Home / Shipping to the British Indian Ocean Territory
Shipping to the British Indian Ocean Territory
A permit-only territory in the central Indian Ocean whose only inhabited island is a military facility. Civilian commercial freight is not a service that exists here.
The British Indian Ocean Territory is the Chagos Archipelago — a group of low-lying atolls in the central Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives. Its largest and only inhabited island, Diego Garcia, hosts a joint United Kingdom and United States military facility. The remaining islands are uninhabited.
Access is governed by a permit system rather than an open border. Published guidance from the territory's administration states plainly that the territory is not a tourist destination, that access is restricted and a permit is required in advance, that there are no commercial flights, and that access to Diego Garcia is limited to those connected with the military facility or the territory's administration. Yacht permits are issued for safe passage through the outer islands only.
The administration has also published notice that, as of 31 March 2026, it has paused substantive consideration of new permit applications except in exceptional circumstances while it considers its position following litigation. Anyone planning a movement into the territory needs to establish the current permit position first; the freight question is the second question, not the first. [Confirm the current position with the BIOT Administration before planning anything.]
At a glance
Status: British Overseas Territory · Islands: the Chagos Archipelago; Diego Garcia the only inhabited island · Access: permit required in advance; not a tourist destination · Commercial flights: none; the airstrip on Diego Garcia handles military aircraft · Sea access: harbour on Diego Garcia for official use; private vessels may not approach within 3 nautical miles without clearance · Environment: marine protected area designated 2010 · Currency: US dollar, with pound sterling also cited · Current position: new permit applications paused except in exceptional circumstances since 31 March 2026
What civilian access actually allows
Civilian entry requires specific written authorisation from the BIOT Administration, and published guidance describes approval as limited in practice to official government business or approved scientific research. Military personnel enter under defence orders rather than a civilian permit, and contractors require sponsorship and security clearance from the UK or US defence departments.
The restriction extends to the water. Private yachts, cruise ships and recreational vessels may not approach within three nautical miles of any island without clearance, and the exclusion zone is actively patrolled.
Practical reading. If you are not supplying the military facility under a contract, or working on an authorised research or conservation project, there is no commercial freight lane into the BIOT. We would rather say that in the first paragraph than quote a service we cannot perform.
If you are on an authorised project
For authorised movements, the cargo question becomes a routing question. The territory has a harbour at Diego Garcia and an airstrip that handles military aircraft, both of which are used for official purposes rather than as commercial gateways. Authorised project cargo is normally moved through the sponsoring institution's own logistics chain, which is the route to pursue.
- Establish the permit position first. Freight that arrives without authorisation is not released.
- Work through the sponsor. The sponsoring department, institution or contractor controls the movement, not the shipper.
- Expect environmental conditions. The territory was designated a marine protected area in 2010, and packaging, waste and biosecurity conditions follow from that.
- Ask who owns the last mile. On a facility of this kind, delivery is an internal matter, not a commercial one.
Neighbouring gateways, if the territory is not the destination
Often the enquiry behind a request like this is really about the region. If your cargo is bound for the central Indian Ocean but not for the territory itself, the workable commercial gateways are elsewhere — the Maldives to the north, Mauritius and the Seychelles to the south-west, and Colombo and Singapore further east. We can quote any of those properly.
An honest note on scope
We will not quote a service into the BIOT. There is no commercial port call, no commercial air service and no civilian import process. What we can do is move cargo to a regional gateway, or support an authorised project through the sponsor's chain, and we will tell you which of those your enquiry actually is.
Establish the permit position before you plan the freight
Tell us what the movement is for. If it is an authorised government, defence or research project, we will quote the leg we can control — consolidation, export clearance and the movement to the staging point your sponsor nominates — and we will be explicit about which approvals belong to the BIOT Administration and the sponsor rather than to us. If it is a commercial delivery to a private consignee, we will tell you at the start that this lane does not exist.
Get a quote Talk to usRelated pages
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship commercial cargo to the British Indian Ocean Territory?
No, not through any commercial channel. There are no commercial flights, no commercial port calls and no civilian import process. Access is permit-only and, in practice, limited to official business or authorised research.
Who issues entry permission?
The BIOT Administration. Published guidance states that access is restricted and a permit is required in advance, and that access to Diego Garcia is limited to those connected with the military facility or the administration.
Has the permit position changed recently?
Yes. The administration published notice that as of 31 March 2026 it has paused substantive consideration of new applications except in exceptional circumstances while it considers its position. Confirm the current position directly before planning.
Is there an airport or a port?
There is an airstrip and a harbour on Diego Garcia, both used for official purposes. The airstrip handles military aircraft; no commercial flights serve the territory.
How close may a vessel approach?
Private vessels may not approach within three nautical miles of any island without clearance, and the exclusion zone is actively patrolled. Yacht permits are issued for safe passage through the outer islands only.
What is the marine protected area?
The territory was designated a marine protected area in 2010, creating one of the world's largest no-take reserves. Environmental conditions attach to authorised movements.
What currency is used?
The US dollar, with pound sterling also cited by published sources. Confirm with the sponsoring authority, as settlement on a facility of this kind is not a commercial transaction.
What should I do instead?
If your cargo is bound for the central Indian Ocean but not for the territory, use a commercial gateway — the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Colombo or Singapore. We can quote those properly.