Entry Requirements

Entry requirements differ depending on what country you are a resident and citizen of. Find out the necessary documentation you will need to ensure a smooth entry into our country.

 

 

US Citizen

The following information is from the U.S. Department of  Homeland Security's website pertaining to entry into the United States.

Entry Requirements for Air Travelers to the United States


Effective Oct. 1, 2007, U.S. citizens traveling by air to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda must present a passport or other WHTI-compliant documentation to enter or depart from the United States. It is always strongly recommended that U.S. citizens verify the specific documentary requirements for their destination country.

 

 

Entry Requirements for Land and Sea Travelers to the United States

 

Land and Sea Travel

The following summarizes entry and exit information available on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website.

 

Currently:

U.S. citizens need to present either (a) a passport, passport card or WHTI-compliant document; or (b) a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license) along with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

 

In the future:

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States by sea or ports of entry to have a passport, passport card or WHTI-compliant document.

For more information about U.S. travel requirements, please visit their website.

www.travel.state.gov/travel

 

U.S. Resident (non-citizen)

 

To enter The Bahamas, U.S. residents who are not citizens need the following documentation:


Alien Registration Card (Green Card)
 
For visits NOT exceeding 30 days:

An original Alien Registration Card is required, along with a national passport (passport from country of birth). 

 

For visits exceeding 30 days:

A valid national passport and a Bahamas visa are required for U.S. resident non-citizens wishing to stay longer than 30 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


CANADIAN CITIZEN

To enter The Bahamas, Canadian 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. Visits are not to exceed 21 days.

 

1) A Passport
 

A current passport is required for Canadian citizens traveling through the United States on their way to The Bahamas.

 

OR

 

2) An Official Birth Certificate
 

For persons 17 years of age and older:

An original certificate issued by the Canadian government or court-certified copy (raised or ink seal) is required, accompanied by an official photo ID issued by the Canadian government (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 chaperon 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

 

3) An Original Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate


An original certificate is required. A recent photo must accompany it if the photo on naturalization paper is not up-to-date.

Please Note:

A married woman whose birth certificate does not match her government issued identification should also bring along her marriage license.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CANADIAN RESIDENT (NON-CITIZEN)

 

To enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, Canadian residents (and landed Canadian immigrants) who are not Canadian citizens are required to present the following documentation:

Passport


For visits NOT exceeding 30 days:

A valid national passport accompanied by a Canadian Permanent Resident Card.
 

For visits exceeding 30 days:

A valid national passport and a Bahamas visa are required for Canadian resident non-citizens wishing to stay longer than 30 days.

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

 

 

 

OTHER COUNTRIES

 

To enter The Bahamas, citizens from countries other than the U.S. and Canada are required to present a valid passport which must be current up to your travel period and some countries are also required to have a Bahamas visa.  If you are departing The Bahamas for a country  that has the passport validity requirement of six (6) months beyond the dates of travel, then that requirement will be enforced. You must also have a return, or onward journey ticket, and proof of funds to support your visit. To view the entry requirements for your country of birth, please download the pdf below .


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

 

PASSPORT refers to a valid passport from the individual's country of birth.

 

VISA refers to a Bahamas visa only. If a person is born in one country and resident in another (other than the U.S. or Canada), the documentation required is based upon the country of birth.

 

To download a Bahamas Visa Application Form or to verify the visa requirements for your country of origin, visit The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.mfabahamas.org.

 

 

Apply for a Visa

 

There are several Bahamas embassies and consulates around the world where you can apply for a Bahamas visa.  Click on the link below and contact the office nearest you for information.

The Bahamas
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Section

Norfolk House, Frederick Street
P.O. Box N-3746
Nassau, The Bahamas
Phone: (242) 323-5578/5565
Fax: (242) 326-6186

USA/Washington, D.C.

Ambassador
The Bahamas Embassy

2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 319-2660/7
Fax: (202) 319-2668

Email: bahemb@aol.com
 

USA/Miami

Consul General
The Bahamas Consulate General

25 S.E. Second Avenue
Ingraham Bldg.
Suite 818
Miami, FL 33131
Phone:                (305) 373-6295        
Fax: (305) 373-6312
Email: bcgmia@bellsouth.net

USA/New York

Consul General
The Bahamas Consulate General

Bahama House
231 East 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone:                (212) 421-6420        
Fax: (212) 688-5926
Email: mailbox@bahamasconsulate-ny.com

Canada

High Commissioner
The Bahamas High Commission

Metropolitan Life Centre
50 O'Connor
Suite 1313
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6L2
Phone:                (613) 232-1724        
Fax: (613) 232-0097
Email: ottawa-mission@bahighco.com

China
Ambassador

Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

4th Floor, Unit 2
Tayuan Diplomatic Office Building
14 Liangmahe Nan Lu
Chaoyang District
Beijing, China 100600
Phone: (011) 86-10-6532-2922
Fax: (011) 86-10-6532-2304
Email: sheilacarey@bahamas.gov.bs

Cuba 
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary

Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas

3006 5th Ave e/30 y 32
Miramar, Playa
Havana, Republica of Cuba

Phone: (011) 537-206-9918
Fax: (011) -537-206-9921
Email: Yellowelder@hotmail.com
 
 

England

High Commissioner
The Bahamas High Commission

No. 10 Chesterfield Street
London W1J 5JL, England
Phone: (011) 44-207-408-4488
Fax: (011) 442-07-499-9937
E-mail: information@bahamashclondon

 

CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION

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.). All beer imported into the country is dutiable at a rate of $10 per imperial gallon or $18 per case.  Purchases up to a value of $100 are permitted by all arriving passengers.


Departure:

Departures to the U.S. must go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance. U.S. visitors may take home $800 worth of duty-free merchandise. The next $1,000 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 feet and over. This covers a vessel with four persons or less. Also included is a cruising permit, a 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.