 Bahamas : Formalities
Arrival
Entry into the Bahamas must be made at one of the official ports of entry, and the yellow Q flag should be flown within three miles of the port. Notify Customs of your arrival and no one should go ashore until pratique has been granted. Clearance must be done on arrival and Customs and Immigration will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card (US citizens can present passport or birth certificate, a Driver's Licence is not acceptable).
Regular hours for Bahamas Customs and Immigration Officers are 0900-1700 weekdays. Officers are on call during holidays and weekends. There is no overtime charge.
The Bahamas can be transited without clearing in until one arrives at a port of entry at a convenient time, but during transit one should not enter a port or go ashore.
Entry Fees
Entry fees must be paid by all visiting yachts (see Fees section below for details) and are inclusive of a cruising permit, fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons (captain plus 3 crew). Each additional person (over the age of 6) will be charged departure tax.
The Cruising Permit is issued for 12 months. The current fees are now valid for multiple entries during any 90-day period, which means that a vessel may leave the Bahamas and re-enter within the first 90 days of a Cruising Permit's validity, without payment of any additional fee. For further details see the Customs section below.
The Fishing Permit is valid for 3 months. Extensions to this cost an additional $150 for 12 months.
There are no overtime or other charges. One should obtain an official receipt for all fees paid.
On some of the outer islands, the customs officer may handle all formalities, but in Nassau and other larger ports both the customs and immigration officials must be seen. Officials should come to the yacht, but in smaller islands the captain will have to go ashore to find them. Crew must remain on board until clearance is completed. If clearing in at a marina, the marina personnel will call customs and immigration after arrival.
Paperwork
Duplicate copies of Maritime Declaration of Health, Inward Report for Pleasure Vessels and crew lists will have to be filled in. A temporary cruising permit for the yacht valid for one year will be granted. This document must remain on board at all times. See Documents for cruising permit extensions.
Every crew member must complete an immigration card, so they may have to accompany the skipper to sign the individual forms.
The Bahamas Customs Clearance form is available in PDF form at the
Bahamas website
The Immigration Arrival Card is not available on-line, but both forms can be obtained from
The Bahamas Tourist Office, 1200 S. Pine Island Road, Plantation, FL.
Phone: 954-236-9212.
They will mail the forms to you if you request it.
Penalties are severe (fines, imprisonment, confiscation of the boat) for not clearing customs and immigration.
Movement of vessels is strictly controlled in Nassau, Freeport and George Town, where all yachts are required to clear with the appropriate Harbour Control (VHF Channel 16) when entering and leaving these harbours.
Firearms
Firearms on board must be declared to Customs together with serial number,
manufacturer and the exact ammunition count. Weapons must be under lock and key at all times and you are not allowed to take firearms off the boat unless a permit is obtained from the Bahamian police beforehand. Any infraction of this Law is dealt with severely.
Clearing Out
Before leaving the Bahamas, surrender your copy of the immigration card to the last Bahamian port of call. Departure formalities are simple and boats may leave without formally clearing out, although the cruising permit should be handed in to a customs officer on departure. If this is not possible, the permit should be returned by mail. However, as some countries, notably the Dominican Republic, require a clearing out document, this should be obtained on departure from the Bahamas.
Pets On Board
An import permit is required for all animals being brought into the Island of the Bahamas, available in advance for $10 per animal. Write to Director of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, PO Box N-3704, Nassau, Bahamas - telephone (242)325 7502. Cats and Dogs should have current proof of rabies vacination and a health certificate and be at least 6 months old. See Pets section for further details.
Last updated June 2009.
Passports are now required for all visitors, including those from the USA and Canada.
Citizens of the U.S.A., Canada, British Commonwealth countries (excluding those of India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ghana), the EU, most South American and Caribbean countries do not require a visa for stays of 3 months. See Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an accurate list.
Single entry visas are valid for 3 months and multi-entry ones for a year.
If arriving by air, a return or onward ticket, as well as sufficient funds for your stay, must be produced. In the event of arriving by air and planning to leave by boat and having arrived without such a ticket, a copy of the cruising permit (with the crew member named on the manifest) must be produced.
A stay of up to six months, which may be extended to eight months, may be granted. Different immigration officers, in different ports, give varying of amounts of time allowed, when you clear in. A careful note should taken of the time allowed, and be sure to apply for any necessary extension a few days before it expires. This can be done by going to a local immigration officer.
Before the permitted time has expired, including any extensions, one must leave the country either by boat or by air. A copy of the cruising permit, or of any extensions, should be taken abroad to avoid having to show a return ticket to the airline and/or immigration when re-entering The Bahamas to rejoin a yacht. The original cruising permit must remain aboard the yacht. When leaving by air, a $15 departure tax is collected.
Last updated June 2009.
Cruising Permits
The Cruising Permit, form C39, (transire) is issued on arrival is valid for 12 months. The current fees now permit multiple entries during any 90-day period, which means that a vessel may leave the Bahamas and re-enter as many times as they like within the first 90 days of a Cruising Permit's validity, without payment of any additional fee.
Yachts may remain in The Bahamas for a maximum of three years, but yearly extensions after the first year must be obtained from Bahamas Customs in Nassau. Each extension costs $500 payable by bank draft in favour of "The Public Treasury". Procedures for the extension should be started before the expiry of the current permit. Letters of request should be addressed to: Comptroller of Customs, P O Box N.155, Nassau. The number of the existing permit should be quoted and a copy enclosed for reference. More information available by calling (800)327-7678.
The cruising permit gives permission to visit all other islands in the Bahamas archipelago. The permit must be presented to officials if requested at any port visited or if boarded by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The permit must be retained on board at all times until the cruise is finished, then handed back at the port of exit. If for any reason one is unable to clear outbound, which is not required, the permit should be mailed back from the next destination. Immigration papers should also be returned on exit.
Importation Of Spare Parts
As of May 2009, cruising visitors with a valid Bahamas Temporary Cruising Permit are allowed to import boat repair/replacement parts DUTY FREE.
Sale Of Boat Or Equipment On A Cruising Permit
It is illegal to sell or attempt to sell any equipment from your vessel without first declaring such items to customs and paying import duty and stamp duty, including selling to another foreign vessel on a temporary cruising permit.
Firearms
Firearms and the exact amount of ammunition must be declared and listed on the ship's declaration and will be shown on the cruising permit. Personal firearms are permitted as part of a ship's equipment on visiting yachts in Bahamian waters, but cannot be used and must remain locked on board throughout the stay. After three months, these become liable for duty and a permit should be obtained from the police. Customs inspect boats occasionally and one may also be boarded by the R.B.D.F. who check firearms and ammunition. Any discrepancies from the declared quantities can cause serious difficulties.
Bicycles And Motorcycles
Bicycles and motorcycles should be listed on the cruising permit when clearing into The Bahamas. If you wish to use them ashore, they should be licensed at the first port of call.
Last updated June 2009.
Bahamas Customs Department
Old NIB Building, P.O. Box N-155, Nassau, Bahamas
Tel:+242 326 4401-6 / +242 325 6551-4
www.bahamas.gov.bs, cofolle@batelnet.bs
There were two confirmed cases of malaria in Great Exuma in 2006-7; check the latest medical travel advice before travelling.
The health service in the Bahamas is basic, but most of the bigger places do have a small hospital (clinic). The largest hospital is in Nassau where they carry out small operations.
Amateur Radio
All amateur radio operators wishing to transmit (including email) in The Bahamas need to apply for a Bahamas reciprocal licence from the Public Utilities Commission, P O Box N.4860, Nassau, Bahamas. Send a copy of your licence (US General or higher), a copy of identification which should be birth certificate or passport page, a $25 money order and a letter of request to the Executive Director and Secretary, attention Radio Licensing Department. Allow at least 2 months for processing. The licence runs for a year from the date of its being granted (no longer on a calendar basis as was previously the case).
VHF/SSB
You and your radios currently licensed in your home country are sufficient to transmit in The Bahamas.
Cell Phone
Some cellular phones will work in The Bahamas under roaming agreements, but, if not, you will have to register your phone with BATELCO and make a substantial deposit.
Entry fees must be paid by all visiting yachts and are as follows:
- $150 for all vessels under 35 feet
- $300 for vessels over 35 feet
These fees are inclusive of a 12 month cruising permit, 3 month fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons (captain plus 3 crew). Each additional person (over the age of 6) will be charged departure tax of $15 per person. These fees are not applicable to dinghies and life rafts imported via such vessels.
One should be sure to obtain a receipt from the clearing officer.
Extensions to the fishing permit cost an additional $150 for 12 months.
The cruising permit may be extended for an additional 2 years on application to Customs and payment of a fee of $500 per year's extension (further details above in the Customs section).
There are no overtime or other charges.
Last updated October 2008
Fishing & Diving Regulations
Fishing regulations are strict. A fishing permit, issued at the time of inbound clearance, is included in the cruising permit fee, and valid for 3 months. Confirm at the time of issue the details of the regulations.
A Sports Fishing Permit must be aboard the boat you are fishing from but individual permits are not required. A fishing permit costs $150 per annum from the Fisheries Department if bought separately. On arrival a fishing permit should be requested from the customs officer. This is required by any foreign vessel fishing by any method in Bahamian waters. The Permit is valid for hook and line fishing only (see regulations on its reverse) and no more than 6 rods at a time.
Bag limits apply as follows:
Lobster or crawfish: 10 tails per VESSEL at any time (closed season 1st April to 31st July). Egg bearing females are protected. Minimum size limits for Lobster and crawfish, 3 3/8 inch carapace length or 6 inch tail. Conch: more than 6 at any one time. Demersal fish (grouper, snapper): 20 pounds per vessel. Migratory species such as Wahoo, Kingfish, Tuna or Dolphin shall NOT exceed 18 fish aboard the vessel at any one time. Billfish species (marlin, sailfish or swordfish) caught shall be released unharmed except where landed under the terms of an approved sportsfishing event or tournament. Stone Crabs: minimum harvestable claw is 4 inches. Female harvesting is
prohibited (1st June to 15th October Closed Season). Turtle, coral or sea mammals are not to be taken. It is illegal to import Turtles, but legal to eat them in The Bahamas.
Spearfishing restricted to Hawaiian sling only. Spears, fish traps, nets (excluding landing nets) and spearguns prohibited. You should request that the vessel's Fishing Permit be so endorsed, in writing, on issue. Spearfishing is not allowed within 1 mile of the coast of New Providence, off south coast of Freeport, Grand Bahamas and within 200 yards off the coast of all Outer Islands. Spearing or taking marine animals by any means is prohibited within national sea parks.
Use of Scuba gear or air compressor to harvest fish, conch or crawfish and other marine animals is prohibited.
No marine life at all may be captured in the national marine parks or reserve areas, see below.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force regularly patrols sensitive areas and has the power to inspect any boat they suspect of flouting either these regulations or the drug laws. They monitor VHF Channel 16.
National Parks
To protect the fragile environment, nature reserves and underwater parks have been established at some islands. Visiting sailors are expected to do their best to cause as little damage as possible, both ashore and afloat. In particular, avoid anchoring in coral, which is easily destroyed by the anchor and rode. Mooring buoys have been installed at some locations and these should be used in preference to anchors.
National Parks, marine and terrestrial, are administered by The Bahamas National Trust (BNT), P O Box N.4105, Nassau, Bahamas, from whom further details may be obtained. The BNT is a non-governmental charitable organization. There are presently 12 protected areas in The Bahamas.
The national marine reserve areas in The Bahamas are:
1. The Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
A 23 mile long area of the Exuma chain, from Wax Cay Cut in the north to Conch Cut in the south and approximately 8 miles wide, is headquartered at Waderick Wells with a full time park warden and Royal Bahamas Defence Force presence. Be sure to know the boundaries and observe the no-take restrictions of anything dead or alive. Careful and non-destructive anchoring is permitted within the Park except at Waderick Wells where moorings are available. A minimum subscription of $50 to the Support Fleet will entitle the boat to two nights of free mooring while funding management of the Park. Call one day ahead on Channel 16 to reserve a mooring and visit the headquarters (moorings are limited).
2. Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park
Inside North Bar Channel, Great Abaco.
3. Peterson Cay National Park
A 1 ½ acre cay off the south shore of Grand Bahama.
Updated 1st Jan 2007
Department of Fisheries
East Bay Street, P.O. Box N-3028, Nassau, New Providence
Tel:+242 393 1777, Fax:+242 393 0238
fisheries@batelnet.bs
Importation of Pets
An Import Permit is required from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry. Applications for the permits, plus a $10 processing fee, must be made in writing to:
The Bahamas Director of Agriculture
PO Box N-3704
Nassau
The Bahamas
Tel: (242)325-7502/7509
Fax: (242) 326 3960 (send extra $5 if applying by fax)
Permit can be obtained on line at www.Bahamas.com
20REQUIREMENTS_FORM_070604.pdf
Allow enough time to receive the permit before leaving your home port.
For Pets coming from the US and Canada, dogs and cats must be:
1. Six months old or older;
2. Accompanied by a Certificate which states that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies within not less than 1 month and not more than 10 months prior to importation;
3. Accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate presented within 48 hours of arrival in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to a licensed veterinarian for an examination.
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