The Transit Clearance Authority publishes its Schedule of Clearance Fees on this site. The 2026 schedule applies to all applications lodged from 1 January 2026 and introduces a revised tier structure reflecting current corridor operating costs.
What are Strait of Hormuz transit fees?
A Strait of Hormuz transit fee is the clearance charge payable to the Transit Clearance Authority for each vessel seeking a Transit Clearance Certificate. The fee funds the maintenance of the transit registry, permit processing, certificate issuance, and corridor coordination services.
Fees are assessed per transit — a vessel making both an inbound and an outbound passage in the same voyage must hold a certificate for each direction and pay separately for each. Certificates are valid for 72 hours from the time of issuance.
2026 fee tiers by DWT
Fees are calculated based on declared deadweight tonnage (DWT). Four tiers apply:
- Tier 1 — up to 30,000 DWT: USD 1,400 per transit
- Tier 2 — 30,001–80,000 DWT: USD 2,800 per transit
- Tier 3 — 80,001–200,000 DWT: USD 4,600 per transit
- Tier 4 — over 200,000 DWT (VLCC class): USD 6,200 per transit
For reference, a standard VLCC crude tanker of 300,000 DWT — one of the 18 oil tankers transiting today — would pay USD 6,200 per passage. A mid-size LNG carrier of approximately 90,000 DWT falls into Tier 3 at USD 4,600.
Expedited processing surcharge
Applications requiring certificate issuance within 24 hours (rather than the standard 48 hours) attract an expedited processing surcharge of USD 650, applied on top of the applicable tier fee. Expedited applications must be flagged at the time of lodgement and are subject to availability.
Fleet rate discount
Operators lodging three or more vessels in a single fleet lodgement qualify for a 10% discount applied to the subtotal of all certificates in the lodgement. Each vessel receives its own individual certificate. The fleet discount may not be combined with other promotional rates.
Why transit fees have risen in 2026
Elevated geopolitical attention on the Strait of Hormuz in 2026 has increased the administrative and coordination burden on the Transit Clearance Authority. Insurance underwriters, port-state authorities at destination ports, and charterers in Asia and Europe have escalated verification requirements for certificates, leading to higher processing volumes and a need to maintain larger on-call permitting capacity.
The fee revision for 2026 also reflects the increased cost of corridor information services, satellite AIS data subscriptions, and liaison with maritime patrol commands that the Authority maintains to keep the transit registry accurate.
Are transit fees tax-deductible?
Transit clearance fees are generally treated as a voyage cost and are deductible as an operating expense for the purposes of corporate income tax in most jurisdictions. Operators should confirm treatment with their own tax advisers. The TCA issues a payment confirmation record for each certificate that operators may use as supporting documentation.
How to pay and apply
Applications are lodged through this site. Payment is accepted in cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, and USDT on supported chains). Upon payment confirmation, the certificate is issued and emailed to the contact provided at lodgement. Processing is 48 hours standard, 24 hours expedited.