Bahamas: visa and entry rules
What you need to get in, how long you may stay, and what an overstay costs
The Bahamas' borders: every crossing point
The country has no land borders - it is an island.
All entry is by air and by sea. The main airport is Nassau on New Providence; resort flights are handled by Freeport and Exuma.
Cruise ships are a noticeable share of the traffic, and a simplified procedure applies to passengers going ashore.
Travel between the islands within the country is by ferry and light aircraft, with no border formalities involved.
One distinctive feature is US preclearance. United States immigration officers work at Nassau airport: passengers flying to the US complete the formalities while still in the Bahamas and land as if on a domestic flight.
Bringing a car into the Bahamas
You cannot get here under your own steam - there are no land borders.
Tourists get around in rental cars.
Traffic drives on the left.
A local temporary driving permit is often required - it is issued by the rental company for a small fee, and formally you may not drive without it.
It is worth checking the temporary import rules for the Bahamas in advance. General descriptions covering the region go out of date, and being turned back at the border costs you the trip.
Travelling to the Bahamas with a pet
An import permit is required, arranged in advance with the veterinary service.
A rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.
An international veterinary certificate is required, endorsed by the state veterinary service of the country you are leaving.
Check vaccinations, microchipping and quarantine for bringing an animal into the Bahamas before you buy tickets. An incomplete set means a refusal at the check-in desk, not at the border.
The permit is issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, and it is valid for a limited period.
Overstaying your visa in the Bahamas
A fine is charged for exceeding your permitted stay and is paid on departure.
The fine is calculated as you leave the country, and there is no working it out beforehand. Rates in the Bahamas change and there is no single published scale. Cash at the border is essential.
An extension is arranged with the immigration service before your permitted stay expires, not after.
A serious overstay means deportation and an entry ban.
What else to check before you go
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Entry rules change faster than anything else on this site, and they change without notice. We cross-check every page against several sources and state the date it was verified, but that does not replace the main step: before you travel, check an official source — the country’s consulate, its immigration service or its e-visa portal. Especially if more than a couple of months have passed since our check.