Immigration & Customs
Requirements

Do I need a visa to visit The Bahamas?

Entry and visa requirements differ depending on your country of citizenship and residency. 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.

Below, we’ve listed information for various countries, however we advise that you verify with your own government as well.

U.S. Citizens
For current information on regulations for international travel, visit the Travel Section of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Home Page: www.cbp.gov.

U.S. Permanent Residents (Non-citizens)
To enter The Bahamas, U.S. residents who are not citizens need the following documentation:

For visits NOT exceeding 30 days:
An original Alien Registration Card (Green 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 Citizens
Canadian visitors 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 U.S.)
• 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 the 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 U.S.)
• 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 U.S.)
• A return ticket

For visits exceeding 30 days, contact our nearest Embassy or High Commission.

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.

Other Countries
Citizens from countries other than the U.S. 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.

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 the 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.

Do minors travelling with one parent or non-parents need documentation?

Yes. Where a minor child is travelling with only one parent, a notarized letter of permit from the parent not travelling may be requested. If travelling 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.

Are vaccinations required to visit The Bahamas?

Most visitors to The Bahamas do not need special vaccinations before entering the country. However, travellers over age one must provide a YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE, if arriving from countries with risk of Yellow Fever transmission (listed below).

Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Congo, Congo (Dem, Rep.) Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, 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 travellers 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 travelling 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).

Visa Resources

Verify Visa Requirements
How to Apply for a Visitor Visa
Visa Application Form

Visitors travelling via airlines should go to www.iatatravelcentre.com to see if travel documents are sufficient for the airline you are travelling on.

Customs Requirements Upon 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.

What is the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay?

Our new programme, BEATS, allows students and professionals to live in The Bahamas for up to a year, while they work or study remotely.

For more information, visit the BEATS page.