Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007The Departments of State and Homeland Security announced today that the requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere will begin on January 23, 2007.This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. These new travel document requirements make up the Departments' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). In order to obtain national security benefits as quickly as possible, and to expedite the processing of arriving passengers, the plan will be implemented in two phases. The first phase involves travel by air and requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. The final rule for the air phase of the WHTI rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 24, where it can be viewed at www.regulations.gov. That rule is also available on the Department's consular web site, travel.state.gov and on the Department of Homeland Security's web site, www.dhs.gov. A separate proposed rule addressing land and sea travel will be published at a later date proposing specific requirements for travelers entering the United States through land and sea border crossings. As early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea could be required to present a valid U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. The Department has dedicated additional resources and personnel to meet the increased demand for passports generated by these requirements. In Fiscal Year 2006, the Department issued a record 12.1 million passports to American citizens, and anticipates issuing 16 million passports in Fiscal Year 2007. U.S. citizens can find information about how to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov or by calling 1-877-487-2778. |
Bahamas Customs Form (click here to print out forms before you go) |
ENTERING THE BAHAMAS |
| The procedure for vessels clearing Customs & Immigration entering the Bahamas as of August 20, 2004, is as follows: A pleasure vessel arriving in the Bahamas shall be subject to a fee of $150 for boats under 35 ft and $300 for boats over 35 ft. Each additional person over four persons will be charged $15. No charge for children under six years old. This covers the cost of an initial-entry cruising permit, plus a return visit within ninety (90) days; a vessel would be exempted from additional fees within that 90-day period. This also covers a three-month fishing permit and any attendant fees payable to a Customs Officer, as well as any overtime and travel costs required for the attendance of an Immigration Officer. If you need to fly home, present your receipt at the airport for the $15 departure tax so that you don't have to pay it twice. (Bring a copy of your cruising permit to the airport.) There should be no overtime, holiday, or transportation charges above this fee. Ask for a receipt, get the name of the officer, and call Customs (242-326-4401 or 325-6551) or Immigration (242-325-2668) in Nassau if you have any problems. You may want to call Customs before you cross the Gulf Stream into the Bahamas to verify fees.
POLICY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. |
BAHAMIAN PORTS OF ENTRY |
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WHAT TO DO |
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FISHING LICENSE |
| At the time of clearing Customs, you will have an opportunity also to obtain a fishing license as part of the fee. If you intend to troll or spearfish (fishing with SCUBA equipment or speargun is illegal), you will need a fishing license. Details of fishing regulations are on the permit. |
FIREARMS |
| Bahamian law permits firearms on your vessel as part of your ship’s equipment. They must remain aboard in a secure compartment. In the event of your being boarded by Customs or the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the information on your cruising permit will be checked carefully against your actual supply. Ammo must match cruising permit. |
PETS |
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If you wish to bring a pet aboard when cruising the Bahamas, secure a permit before you leave home. An application will be sent to you if you write to: Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box N-3704, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas. You may expedite the process by calling 242-325-7413 or faxing 242-325-3960. Expect to pay a $10 fee (send International Money Order or Postal Order made payable to the Public Treasury) with your application. To receive your certificate by fax, include an extra $5 and your fax number. In addition, you will need a health certificate for your pet from your veterinarian to present to the Customs officials when you clear in. You can now download an application to import domestic animals at the following link: Pet Import Form. The new phone number is: 242-325-7502 or 325-7509. Please update your Explorer Chartbooks! |
IMMIGRATION NOTES |
There is no set policy for Bahamas Immigration in terms of length of stay granted to persons on cruising boats. You will find a wide diversity at various Ports of Entry. To quote a senior Immigration Officer in Nassau, "It is at the whim of the officer. There is no policy." The maximum time permitted is eight months though six months, and often less, is usually given. This may be extended to the full eight months by personal application to the Immigration Department before expiration. In the event that you are given less time on your visa than you would like, you have three choices: 1) Ask to speak to the Immigration Officer’s supervisor (if there is one), 2) Call Immigration Nassau 242-325-2668 or 326-1211 to report it, or 3) Renew and extend your visa where you are near the time of expiration. We are advised that there is usually no problem clearing in Nassau. Every major island in the Bahamas has both Customs and Immigration. Exceptions are at Green Turtle Cay, Chub Cay, Cat Island and Stella Maris. At those sites, there is only a Customs Officer, who is authorized to act for Immigration. Depending on the guidelines of the District Immigration Office, the Customs Officer can grant varied periods of length of stay. If you clear in at one of the ports with only a Customs Officer, you may receive only a short stay and have to appear later at a Customs and/or Immigration Office on the day your visa expires to get an extension. |
SPECIAL REMINDERS |
When leaving home, make sure you have the three essential flags for cruising in the Bahamas—your country’s flag, a yellow quarantine flag and the Bahamian courtesy flag. Your vessel’s Temporary Cruising Permit is for one year from date of entry. It may be renewed for up to two additional years by written application to Bahamas Customs, Nassau, prior to expiration and with payment of $500 per year. To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently, you must pay an import duty of 27 percent for vessels under 30 ft. or six percent for vessels 30-100 ft. At your first opportunity, make copies of your cruising permit. If you need to fly home, you will need a copy, as well as your passport, to present to your airline and Bahamas Immigration when you reenter the Bahamas. Leave the original on the boat. Customs duty is payable on most items shipped to the Bahamas. Items such as printed matter, original artwork, or replacement parts for pleasure vessels are exempted from duty. However, a 7% stamp tax is payable. In the case of replacement parts for pleasure vessels, a copy of the cruising permit (C-39) must be presented when clearing the parts through Customs. If you experience anything contrary to this, call the Comptroller of Customs in Nassau at 242-302-3302. |
EXITING THE BAHAMAS |
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It is not necessary to clear out of the Bahamas when going farther south or entering the U.S. When entering the States, you must clear in with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by calling one of the numbers below. If you are clearing back in to the U.S. anywhere from the Sebastian Inlet south down the east coast of Florida, including Ft. Pierce, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami, and on through the Keys to Key West and as far north on the west coast as Ft. Myers, the correct phone numbers are 800-432-1216 or 800-451-0393. Numbers for clearing in at other locations in Florida are:
The least busy times to call are during business hours on weekdays. Weekends and evenings are busier times for CBP, so you may have to wait longer. As of November 2006, you can make an appointment with one of the Ports of Entry listed to appear in person and pre-register before you go to the Bahamas. Call the toll free numbers above. When you return to the U.S., call the appropriate number. You may be able to clear in over the phone. Otherwise, you will be asked to call Immigration as well, and you will be directed to the nearest Port of Entry (POE) for a face-to-face interview. Be prepared to leave your boat and get a ride there if necessary. For instructions on clearing Immigration, call any of the following: General Aviation Facilities:
Port Facilities:
U.S. vessels of 30+ feet must display a CBP User Fee Decal and be prepared to give the decal number when clearing back in to the States. For the fastest service in procuring you U.S. Customs User Fee Decal, you have the option of applying online at the Department of Homeland Security web site http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/user fee/user fee decal.xml. Click on Options for Applying and follow the instructions from there. Please note that the user fee will be increasing from $25 to $27.50 on April 1, 2007. |
BAHAMAS CUSTOMS DUTY FOR BOAT PARTS |
| There has been a rumor circulating that boaters now have to pay duty on replacement boat parts coming in to the Bahamas. Customs Superintendent Raphael Whyms said that boaters who have a valid cruising permit should have to pay only a 7% stamp tax on replacement boat parts. They should not have to pay any duty. If a boater is assessed a duty fee, he should call Mr. Whyms in Nassau at 242-302-3531 to report it and have the problem corrected. |
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