Entering the Bahamas

Entering the Bahamas requires dealing with two distinct groups, Immigaration and Customs. For boaters, it also involves flying flags that signal your entry status.

Flag etiquette for small boats

If US registered, fly the US Ensign on your starboard outrigger or radio antenna. When within sight of land in the Bahamas, run up the yellow quarrantine flag on the port outrigger, signifying know you are in Bahamian water and have not yet cleared. After clearing into the islands, replace the yellow flag with the Bahamian courtesy flag, which now signals your home country and that you've cleared into the current one. When returning to the US, temporarily replace the US flag with the yellow one, until you've cleared Customs there. All flags and the requisite clips are vailable at marine stores.

Clearing involves forms for the boat, and forms each individual. Forms are usually available at the checkin marina, otherwise they will be obtained from the Customs and Immigration offices, which in Bimini are located on the south end of Alice Town, near the seaplane ramp. Only the captain may go ashore prior to finishing the entry procedure being completed. Get the forms, fill them out, and get cleared into the country as the first order of business, before unloading or checking into the marina/hotel.

Immigration ID Requirements

U.S. and Canadian citizens entering The Islands Of The Bahamas as visitors are required to show proof of citizenship with either a passport (current or expired within five years) or two forms of identification, one of which has to have a photo. For example, you may bring your birth certificate and a driver’s license.

Naturalized citizens require naturalization papers and a passport.

Alien residents in possession of a U.S. Alien Registration Card may enter The Islands Of The Bahamas without a visa for visits not exceeding thirty days. Presentation of a current national passport, or one that has been expired for five years or less, is required.

Permanent residents (green card holders) require their green card and a valid passport from their place of birth.

Canadian visitors staying less than three weeks need the same identification as those from the U.S. and do not require a visa.

Landed immigrants in possession of the Canadian Immigration Record Form 1000 should follow the same requirements as Alien residents.

British subjects from the United Kingdom and colonies may enter The Islands Of The Bahamas as visitors without passports or visas for periods not exceeding three weeks. For longer stays they must present a passport.

All others need a valid passport.

Other Immigration Rules

Upon your arrival to The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will be asked to fill out an Immigration Arrival/Departure Card, which you will keep part of until your departure.

All visitors who are not members of a boat crew are required to be in possession of a return airline ticket.

U.S. visitors staying for eight months or less need a return ticket plus proof of identity.

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Peru and Sudan. Travellers are required to be vaccinated 10 days prior to entering The Islands Of The Bahamas and must have a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever.

. If you carry a weapon (s), you will need the serial number and an exact count of ammunition. Weapons must be declared! There is no problem in declaring one, but immediate jail if found with one that was not declared.

Customs

When you enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will be asked for a verbal baggage declaration. However, your luggage is also subject to customs inspections. If you are carrying dutiable items, you will need to fill out a Baggage Declaration Form.

Customs Duty

Baggage declaration by temporary visitors is oral, but baggage is subject to Customs inspection. In case there are dutiable articles, the visitor will be required to complete a Baggage Declaration Form. Each adult is allowed 50 cigars or cigarettes or one pound of tobacco and one quart of spirits free of Customs Duty, in addition to personal effects. In addition, purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars ($100.00) are permitted by all arriving passengers.

Household effects, such as small appliances (such as blender etc.) are dutiable at 45% of the cost. Linen and china are duty free for each arriving visit. Computers such as laptops are considered a part of your personal effects and therefore are duty-free.