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NEW U.S. TRAVEL
DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS:
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require
all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from The Bahamas to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes
the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior
travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S.
citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial
public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected
public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines. The proposed time line will be as follows:
- December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to
all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
- December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to
all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.
Visit the U.S. Department of State's website for more information.
CURRENT REQUIREMENTS:
To
enter The Bahamas, U.S. citizens need one of the three documents listed below, accompanied by a return or onward journey
ticket and proof of funds to support the visit. Stays not to exceed eight months.
NOTE:
- A married woman whose birth certificate does not match her Government
issued identification should also bring along her marriage license.
- If you are using an electronic ticket, please show Immigration a copy
of your travel itinerary and ticket number.
Passport
Current or expired (up to a maximum of five years since expiration date).
- OR -
Official Birth Certificate
For
persons 17 years of age and older:
An original certificate issued by the U.S. Govt. or court-certified copy
(raised or ink seal) is required, accompanied by an Official Photo ID issued by the U.S. Govt. (driver’s license, or
voter's card). Current and expired IDs are accepted. Student Photo ID alone is not acceptable as adequate documentation.
For persons 16 years of age and younger:
A birth certificate is all that is required. If the traveler
is a student and possesses a student ID, the traveler should also carry the student ID to facilitate being processed by Bahamas
Immigration.
For persons 16 years of age and younger, traveling alone:
A notarized
parental letter of consent is required. In the case of organized group travel, a letter is not necessary. It is assumed
that the chaperon has obtained prior permission.
NOTE: A laminated credit
card-sized birth certificate is acceptable, as long as it is an original or certified copy (raised or ink seal).
OR
Original Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate
An
original certificate is required, accompanied by a recent photo if photo on naturalization paper is not recent.
NOTE: Persons are advised to purchase return tickets (and seek reimbursement upon returning
home for the unused ticket), even when they are certain to return via a private boat – the chance of an airline/cruise
line ticket agent allowing travel on a single ticket is very slim. If, however, the person gets to the point of Bahamas
Immigration on a single ticket, the Captain of the boat would have to present himself and the cruising permit. However,
a copy of the cruising permit will be permitted for crew members, who may be arriving by plane and returning by boat as their
names will appear on the manifest. A letter will not suffice.
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