Customs & Immigration

Bahamian Courtesy Flag
Quarantine Flag



ENTERING THE BAHAMAS

The procedure for vessels clearing Customs & Immigration entering the Bahamas as of
August 20, 2004, is as follows: A pleasure vessel arriving in the Bahamas shall be subject
to a fee of $150 for boats under 35 ft and $300 for boats over 35 ft. Each additional person
over four persons will be charged $15. No charge for children under six years old. This covers
the cost of an initial-entry cruising permit, plus a return visit within ninety (90) days; a vessel
would be exempted from additional fees within that 90-day period, except for possible 
transportation fees for Customs and Immigrations officials IF they have to come to your 
boat to clear you in (for instance, in Nassau). This also covers a three-month fishing permit
and any attendant fees payable to a Customs Officer, as well as any overtime and travel costs
required for the attendance of an Immigration Officer. If you need to fly home, present your
receipt at the airport for the $15 departure tax so that you don't have to pay it twice. (Bring a
copy of your cruising permit to the airport.) There should be no overtime, holiday, or
transportation charges above this fee. Ask for a receipt, get the name of the officer, and call
Customs (242-326-4401 or 325-6551) or Immigration (242-325-2668) in Nassau if you have
any problems. You may want to call Customs before you cross the Gulf Stream into the
Bahamas to verify fees.
POLICY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

BAHAMIAN PORTS OF ENTRY

  • THE ABACOS: Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Spanish Cay, Treasure Cay.
  • ANDROS: Congo Town, Fresh Creek, Mangrove Cay, or Morgans Bluff
  • THE BERRYS: Chub or Great Harbour Cays
  • BIMINI: Alice Town or South Bimini
  • CAT CAY: Club Marina
  • CAT ISLAND: Arthurs Town, Smith Bay, New Bight, or Hawks Nest
  • CROOKED ISLAND: Colonel Hill
  • ELEUTHERA: N. Eleuthera. Airport, Governor's Harbour, Harbour Island, Rock Sound,                                                              or Spanish Wells.
  • THE EXUMAS: George Town, Exuma and Emerald Bay Marina, Exuma
  • GRAND BAHAMA: Grand Bahama Yacht Club and Port Lucaya, West End
  • INAGUA: Matthew Town.
  • LONG ISLAND: Stella Maris or Deadmans Cay
  • MAYAGUANA: Abrahams Bay
  • NEW PROVIDENCE: any marina
  • SAN SALVADOR: Cockburn Town


WHAT TO DO

  • Hoist the yellow quarantine flag near a port of entry.
  • Report to a Customs and Immigration facility as soon as possible upon entering                        Bahamian waters.
  • Only the captain may go ashore to clear Customs. No one else is allowed ashore                                  until the boat is cleared.
  • The captain should have the following information ready for Customs officials: ship’s documentation/registration, passports (or birth certificates and valid drivers licenses/                         photo i.d.) for all persons aboard, pet import permit and firearms information (make,                          model, serial number and number of rounds or ammunition—do not carry weapon                           ashore). NOTE: The U.S. requires a passport for all travel abroad.
  • Treat officials with respect and follow their instructions. Be courteous and neatly                                    dressed.
  • After receiving your cruising permit, take down your "Q" flag and hoist your Bahamian                     courtesy flag (cruising pennant).

FISHING LICENSE

At the time of clearing Customs, you will have an opportunity also to obtain a fishing license                               as part of the fee. If you intend to troll or spearfish (fishing with SCUBA equipment or speargun                           is illegal), you will need a fishing license. Details of fishing regulations are on the permit.

FIREARMS

Bahamian law permits firearms on your vessel as part of your ship’s equipment. They must                      remain aboard in a secure compartment. In the event of your being boarded by Customs or                              the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the information on your cruising permit will be checked                      carefully against your actual supply. Ammo must match cruising permit.

PETS

If you wish to bring a pet aboard when cruising the Bahamas, secure a permit before you leave                        home. An application will be sent to you if you write to: Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box                                  N-3704, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas.
You may expedite the process by calling 242-325-7413 or faxing 242-325-3960. Expect to pay                            a $10 fee (send International Money Order or Postal Order made payable to the Public Treasury)                   with your application. To receive your certificate by fax, include an extra $5 and your fax number.                          In addition, you will need a health certificate for your pet from your veterinarian to present to the                   Customs officials when you clear in.
You can now download an application to import domestic animals at the following link:                                      Pet Import Form. The new phone number is: 242-325-7502 or 325-7509. Please update your                  Explorer Chartbooks!

SPECIAL REMINDERS

When leaving home, make sure you have the three essential flags for cruising in the                                      Bahamas—your country’s flag, a yellow quarantine flag and the Bahamian courtesy flag.
Your vessel’s Temporary Cruising Permit is for one year from date of entry. It may be renewed                             for up to two additional years by written application to Bahamas Customs, Nassau, prior to                        expiration and with payment of $500 per year. To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently,                       you must pay an import duty of 27 percent for vessels under 30 ft. or six percent for vessels                              30-100 ft.
At your first opportunity, make copies of your cruising permit. If you need to fly home, you will                           need a copy, as well as your passport, to present to your airline and Bahamas Immigration                             when you reenter the Bahamas. Leave the original on the boat.

U.S. Customs: EXITING THE BAHAMAS

It is not necessary to clear out of the Bahamas when going farther south or entering the U.S.                       When entering the States, you must clear in with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).                         U.S. citizens can make an appointment with one of the Ports of Entry below to appear in person                    and pre-register under the "Local Boater Option" before going to the Bahamas. Upon return to                         the U.S., call the appropriate number. You may be asked to appear personally at the nearest               Immigration Office. Be prepared to leave your boat and get a ride there if necessary. However,                      by choosing this option to pre-register, your chances are greater that you will not have to report                                in person to clear in when you return from the Bahamas. You may be able to clear in over the                   phone.*See note "US Customs User Fee Decal Online" at the beginning of this article for                           the newest information.
If you are clearing back in to the U.S. anywhere from the Sebastian Inlet south down the east                        coast of Florida, including Ft. Pierce, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami, and on through                               the Keys to Key West and as far north on the west coast as Ft. Myers, the correct phone numbers                    are 800-432-1216 or 800-451-0393. Numbers for clearing in at other locations in Florida are:
  • Fernandina Beach 904-261-6154
  • Jacksonville (St. Augustine) 904-360-5020
  • Naples City Dock, 880 12 Ave. S
  • Panama City 850-785-4688
  • Pensacola 904-432-6811
  • Pt. Canaveral 321-783-2066 x2 (24 hrs)
  • Pt. Manatee 941-729-9301
  • St. Petersburg 727-536-7311 (24 hrs)
  • Tampa 813-228-2385 (24 hrs)
The least busy times to call are during business hours on weekdays. Weekends and evenings                       are busier times for CBP, so you may have to wait longer. (www.ExplorerCharts.com)