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The following is an excerpt from The Northern Bahams Guide, The Exuma Guide, and The Southern Bahamas Guide, all by Stephen J. Pavlidis

All vessels entering Bahamian waters must clear in with Customs and Immigration officials at the nearest Port of Entry listed at the end of this article.  Failure to report within 24 hours may subject you to a penalty and make you liable for confiscation and forfeiture of your vessel.  When approaching your selected port of entry be sure to fly your yellow “Q” flag.  Tie up to a dock or marina and await the officials if directed.  In places like Bimini (where the dockmasters will usually have the necessary forms for you) or Green Turtle Cay, only the captain of the vessel may go ashore to arrange clearance and no other shore contact is permitted until pratique is granted.  In some places, such as Nassau, Customs will actually come aboard your vessel.  Some of the marinas that you use may levy a charge for using their dock, Cat Cay and Chub Cay in particular.  If any marina does not charge you, good manners suggest that you at least make a fuel purchase.  Most southbound vessels usually clear in long before reaching the outer islands while those northbound skippers have a choice of ports of entry.

The Customs and Immigration fee structure has changed considerably over the last decade and it has caused a tremendous amount of contention in various segments of the cruising community.  Regardless, cruisers still come to The Bahamas. The cruising permit fee is $150 for vessels to 35’ in length, and $300 for vessels over 35’, and is valid for one year (tenders over 18’ are charged an additional $150).  This fee allows the owner to keep the vessel in Bahamian waters for up to one year without paying duty, and also covers the cost of Immigration charges for up to 4 people.  Also included are all transportation and overtime charges as well as a one-year fishing permit for up to six reels.  This fee allows you to also leave The Bahamas within 90 days of your first clearance and return without having to pay the duty a second time (this may change by the time this edition has been published).  It is sometimes possible to get an extension for this permit for $500, but it is at the option of the Customs officer on duty.  If you wish to leave your boat permanently in The Bahamas you will have to pay a 27% duty on vessels under 30’ and 6% on vessels from 30-100’.  A $15 departure tax is included for those of your crew who choose to fly home but they’ll need a copy of your cruising permit when flying out so they won’t have to pay the $15 departure tax a second time.

U.S. citizens need a passport, but visas are not required for visitors from the U.S., Canada, and persons from any British Commonwealth country.  If you are flying in and returning by way of a boat in transit you need some proof that you are able to leave the country.  It is suggested that you purchase a round trip ticket and leave the return reservation open.  When you return aboard your boat you may then cash in your unused ticket or use it for a future flight.  Check with the airline when buying your ticket as to their policy in this matter.

If yours is a pleasure vessel with no dutiable cargo, the captain will fill out a Maritime Declaration of Health, Inwards Report for pleasure vessels, and a crew list.  Do not mistakenly call your crew “passengers” or it may be interpreted that you are running a charter.  An International Marine Declaration of Health in duplicate will be accepted in lieu of a Bill of Health from vessels arriving in The Bahamas.  Smallpox vaccination certificates and cholera inoculation certificates are required only if the vessel is arriving directly from an infected area. 

Each crewmember will fill out and sign an Immigration form.  You will be asked to answer several tourism related questions.  You can ask for and receive a stay of up to eight months however some Immigration Officials will only give three or four months for reasons that are clear only to them.  This is an inconsistency that one sees every now and then as you talk to different cruisers and find out about their clearing-in adventure.  An Immigration official in Nassau explained that it is up to the individual officer to determine how long a stay to permit.  If you have guests flying in they also must have a return trip ticket and proof of citizenship.

The captain will be issued a Cruising Permit (Transire) for the vessel that is valid for up to 12 months.  This permit must be presented to any Customs official or other proper officer (if requested) while in The Bahamas.  If you wish to keep your vessel in Bahamian waters for longer than one year without paying import duties, special arrangements must be made with Customs (see above).  Spare parts for installation aboard your vessel are duty free.  If the parts are imported as cargo they are subject to a 6% duty.  Bicycles and motorcycles (including scooters), are required to be licensed at the yacht’s port of entry.  If they are to be brought ashore they may be subject to a Customs duty or a bond in the form of a cash deposit.If you have pets on board they must have an import permit.  An application for the permit may be requested by writing to the Director of the Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box N-3704, Nassau, Bahamas (242-325-7502, fax # 242-325-3960).  Return the completed application with a $10.00 fee in the form of a Postal Money Order or International Money Order payable to the Public Treasury.  This will hasten the process of obtaining your permit although you should allow three to four weeks processing time.  Rabies certificates are required of all animals over three months old and must be more than 10 days but less than 9 months old and should be presented when you clear Customs and Immigration.  If you wish your permit to be faxed to you, include a fax number and an extra $5 in the money order.

Non-residents of The Bahamas entering aboard a foreign vessel are not required to obtain permits nor pay duties on firearms during their visit to the islands.  This exemption is for three months following the arrival of the vessel at a designated port of entry.  After three months a certificate must be obtained from the Commissioner of Police.  All firearms must be kept safe from theft under lock and key and be declared on your cruising permit with an accurate count of all ammunition.  Firearms may not be used in Bahamian waters nor taken ashore.  Hunters should contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Nassau for information on hunting in The Bahamas.  Completely forbidden are tear gas pens, military arms such as artillery, flame-throwers, machine guns, and automatic weapons.  Exempt are toy guns, dummy firearms, flare guns, and spear guns designed for underwater use. 

In the summer of 2009, the Government of The Bahamas passed an amendment to the Tariff Act reinstating the Duty Free exemption for printed matter and original artwork.   The amendment also reinstates the original exemption for printed matter and original artwork.  All Bahamian Customs Officers have been informed of this change, but if you should happen to come across an official who insists on charging duty on these items, you can call Bahamas Entry Checking in Nassau, 242-302-3509, for assistance.

The US department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has implemented the Local Boater Option (LBO) program. This option is available to frequent small boat users in the Tampa, Miami, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands areas. The LBO will allow CBP to expedite the arrival reporting process to low risk boaters.

Enrollment to the LBO Program is voluntary, free of charge and will facilitate your clearance procedures. All US citizen are eligible to join. In order to participate in the LBO you must contact CBP at the nearest registration location designated by the port of entry. The registrant will be provided an appointment to present all required documentation to CBP Officials.

American flag vessels are not required to obtain clearance when departing U.S. ports.  If you are clearing back into the United States you must, upon entry, call the U.S. Customs Service to clear in.  You are required to go to a nearby telephone immediately upon arrival and dock nearby.  You can dial 1-800-432-1216, 1-800-458-4239, or 1-800-451-0393 to get a Customs officer on the line to arrange clearance.  If the line is busy, call back later.

Each resident of the United States, including minors, may take home duty-free purchases up to $800 U.S. if they have been outside the U.S. for more than 48 hours and have not taken this exemption in 30 days.  This includes up to 2 liters of liquor per person over 21 provided that one liter is manufactured in The Bahamas or a member of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).  A family may pool their exemptions.  Articles of up to $1000 in excess of the duty-free $800 allowance are assessed at a flat rate of 10%.  For example, a family of four may bring back up to $3200 worth of duty-free goods.  If they were to bring back $7200 worth of goods, they would have to pay a duty of $400 on the $4000 above the duty-free allowance.  This flat rate may only be used once every 30 days.  If the returning U.S. resident is not entitled to the duty-free allowance because of the 30 day or 48 hour restrictions, they may still bring back $25 worth of personal or household items.  This exemption may not be pooled.  Antiques are admitted to the U.S. duty-free if they are over 100 years old.  The Bahamian store selling the antique should provide you with a form indicating the value and certifying the age of the object.  Importation of fruits, plants, meats, poultry, and diary products is generally prohibited.  More than $10,000 in U.S. or foreign coin, currency, traveler’s checks, money orders, and negotiable instruments or investment securities in bearer form must be reported to Customs.  Importation of Bahamian tortoise or turtle shell goods is prohibited.  Many medicines purchased over the counter in The Bahamas such as 222, a codeine-aspirin-caffeine compound, are not allowed entry.  Although you can buy Cuban cigars in Nassau, enjoy them on your cruise and do not attempt to bring them back into the U.S.  The U.S. Customs Service frowns on Americans spending money on Cuban products.  Hopefully that will change in time. 

Ports of Entry

ABACO: Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Spanish Cay Marina

ANDROS: Congo Town, Fresh Creek (Lighthouse Marina), Mangrove Cay, Morgan’s Bluff

BERRY ISLANDS: Chub Cay (Chub Cay Marina), Great Harbour Cay (Great Harbour Cay Marina)

NORTH BIMINI: Alice Town (any marina)

SOUTH BIMINI: Bimini Sands Marina

CAT CAY: Cat Cay Marina

CAT ISLAND: Smith’s Bay, New Bight, Airport

ELEUTHERA: Governor’s Harbour, Harbour Island, Rock Sound, Spanish Wells, Powell Point    

EXUMA: George Town, Emerald Bay Marina

GRAND BAHAMA: Freeport Harbour, Port Lucaya (Port Lucaya Marina, Lucayan Marina Village, Xanadu Marina), West End (marina)

INAGUA: Matthew Town

LONG ISLAND: Stella Maris

NEW PROVIDENCE: Nassau (any marina), Lyford Cay Marina

MAYAGUANA: Abraham’s Bay (the office is at the Batelco tower)

RAGGED ISLAND: Duncan Town

SAN SALVADOR: Cockburn Town (Riding Rock Marina)

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