The Bahamas

Major Islands:

Abaco Island, Andros Island, Acklins & Crooked Islands, Bimini Island, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera Island, Exuma Island, Grand Bahama Island, Great Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana Island, New Providence Island, Paradise Island, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador Island.

Accessibility:

Skeptical about the accessiblity of a chain of islands scattered along a 500-mile stretch of water that divides the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans? Consider the following facts:

By Air:

There are approximately 57 airports throughout The Bahamas, including three International airports (Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island, and The Exumas). 24 of these airports are official ports of entry to The Islands Of The Bahamas. (For a listing of airports in The Bahamas click here or here .

By Sea:

There are countless government and private Marinas throughout The Bahamas. 29 of the marinas are official ports of entry to The Islands Of The Bahamas. (For more boating information– ports of entry, procedures, etc.– click here).

Getting There:

Easy access to The Islands of The Bahamas is a key reason for this tropical playground’s appeal as a year-round vacation destination. Just a short hop by jet, a pleasant day by cruise ship, or a memorable voyage by private or charter boat, The Bahamas can be reached quickly by air or by sea. Explore your options.

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.). Purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars are permitted by all arriving passengers.

Departure:

Departures to the US must go through US Customs pre-clearance. US visitors may take home $600 worth of duty-free merchandise. The next $l,000 is taxed at 10%. Gifts valued up to $50 may be mailed home duty-free. One litre of wine, liqueur or liquor and five cartons of cigarettes may be taken duty-free.

Boats:

If entering The Bahamas by boat, there is a flat fee to clear Customs and Immigration. This will cover a vessel with four persons or less. Also included is the cruising permit, fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges and the Departure Tax for up to four persons. Each additional person above four will be charged Departure Tax. If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangement must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration. For more boating information– ports of entry, procedures, etc.– click here. For information on marinas click here. For a list of Dive Operators in The Bahamas click here.

Entry requirements:

Upon your arrival to The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will be asked to fill out an Immigration Arrival/Departure Card, which you will keep part of until your departure. All visitors are required to be in possession of a return ticket. U.S. visitors staying for eight months or less need a return ticket plus a passport or a certified birth certificate with a government-issued photo identification, such as a voter’s card or driver’s license.

For entry requirements specific to your country click here.

Visa Applications:

Bahamas

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Consular Section
Norfolk House, Frederick Street
P.O. Box N-3746
Nassau, Bahamas
Phone: 242-323-5578/5565
Fax: 242-326-6186

London

Bahamas High Commission
No. 10 Chesterfield Street
London W1J 5JL, England
Phone: 011-44-207-408-4488
Fax: 011-44-207-499-9937
E-mail: information@bahamashclondon.com

Haiti

Embassy of the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas
P.O. Box 15611 – 12 Rue Goulard
Place Boyer
Petion-Ville
Port-Au Prince, Haiti
Phone: 011-509-2571-448
Fax: 011-509-256-5729

Hong Kong

Bahamas Consulate General
Suite 704-7054 Sino Plaza
255-257 Glouster Road
Causeway Bay Hong Kong
Phone: 852-2147-0202
Fax: 852-2893-3917
E-mail: bahacghk@netvigator.com

Canada

Bahamas High Commission
Metropolitan Life Centre
50 O’Connor
Suite 1313
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6L2
Phone: 613-232-1724
Fax: 613-232-0097
E-mail: ottawa-mission@bahighco.com

USA/Washington, D.C.

Embassy of the Commonwealth
of The Bahamas
2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-319-2667
Fax: 202-319-2668

USA/New York

Bahamas Consulate General
Bahama House
231 East 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-421-6420
Fax: 212-688-5926
Telex: 2343-2580
E-mail: bhsun@undp.org

USA/Miami

Bahamas Consulate General
25 S.E. Second Avenue
Ingraham Bldg.
Suite 818
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-373-6295
Fax: 305-373-6312
Telex: 203-807849
E-mail:bcgmia@bellsouth.net

Courtesy of The Bahmas Ministry of Tourism