Travel Info
Customs and immigration
Air passenger arrival
Upon arriving in The Islands of the Bahamas, everyone must fill out and sign an Immigration form, keeping a portion of the card safe 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. Departures to the UK must go through Bahamas Customs. You will need to return the portion of the immigration card to the customs officer.
Boats
If entering The Bahamas by private boat, fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify Customs of your arrival as you enter port. No one other than the captain is permitted to leave the boat until your vessel has been cleared. 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 a passport or birth certificate (original or certified copy) and an official photo ID, such as a driving licence or voting card. Citizens from the UK or any other European country must produce a valid passport and visa if necessary. Before leaving The Islands of the Bahamas, be sure to surrender your copy of the Immigration Card at the last Bahamian port you visit. If you have a firearm on board, you must declare it with Customs. You must provide the serial number and manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition. Though you are allowed to have a firearm on your boat, you cannot take it off the boat unless you obtain a permit from the Bahamian police ahead of time. Weapons must be kept under lock and key at all times. Any infraction of this law is dealt with severely.
If entering The Bahamas by private boat, fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify Customs of your arrival as you enter port. No one other than the captain is permitted to leave the boat until your vessel has been cleared. 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 a passport or birth certificate (original or certified copy) and an official photo ID, such as a driving licence or voting card. Citizens from the UK or any other European country must produce a valid passport and visa if necessary. Before leaving The Islands of the Bahamas, be sure to surrender your copy of the Immigration Card at the last Bahamian port you visit. If you have a firearm on board, you must declare it with Customs. You must provide the serial number and manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition. Though you are allowed to have a firearm on your boat, you cannot take it off the boat unless you obtain a permit from the Bahamian police ahead of time. Weapons must be kept under lock and key at all times. Any infraction of this law is dealt with severely.
The fee for boaters for boats up to 35 feet is $150, and the fee for boats over 35 feet is $300. These fees are inclusive of a cruising permit, a fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons with no overtime charges for Customs or Immigration. Each additional person over the first four will be charged additional departure tax. f you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangement must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.
Regular hours for Bahamas Customs and Immigration Officers are 9am to 5pm weekdays. Officers are on call during holidays and weekends. There is no overtime charge.
