Border Patrol on the North Pole

[Carol_the_Impaler]

Ok, the title’s a little disingenuous, but it rhymes… Anyway, I was wondering if you need a passport to visit Antarctica. Turns out you don’t, but this sitesays:

As no one owns the Antarctic continent, no visitors require a visa or passport; however, a valid passport will be required for any stops en route, and visas and passports may be needed for points of departure. Most Western countries are signatories of the Antarctica Treaty and those wishing to visit Antarctica independently must obtain a permit.

Must obtain a permit? From who? Who checks when you get there? Is there an international airport with some kind of border control/customs? Do the signatories of the Antarctica Treaty take turns?

[Ravenman]

I googled Antarctica permit and got multiple answers on the first page. If you are American and you wish to undertake certain activities, like entering environmentally sensitive areas, you must apply to the National Science Foundation. If you are British and you wish to undertake an expedition, you get a permit from the Foreign Office. If you are a tourist on a Canadian vessel, you must apply to the Canadian Polar Commission. The laws apparently vary by country.

[hibernicus]

Here’s a related question. I sometimes see cruises to the Antarctic peninsula advertised in magazines, which include the opportunity to land in Antarctica. However in each case where I’ve bothered to read the details, the landing places are invariably on the peninsula’s offshore islands, and not on the continent itself.

Is there some code of practice that says that tourist activity in that area should be restricted to offshore islands?

[EdwardLost]

@hibernicus

Here’s a related question. I sometimes see cruises to the Antarctic peninsula advertised in magazines, which include the opportunity to land in Antarctica. However in each case where I’ve bothered to read the details, the landing places are invariably on the peninsula’s offshore islands, and not on the continent itself.

Is there some code of practice that says that tourist activity in that area should be restricted to offshore islands?

We had one landing on the peninsula itself, the rest on islands. Most landings were at or near the sites of bases. Maybe this was to reduce the area of human impact, maybe just to give us something else interesting to look at. I don’t know why the bases were established more often on the islands than on the mainland.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Although I presume it’s obvious, the North Pole is at the other end of the planet from Antarctica. And, at least according to Hollywood, the long arm of the law reaches even down there: Whiteout (2009 film) - Wikipedia

[Telemark]

And the North Pole, being floating ice, doesn’t really qualify as land.

[Carol_the_Impaler]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Although I presume it’s obvious, the North Pole is at the other end of the planet from Antarctica. And, at least according to Hollywood, the long arm of the law reaches even down there: Whiteout (2009 film) - Wikipedia

But what rhymes with Antarctica!!

[Apex_Rogers]

@niblet_head

But what rhymes with Antarctica!!

You could’ve gone with the more geographically correct “South Pole”

[hibernicus]

@EdwardLost

We had one landing on the peninsula itself, the rest on islands. Most landings were at or near the sites of bases. Maybe this was to reduce the area of human impact, maybe just to give us something else interesting to look at. I don’t know why the bases were established more often on the islands than on the mainland.

I’m impressed that you’re answering this question from first-hand experience! I think your explanation sounds right - the human sites are often on the islands and so that’s where they bring you to visit.

[Carol_the_Impaler]

@Apex_Rogers

You could’ve gone with the more geographically correct “South Pole”

Artistic license.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Hereby revoked.

[Chefguy]

@niblet_head

Artistic license.

Perhaps “Arcticstic license” would be better.

[Carol_the_Impaler]

Yeah, that’s fair.

[ctnguy]

@Elendil_s_Heir

Although I presume it’s obvious, the North Pole is at the other end of the planet from Antarctica. And, at least according to Hollywood, the long arm of the law reaches even down there: Whiteout (2009 film) - Wikipedia

Not just according to Hollywood. Evidently certain NSF personnel are trained and deputized as Special Deputy Marshals.

To try to answer the OP, it seems that people in the Antarctic are subject to the law of their home country and/or the law of the country where their expedition was organised. So it depends where you’re from, and possibly on how you’re getting there.

[Tom_Tildrum]

@Elendil_s_Heir

And, at least according to Hollywood, the long arm of the law reaches even down there: Whiteout (2009 film) - Wikipedia

The movie has gotten dismal reviews, but it is apparently correct that there is a US Marshal stationed in Antarctica at all times. They rotate yearlong tours of duty between Antarctica and Hawaii.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Cool - I mean, really cold! Thanks!