Before Your Arrival - Bahamas Immigration

Entry Criteria

 In accordance with the Statute Law of The Bahamas, Immigration Act- Chapter 191 Section 22 (2a-l), all travellers who are not citizens or legal residents of The Bahamas must meet prescribed criteria at the border in order to be eligible to be granted leave to land in The Bahamas.  During the interview at the border, the prospective visitor must:

• possess a valid return ticket/ means of departing The Bahamas,
• must not intend to engage in any gainful employment while in The Bahamas
• have financial means to sustain him/herself during the stay (or identify a local sponsor who will receive him/her)
• present a passport that is valid for at least six months (passport cards will not be accepted)
• present a completed Bahamas Immigration Disembarkation/Embarkation Card

Please note that admittance is not automatic and although a traveller may meet the aforementioned requirements, extenuating circumstances and other factors may result in refusal of leave to land.

Visa Requirements

 In accordance with official international visa regulation agreements, Bahamian visa requirements are waived for citizens of the following countries who wish to visit and remain in The Bahamas for a period not exceeding three (3) months or eight (8) months as each individual agreement may dictate:

American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Azores, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gambia, Galapagos Islands, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (HKSAR or HK COF I), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea-South, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montserrat, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norfolk Islands, Norway, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Saint Marten, Saint Pierre & Miquelon, San Marino, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tanzania, Tokelau, Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Turkey, Turks &Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (US & UK), Western Samoa, Zambia And Zimbabwe.

On the contrary, citizens of the following countries must make application and obtain Bahamian visas before attempting entry into The Commonwealth of The Bahamas:

Please note that as aforementioned, visa requirements also relate and correspond to one’s period of leave to land, therefore, it is recommended that all visitors intending to remain in The Bahamas for an excess of ninety (90) days review the visa requirement for their specific country.

Designated Bahamas Visa Processing Centers

 Please be advised that although Bahamas Immigration Officers check for Bahamian visas at the border, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas is the entity responsible for the processing and issuing Bahamian visas via their Consular Division and all Bahamian visas are issued in advance of travel to The Bahamas.

Please be advised that citizens of countries requiring Bahamian visas who may attempt to enter The Bahamas without acquiring said visa beforehand would be refused leave to land at the border.

Bahamian visas may be processed and issued at the following offices:

• Bahamian Consulate in Bridgetown, Barbados
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Brussels, Belgium
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Belize
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Toronto, Canada
• Bahamian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Santiago, Chile
• Consulate of the Bahamas in Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• Bahamian Embassy in Beijing, China
• Embassy of Bahamas in Havana, Cuba
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Paris, France
• Bahamian Consulate in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• Bahamian Consulate in Athens, Greece
• Bahamian Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
• Bahamian Consulate in New Delhi, India
• Bahamian Consulate in Tel Aviv, Israel
• Bahamian Consulate in Milan, Italy
• Bahamian Consulate in Rome, Italy
• Bahamian Consulate in Kingston, Jamaica
• Honorary Consulate of The Bahamas in Monaco, Monaco
• Bahamian Consulate in Oslo, Norway
• Bahamian Consulate in Panama City, Panama
• Bahamian Consulate in Asuncion, Paraguay
• Bahamian Consulate in Bratislava, Slovakia
• Bahamian Consulate in Stockholm, Sweden
• Bahamian Consulate in Zurich, Switzerland
• Bahamian Consulate in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
• Bahamian Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
• Bahamian High Commission in London, the United Kingdom
• Bahamian Consulate General in Atlanta, the United States
• The Bahamas Permanent Mission to the United Nations
• Bahamian Consulate General in Miami, the United States
• Bahamian Consulate General in New York, the United States
• Bahamian Embassy in Washington, the United States

Please review the following link to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website outlining the entire visa requirement and application process:

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/foreignaffairs

Overstaying is a punishable offense in The Bahamas. If you want to stay beyond the period granted, you can apply for a visitor extension before the time granted expires and is subject to the discretion of the Department of Immigration.