Bahamas
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Bahamas Information

Visa to The Bahamas

UK citizens can enter The Bahamas without visa requirements, provided that their stay is no longer than 21 days. USA citizens may need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). They are also allowed to visit the country without a visa for up to three months. However, they need a valid US passport with at least two clear passport pages and documents that prove their departure date from The Bahamas. Passport holders also need to have a valid passport for 180 days from the day of their departure from The Bahamas. Finally, citizens of other countries had better check the visa requirements pertaining to their country (more details below).

Citizens coming from countries other than Canada and the USA need to be holders of a valid passport that is current up to their travel period or, in some other cases, have a Bahamas visa (this applies to citizens of specific countries). Besides a visa or a passport, it is also essential that you have hotel confirmation or name and address of residence (if not staying at a hotel), as well as an onward journey or return ticket, and proof of funds to support your short stay.

US citizens should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (https://www.cbp.gov/) for the latest information regarding international travel-related regulations. Non-US citizens that are permanent USA residents must present the following documentation to enter The Bahamas:

  • A national passport from their birth country and an original Green Card (Alien Registration Card) if their visit to The Bahamas will not exceed 30 days.
  • A Bahamas visa and a valid national passport for stays longer than 30 days.

Canadian citizens need to get a visa to visit The Bahamas only if their stay will go beyond 8 months. At the same time, though, they need to present a return ticket and a Canadian passport whose expiry date is no less than 6 months (if they are transiting through the USA or other countries) or 3 months after departing from The Bahamas (applies to direct travel to The Bahamas), as well as a return ticket and a valid passport from their country of origin (the expiry date requirements are the same as above)

Landed Immigrants (aka Permanent Residents of Canada) can visit and stay in The Bahamas without needing a visa for up to 30 days, provided they have an original Canadian Permanent Resident CARD (the expiry date of the card follows the same regulations as the passport requirements above). For visits that exceed 30 days, they must contact their nearest High Commission or Embassy.

You don’t need to have a Bahamas visa to enter the country, as long as you don’t intend to stay for more than 3 months but you will probably be asked to present a valid passport that covers the intended stay period. You also need to have a hotel confirmation or name/address of residence (if not staying at a hotel), an onward journey or return ticket, and proof of funds (if requested) to support your visit.

Indian nationals with a UK, USA, Schengen Member State, or Canadian visa do not need to have a Bahamas visa, provided they are permanent residents in these countries and as long as they are not planning on staying in The Bahamas for more than 90 days.

Indian nationals with a USA-issued Form I-551 (Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card) are also exempt from visa requirements if their stay in The Bahamas is shorter than 30 days. The same applies to Indian nationals with a Canada-issued Permanent Resident Card.

The Bahamas government has initiated a new programme known as the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay or BEATS that enables individuals, primarily professionals, and students, to live in the country for up to 12 months, while they study or work remotely. For more details about the BEATS scheme, please visit its homepage: http://www.bahamasbeats.com/.

The Bahamas Department of Agriculture, which bears the sole responsibility for the import of both animals (pets included) and animal products, requires that you issue a permit so that you can bring your pet with you to the Bahamas. According to the Wildlife Conservation and Trade Act, as well as the Animal Contagious Diseases Act, you need to fill out an import permit that should accompany the pet (the dog or cat) at all times, especially during its import time.

It is critical that all conditions mentioned on the dog or cat permit are satisfied. Otherwise, the pet might be refused entry. The worst-case scenario also includes its disposition or confiscation as a disease risk. You can find the application form required in the following links:

  • Application form for importing dogs to The Bahamas (Dog Permit - Government - Services (bahamas.gov.bs). Scroll down, below the middle of the page to find and download it in PDF form.
  • Application form for importing cats to The Bahamas (Cat Permit - Government - Services (bahamas.gov.bs). Scroll down, below the middle of the page to find and download it in PDF form.

Fee: There is a small fee that you will need to pay so you can have the Dog or Cat Permit issued if all checks out well. The processing fee is US$10 for a cat or dog, plus VAT (12%). So, you will be called to pay $11.20 (as of July 2022).

Note: Besides the permit, you, as a pet owner, should present a veterinary health certificate at the time of import. It is paramount to prove that your pet is healthy enough to enter the country and that it satisfies all established health requirements, while also having immunity against rabies. To do so, you will be provided with a Veterinarian Form that should be completed and registered by a veterinarian 24 hours before your travel. The final steps include submitting BOTH the completed Veterinarian Form and the Dog (or Cat) Permit to an Agricultural Officer and Customs Officer at the port of departure/entry.

Visa to The Bahamas

UK citizens can enter The Bahamas without visa requirements, provided that their stay is no longer than 21 days. USA citizens may need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). They are also allowed to visit the country without a visa for up to three months. However, they need a valid US passport with at least two clear passport pages and documents that prove their departure date from The Bahamas. Passport holders also need to have a valid passport for 180 days from the day of their departure from The Bahamas. Finally, citizens of other countries had better check the visa requirements pertaining to their country (more details below).

Citizens coming from countries other than Canada and the USA need to be holders of a valid passport that is current up to their travel period or, in some other cases, have a Bahamas visa (this applies to citizens of specific countries). Besides a visa or a passport, it is also essential that you have hotel confirmation or name and address of residence (if not staying at a hotel), as well as an onward journey or return ticket, and proof of funds to support your short stay.

US citizens should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (https://www.cbp.gov/) for the latest information regarding international travel-related regulations. Non-US citizens that are permanent USA residents must present the following documentation to enter The Bahamas:

  • A national passport from their birth country and an original Green Card (Alien Registration Card) if their visit to The Bahamas will not exceed 30 days.
  • A Bahamas visa and a valid national passport for stays longer than 30 days.

Canadian citizens need to get a visa to visit The Bahamas only if their stay will go beyond 8 months. At the same time, though, they need to present a return ticket and a Canadian passport whose expiry date is no less than 6 months (if they are transiting through the USA or other countries) or 3 months after departing from The Bahamas (applies to direct travel to The Bahamas), as well as a return ticket and a valid passport from their country of origin (the expiry date requirements are the same as above)

Landed Immigrants (aka Permanent Residents of Canada) can visit and stay in The Bahamas without needing a visa for up to 30 days, provided they have an original Canadian Permanent Resident CARD (the expiry date of the card follows the same regulations as the passport requirements above). For visits that exceed 30 days, they must contact their nearest High Commission or Embassy.

You don’t need to have a Bahamas visa to enter the country, as long as you don’t intend to stay for more than 3 months but you will probably be asked to present a valid passport that covers the intended stay period. You also need to have a hotel confirmation or name/address of residence (if not staying at a hotel), an onward journey or return ticket, and proof of funds (if requested) to support your visit.

Indian nationals with a UK, USA, Schengen Member State, or Canadian visa do not need to have a Bahamas visa, provided they are permanent residents in these countries and as long as they are not planning on staying in The Bahamas for more than 90 days.

Indian nationals with a USA-issued Form I-551 (Permanent Resident/Resident Alien Card) are also exempt from visa requirements if their stay in The Bahamas is shorter than 30 days. The same applies to Indian nationals with a Canada-issued Permanent Resident Card.

The Bahamas government has initiated a new programme known as the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay or BEATS that enables individuals, primarily professionals, and students, to live in the country for up to 12 months, while they study or work remotely. For more details about the BEATS scheme, please visit its homepage: http://www.bahamasbeats.com/.

The Bahamas Department of Agriculture, which bears the sole responsibility for the import of both animals (pets included) and animal products, requires that you issue a permit so that you can bring your pet with you to the Bahamas. According to the Wildlife Conservation and Trade Act, as well as the Animal Contagious Diseases Act, you need to fill out an import permit that should accompany the pet (the dog or cat) at all times, especially during its import time.

It is critical that all conditions mentioned on the dog or cat permit are satisfied. Otherwise, the pet might be refused entry. The worst-case scenario also includes its disposition or confiscation as a disease risk. You can find the application form required in the following links:

  • Application form for importing dogs to The Bahamas (Dog Permit - Government - Services (bahamas.gov.bs). Scroll down, below the middle of the page to find and download it in PDF form.
  • Application form for importing cats to The Bahamas (Cat Permit - Government - Services (bahamas.gov.bs). Scroll down, below the middle of the page to find and download it in PDF form.

Fee: There is a small fee that you will need to pay so you can have the Dog or Cat Permit issued if all checks out well. The processing fee is US$10 for a cat or dog, plus VAT (12%). So, you will be called to pay $11.20 (as of July 2022).

Note: Besides the permit, you, as a pet owner, should present a veterinary health certificate at the time of import. It is paramount to prove that your pet is healthy enough to enter the country and that it satisfies all established health requirements, while also having immunity against rabies. To do so, you will be provided with a Veterinarian Form that should be completed and registered by a veterinarian 24 hours before your travel. The final steps include submitting BOTH the completed Veterinarian Form and the Dog (or Cat) Permit to an Agricultural Officer and Customs Officer at the port of departure/entry.