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Visitor Entry Permission

BahamasShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Bahamas Read the five questions ↓

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

Bahamian visa requirements are waived for citizens of the countries on the Department's waiver list who wish to visit and remain for a period not exceeding three (3) months or eight (8) months as each individual agreement may dictate. Citizens of the countries on the Department's visa-required list must apply for and obtain a Bahamian visa before attempting entry, and those visas are issued in advance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than at the border.

See recorded sources
  • 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:
  • Visa Requirements
    On the contrary, citizens of the following countries must make application and obtain Bahamian visas before attempting entry into The Commonwealth of The Bahamas:
  • 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.
  • Designated Bahamas Visa Processing Centers
    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.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

The route covers visiting and remaining in The Bahamas as a visitor; at the border the prospective visitor must not intend to engage in any gainful employment while in The Bahamas. The official source does not list the specific visit purposes allowed.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not list the visit purposes that are allowed, such as tourism, family visits or business meetings; it states only that gainful employment is excluded.
  • The page does not say whether study or volunteering is permitted as a visitor.
  • 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:
  • Entry Criteria
    must not intend to engage in any gainful employment while in The Bahamas

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

Visa-waived citizens may visit and remain for a period not exceeding three (3) months or eight (8) months, as each individual agreement may dictate, and visitors intending to remain more than ninety (90) days are advised to check the visa requirement for their own country. Overstaying is a punishable offence. The official source does not state a rolling-period rule or a limit on the number of entries.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not say which countries have the three-month limit and which have the eight-month limit.
  • The page does not state the period actually granted at the border, which follows from the officer's decision to grant leave to land.
  • The page states no rolling-period rule and no limit on the number of entries.
  • 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:
  • Designated Bahamas Visa Processing Centers
    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.
  • Entry Criteria
    Overstaying is a punishable offence in The Bahamas.

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

At the border interview the traveller must possess a valid return ticket or means of departing The Bahamas, must not intend to engage in gainful employment, must have financial means to sustain themselves during the stay or identify a local sponsor, must present a passport valid for at least six months (passport cards are not accepted) and must present a completed Bahamas Immigration Disembarkation/Embarkation Card. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, given at least 10 days before entry, is also required from travellers arriving from or transiting more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

See recorded sources
  • Entry Criteria
    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
  • Yellow Fever Vaccination Requirement
    The Bahamas requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers arriving from countries where yellow fever is endemic or where there is an active outbreak.
  • Who Must Provide Proof of Vaccination
    Travellers over 1 year of age arriving directly from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission (see list below), whether visiting or resident in that country. Travellers who have transited more than 12 hours through an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
  • Timing Requirement
    Travellers must be vaccinated at least 10 days before entering The Bahamas for the certificate to be considered valid.

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

Where a Bahamian visa is required it is processed and issued in advance of travel by the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at its listed offices, not at the border. A visitor who wants to stay beyond the period granted can apply for a visitor extension before the time granted expires, subject to the discretion of the Department of Immigration.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state how long an extension can be granted for, what it costs or what evidence is needed.
  • The page does not say whether a visitor can change to another immigration status from inside The Bahamas.
  • Admittance is stated not to be automatic, and the page does not set out the grounds on which leave to land may be refused.
  • 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.
  • Designated Bahamas Visa Processing Centers
    Bahamian visas may be processed and issued at the following offices:
  • Entry Criteria
    Overstaying is a punishable offence 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.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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