GETTING HERE
(AN EVERYTHING GUIDE)
All information related to entering the Bahamas, clearing Bahamian Customs and Immigration, and navigating to your new home at the Nassau Yacht Haven Marina.
Boaters Documents Needed Upon Entering The Bahamas
To Start, For Your Benefit:
The Nassau Yacht Haven highly recommends that any pleasure vessel entering the Bahamas prints and has on person a copy of the (Report Inwards of Pleasure Vessel C2A Document). If differing information from this form is received upon entry, please contact one of our friendly dock masters and/or a Senior Customs Official and present this document.
PDF: Report Inwards of Pleasure Vessel C2A Document
*Please note this IS NOT the C2A document that needs to be completed prior to arrival. Please find that form below.
Documents needed by arriving Private Vessels in The Bahamas:
One (1) copy of The Bahamas Customs Clearance Form (PDF: Bahamas Customs Clearance Form)
One (1) Bahamas Immigration Card per person
Proof of Citizenship—Passport
Bahamas Customs & Immigration Forms
Bahamas Customs Clearance Form – please print out and complete prior to arrival
Charter Vessels will need to complete the following form for Bahamas Customs
Visa Information
Countries Where Visas Are NOT REQUIRED To Enter The Bahamas:
United States of America
Canada
Mexico
American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dubai, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Fujairah (see UAE), Galapagos Island, Gambia, (Georgia, Republic of), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kirbati, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, (Netherlands,Antilles), New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn (British Overseas Territory), Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Ras Al Khauma (See UAE), Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Maarten, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, (San Marino, Most Serene), Sao Tome & Principe, Scotland, Seychelles, Sharjah (See UAE), Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tanzania, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, Umm Al Qaiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, (Virgin Islands, British), (Virgin Islands, USA), Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
*United States citizens need a visa if planning to stay in the Bahamas for more than eight months.
Countries Where Visas Are REQUIRED To Enter The Bahamas:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guina-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, (Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (The Kyrgyz Republic), Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macau, Madagascar, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Philippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire
India (Visas will be issued on arrival for those who have valid Schengen, UK, USA and Canadian visas; for other persons visas are required)’
*While the Nassau Yacht Haven does obtain it's Visa information from the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tries to update it regularly, we cannot guarantee the information listed here is valid and up to date. To verify whether a Visa is or is not needed for you country of citizenship please contact our Ministry directly.
Entry Fees
Bahamas Cruising Permit Fees as of
February 16th, 2022:
The fee associated with receiving a Temporary Cruising Permit and Fishing Permit is –
Pleasure Vessels Not Exceeding 34 feet:
$150.00 (3 months)
$300.00 (12 months)
Pleasure Vessels Exceeding 34 feet but less than 100 feet:
$300.00 (3 months)
$600.00 (12 months)
Pleasure Vessels Exceeding 100 feet but less than 150 feet:
$500.00 (3 months)
$1,000.00 (12 months)
Pleasure Vessels Exceeding 150 feet but less than 200 feet:
$800.00 (3 months)
$1,600.00 (12 months)
Pleasure Vessels Exceeding 200 feet:
$1,000.00 (3 months)
$2,000.00 (12 months)
It should be noted that these fees include:
Cruising Permit fees
Fishing Permit fees
Attendance fees for both Bahamas Customs and Immigration Officers
Transportation fees for both Bahamas Customs and Immigration Officers
Re-entry of vessel if within 90 days.
FIREARMS & AMMUNITION
Regulations associated with Pleasure Vessels carrying firearms and ammunition are as follows:
A maximum of three firearms inclusive of handguns, rifles and shotguns, which such calibre of firearms shall not exceed three hundred & eight calibers is allowed with two hundred and fifty (250) accompanying rounds of ammunition per firearm.
All Automatic weapons are prohibited.
Open center consoles vessels are NOT allowed to carry firearms. If firearms are found on vessels deemed unfit by the Customs Department, they will be detained at the Local Police Station until departure out of the Country.
All firearms are to remain on board said vessel.
It is illegal to take firearms off vessels without the necessary permits and duty payment.
The Master of all Pleasure Vessels are to ensure firearms on board are declared, along with correct serial numbers and ammunition.
Failure to do so can result in Forfeiture, fines and in certain circumstances, imprisonment.
CLEARANCE OUTBOUND OF PLEASURE VESSELS
Before leaving The Bahamas, all Pleasure Vessels are required to clear outward on Form C28A: Entry Outward of Pleasure Vessel.
Temporary Cruising Permit must be present at the time of application.
Upon approval of the C28A a Certificate of Clearance of a Pleasure Vessel will be issued.
There is no cost for this process.
NOTE: The vessel will be checked at this time to ensure that all the items declared on arrival such as firearms, ammo and accessories that are listed on the Cruising Permit are on board at the time of departure.
Additionally, all seafood onboard will be verified in accordance with the fishing regulations as outlined on the back of the Fishing License issued on entrance.
CRUISING PERMIT EXTENSION
After the twelve month period, the Comptroller, on application in writing, can subsequently renew the Cruising Permit for a fee of BS$500.00 each year up to two years, making a period of stay in The Bahamas, three years in total. At the end of the three-year period the vessel must leave the Bahamas or be duty paid.
A Fishing License must be purchased Department of Marine Resources:
Please note the fees according to the Law:
It is illegal to tip government employees. Boaters are asked to report if they are ever asked for these types of payments to the local marina manger or dockmaster.
The fees will cover:
Cruising Permit
Fishing Permit
Departure Tax for up to three (3) persons. Each additional person above three will be charged a $25 departure tax. This fee is good for a second re-entry within a 90-day period – be sure to keep your receipt.
Bahamas Customs and Immigration office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Officers are on call during holidays and weekends.
There is no overtime charge.
