Entry requirements differ depending on what country you are a resident and citizen of. Check below to find out the necessary documentation you will need to ensure a smooth entry into our country.
NOTE: Where a minor child is traveling with only one parent, a notarized letter of permit from the parent not traveling may be requested. If traveling with non-parents, a notarized letter from the minor's guardians would be required. The letter should indicate that the chaperones are authorized to travel outside the country with the minor, as well as permit the chaperones to seek medical attention for the minor, if necessary.
US Citizens
For current information on regulations for international travel, visit the Travel Section of the US Customs and Border Protection Home Page: www.cbp.gov.
Canadian Citizens
Canadian visitor's only require a visa if stays exceed more than eight (8) months. The individual, however, must have the following documents:
- A Canadian passport, with an expiry date that is NOT less than 3 months, after leaving The Bahamas (for direct travel) and NOT less than 6 months (if transiting through other countries such as the US)
- A return ticket
Canadian Permanent Residents
Permanent Residents of Canada (formerly known as Landed Immigrants) may stay in The Bahamas for 30 days without a visa. They must travel with the following items:
- A valid passport from your country of origin of which expiry date, after return from The Bahamas, must NOT be less than 3 months (for direct travel) and NOT less than 6 months (if transiting through other countries such as the US)
- An original Canadian Permanent Resident CARD of which the expiry date must NOT be less than 3 months (for direct travel) and NOT less than 6 months (if transiting through other countries such as the US)
- A return ticket
Latin American Citizens
To enter The Bahamas, citizens from Latin America are required to present a valid passport which must cover the period of intended stay. You are not required to have a Bahamas visa if the stay is less than 3 months. 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 ticket or onward journey ticket, hotel confirmation (if staying at a hotel, or name and address of residence) and, if requested, proof of funds to support your visit.
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, the documentation required is based upon the country of birth.
Verify Visa Requirements | How to Apply for a Visitor Visa | Visa Application Form
Visitors traveling via airlines should go to www.iatatravelcentre.com to see if travel documents (health requirements, visas, and immunizations) are sufficient for the airline you are traveling on.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: Most visitors to The Bahamas do not need special vaccinations before entering the country. However, travelers over age one must provide a YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE, if arriving from countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission such as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. This requirement also applies to travelers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. They must be vaccinated 10 days before entering The Bahamas. Effective January 2014, The Bahamas no longer requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination as a prerequisite when traveling from Guyana and Suriname. The Bahamas requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you are arriving from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic or there is an outbreak.
More information regarding Vaccination Requirements can be found on the following sites: www.cdc.gov/travel or the World Health Organization (link 1 and link 2).
Other Countries
Citizens from countries other than the US and Canada are required to present a valid passport To enter The Bahamas, 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 departure, then that requirement will be enforced. You must also have a return, or onward journey ticket, hotel confirmation (if staying at a hotel, or name and address of residence) and proof of funds to support your visit. To view the entry requirements for your country of birth, please visit the link 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 US or Canada), the documentation required is based upon the country of birth.
Verify Visa Requirements | How to Apply for a Visitor Visa | Visa Application Form
Visitors traveling via airlines should go to www.iatatravelcentre.com to see if travel documents are sufficient for the airline you are traveling on.
Visa Waiver Policy For Indian Nationals Holding Canadian, Schengen , USA and UK Visas And Indian Nationals Who Are Permanent Residents In Those Countries - A visa is not required if the following conditions are met: Nationals of India with a visa issued by Canada, United Kingdom, USA or Schengen Member State for a maximum stay of 90 days. Nationals of India with a Permanent Residence Permit issued by United Kingdom or Schengen Member State for a maximum stay of 90 days. Nationals of India with a Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card (Form I-551) issued by the USA for a maximum stay of 30 days. Nationals of India with a Permanent Resident Card issued by Canada for a maximum stay of 30 days
VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS: Most visitors to The Bahamas do not need special vaccinations before entering the country. However, travelers over age one must provide a YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE, if arriving from countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission such as Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Congo, Congo (Dem, Rep.) Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eithopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda. This requirement also applies to travelers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of Yellow Fever transmission. They must be vaccinated 10 days before entering The Bahamas. Effective January 2014, The Bahamas no longer requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination as a prerequisite when traveling from Trinidad & Tobago. The Bahamas requires proof of Yellow Fever vaccination if you are arriving from a country where Yellow Fever is endemic or there is an outbreak.
More information regarding Vaccination Requirements can be found on the following sites: www.cdc.gov/travel or the World Health Organization (link 1 and link 2).
Customs and 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
For up-to-date information on regulations for International Travel, US Residents should visit the Travel Section of the US Customs and Border Protection Home Page: www.cbp.gov.
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 31 feet and over. This covers a vessel with three persons or less. Also included is a cruising permit, a fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges and the $25.00 Departure Tax is waived for up to three persons. Each additional person above three will be charged $25.00 Departure Tax. If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangements must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.
US Permanent Residents (Non-citizens)
To enter The Bahamas, US 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 US resident non-citizens wishing to stay longer than 30 days.
Canadian Residents (Non-citizens)
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:
Contact our nearest Embassy or High Commission.
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.
Cruise Passengers
Please be advised that all nationalities who would normally require a visa for travel to The Bahamas and intend to travel to The Bahamas by way of cruise ship must obtain a Bahamian visa. The same applies for persons traveling by air to join a cruise ship traveling through The Bahamas.
Click here to see the countries that DO NOT require visas to enter The Bahamas.
Click here to see the countries that DO require visas to enter The Bahamas.
Apply for Visa
There are several Bahamas embassies and consulates around the world where you can apply for a Bahamas visa. For more information, visit the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at www.bahamas.gov.bs. Click on "Overseas Missions" under Useful Links.
