Bahamas -Visa Information

To enter The Bahamas, U.S. citizens need one of the three documents listed below, accompanied by a return or onward journey ticket and proof of funds to support the visit. Stays not to exceed eight months.

NOTE: If you are using an electronic ticket, please show Immigration a copy of your travel itinerary and ticket number.

Passport

Current or expired (up to a maximum of five years since expiration date).

OR

Official Birth Certificate

For persons 17 years of age and older:

An original certificate issued by the U.S. Govt. or court-certified copy (raised or ink seal) is required, accompanied by an Official Photo ID issued by the U.S. Govt. (driver’s license, or voter's card). Current and expired IDs are accepted. Student Photo ID alone is not acceptable as adequate documentation.

For persons 16 years of age and younger:

A birth certificate is all that is required. If the traveler is a student and possesses a student ID, the traveler should also carry the student ID to facilitate being processed by Bahamas Immigration.

For persons 16 years of age and younger, traveling alone:

A notarized parental letter of consent is required. In the case of organized group travel, a letter is not necessary. It is assumed that the chaperone has obtained prior permission.

NOTE: A laminated credit card-sized birth certificate is acceptable, as long as it is an original or certified copy (raised or ink seal).

OR

Original Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate

An original certificate is required, accompanied by a recent photo if photo on naturalization paper is not recent. 

NOTE: Persons are advised to purchase return tickets (and seek reimbursement upon returning home for the unused ticket), even when they are certain to return via a private boat – the chance of an airline/cruise line ticket agent allowing travel on a single ticket is very slim. If, however, the person gets to the point of Bahamas Immigration on a single ticket, the Captain of the boat would have to present himself and the cruising permit. However, a copy of the cruising permit will be permitted for crew members, who may be arriving by plane and returning by boat as their names will appear on the manifest. A letter will not suffice. 

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Arrival:

Upon arriving in The Islands of The Bahamas, everyone must fill out and sign an Immigration form, keeping a portion of the card in hand until departing. An oral baggage declaration is required. Each adult visitor is allowed to bring 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes or one pound of tobacco, one quart of spirits, and a variety of personal effects (personal radio headsets, bicycle, two still cameras, etc.). Purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars are permitted by all arriving passengers. 

Departure: 

Departures to the US must go through US Customs pre-clearance. US visitors may take home $600 worth of duty-free merchandise. The next $l,000 is taxed at 10%. Gifts valued up to $50 may be mailed home duty-free. One litre of wine, liqueur or liquor and five cartons of cigarettes may be taken duty-free. 

Boats: 

If entering The Bahamas by boat, there is a flat fee to clear Customs and Immigration, which is $150.00 for boats 35 feet and under and $300.00 for boats 36 ft and over. This will cover a vessel with four persons or less. Also included is the cruising permit, fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges and the $15.00 Departure Tax for up to four persons. Each additional person above four will be charged $15.00 Departure Tax. If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangement must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.