Malta added to the U.S. cruising license country list (19 CFR 4.94(b)), effective 2026-10-29
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) final rule (CBP Dec. 26-18) amends 19 CFR 4.94(b) to add Malta to the list of countries whose pleasure vessels may be issued U.S. cruising licenses: Maltese-flagged pleasure yachts holding a license (up to one year per license) may proceed from port to port and cruise in U.S. waters without formal entry and clearance, without filing manifests or obtaining permits to proceed, and without payment of entrance and clearance fees, duty on tonnage, and similar fees (reciprocal authorization under 46 U.S.C. 60504 — the State Department confirmed on June 10, 2026 that Malta grants reciprocal treatment to U.S. yachts, so the privileges apply retroactively as of June 10, 2026). A customs-procedures convenience only — no HTS tariff-rate changes.
Scope
None (yacht entry-procedure and fee exemptions only; no tariff-rate changes)
Old → new values
| Item | Old value | New value |
|---|---|---|
| 19 CFR 4.94(b) cruising license country list | Malta not included | Malta added (reciprocal privileges apply retroactively as of June 10, 2026) |