scientific and exploratory commercial fishing activities. Commercial fishing vessels are required to carry both New Zealand and international observers. The Ministry of Fisheries manages this process and can be contacted for further information and inquiries:

Permit in UK:

Permit in Australia:

A range of legislation that implements Australia’s obligations under various international agreements, regulates certain activities through permit systems, while prohibiting others altogether. Permits for most Antarctic activities can be applied for using the Antarctic Applications Online (AAO) System. Contact us for directions on how to apply for your permits. Email: [email protected] or alternatively telephone the Permits Officers on (03) 6232 3402 or (03) 6232 3347.

You don’t need a permit for:

• ships or aircraft travelling to an immediate destination outside Antarctica
• fishing vessels, unless they are carrying out functions related to an expedition
• Expeditions organized in and authorized in writing by another contracting party (country) to the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty.

If you’re joining a cruise ship it’s unlikely you’ll need individual permits as tour operators will normally apply for one on your behalf, but it’s your responsibility to check the position with the company you are travelling with.

I hope this information was of help to you. And wish you success in getting your permit to travel to Antarctica.