Bahamas:Visa Requirements

BahamasLearn the visa requirements for this country. Last check:Last update:

Official Government Website

Bahamas Visa Requirements Map

Bahamas: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Every traveler entering the Bahamas must present a passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country. Passport cards are not accepted. The number of blank pages required in the passport, whether the passport must be biometric or machine-readable, and special rules for damaged passports are not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • The visitor must have a valid return ticket showing departure from the Bahamas or an onward ticket to a subsequent country. The passport, visa, or other entry documents required for the onward country must also be valid.
  • The visitor must be able to demonstrate sufficient financial means to cover their own expenses during their stay or may declare a local sponsor who will assume financial support. The method of proving financial sufficiency, the minimum amount required in a bank account, and the period that the bank statement must cover are not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • Travelers must complete the Bahamas Immigration Landing/Embarkation Card for entry procedures. The card may require travel, accommodation, and local address information.
  • A visa-free visitor may not engage in paid or gainful activity in the country. Those traveling for work, study, or residence purposes must obtain the relevant immigration permission in advance.
  • The permitted duration of stay depends on the relevant visa exemption regulation and the permission granted by the border officer upon entry. Although the general upper limit for visitors can be up to eight months, the actual period recorded in the passport may be shorter. If an extension is required, application must be made to the Immigration Department before the current permission expires.
  • Travelers over one year of age arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission must present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. The same requirement applies to travelers transiting for more than twelve hours through an airport of a risk country.
  • Unaccompanied children must carry a certified or notarized letter of permission issued by their legal guardians. The letter must include the name and contact information of the person authorized to receive the child upon arrival. For children traveling with one parent, a notarized consent from the non-traveling parent may be requested. For children traveling with a non-parent adult, the consent letter must authorize the adult to travel with the child and, when necessary, request medical assistance on behalf of the child.
  • Travel health insurance and the minimum coverage amount that the insurance must have are not explicitly specified in the central official source. Meeting the entry requirements does not automatically guarantee admission to the country; the final decision rests with the border officer.

E-Visa Application Requirements

  • The Bahamas' online system is called the 'Electronic Entry Visa.' For an online application, a valid email address, a passport valid for more than six months from the date of application, and a supported credit or debit card are required.
  • The applicant must select the visa type and the single entry or multiple entry option. The official application form must be completed in block capitals, in black or blue ink, and signed by the applicant. For applications made on behalf of a child, the form may be completed by the legal guardian.
  • The form requires declaration of the purpose of travel, planned date of arrival, duration of stay, person financing the travel, amount of money available for travel, personal information, national identity number, passport details, family information, relatives in the Bahamas, emergency contact, communication and address information, accommodation details, method of arrival, employment or school information, criminal record information, previous Bahamas travel, prior visa applications, and deportation history. The signature and date of the person preparing the form and the applicant are also required.
  • One recent digital passport photograph must be submitted. The photograph must have been taken within the last six months, measure 2 x 2 inches, have a resolution of 600 dpi, be in color, and have a plain white or off-white background. Selfies are not accepted. The face must look directly at the camera; the entire face, hairline, and ears must be visible. The expression must be neutral, mouth closed; shoulders must be covered by clothing. No head covering is allowed except for medical or religious reasons. An exception request must be submitted in writing to the Visa Office for approval in advance. The photograph must not contain military or public official badges or insignia.
  • Supporting documents are uploaded to the system as scanned PDF files. Since the central page contains both PDF and JPG references in different sections regarding the photograph file format, the current personal checklist generated in the application portal should be taken as a basis.
  • For self-funded visitor applications, the completed and signed form, personal information and signature pages of the passport, an employer letter not older than six months or a valid business license for self-employed persons, a bank reference letter not older than six months, criminal record certificate, medical report, address of hotel, vessel or private residence in the Bahamas, and travel itinerary showing planned flight dates must be submitted. If traveling for a conference or invitation, the relevant invitation or conference letter must be attached.
  • For applications made on behalf of a child, a birth certificate proving the parental relationship must be submitted. If the applicant has previously obtained a Bahamas visa, copies of previous visas are required. For the assessment of a multiple-entry visa, copies of at least three previous successful Bahamas visas are necessary.
  • If the application is made in a country different from the country of citizenship, a work permit, spousal permit, permanent residence card, or similar legal residence proof must be submitted.
  • For sponsored visitor applications, the sponsor's valid passport biographical information page, criminal record certificate not older than six months, bank reference letter, employer letter or valid business license, a signed invitation letter addressed to the applicant, and current proof of address are submitted. The invitation letter must clearly state the purpose of travel and the planned duration of stay. As proof of the sponsor's address, an electricity, water, or similar utility bill not older than six months is required.
  • The sponsored applicant's passport biographical information page, criminal record certificate not older than six months, medical report, bank reference letter, employer letter or proof of profession, the sponsor's signed invitation letter, and current proof of address must be submitted.
  • For seafarer visa applications, the completed and signed form, personal information and signature pages of the passport, criminal record certificate not older than six months and medical report, previous Bahamas visas, ship or vessel registration certificate, proof of ownership, temporary cruising permit issued by Bahamas Customs, and berthing fee documents from the Bahamas Port Department are required.
  • Marriage, birth, death, and criminal record documents issued in foreign countries must be translated into English when necessary. No single central rule applicable to all applicants in the e-visa system is specified for notarization, apostille, or legalization of the translation.
  • The minimum amount required in the bank reference letter or account is not explicitly specified in the central official source. Travel health insurance and the minimum insurance coverage are also not explicitly specified in the central official source. The number of blank pages required in the passport is not explicitly specified in the central official source.
  • The fee for an online single-entry visitor visa and seafarer visa is 160 Bahamian dollars. For a sponsored visitor visa, an additional facilitation fee of 20 Bahamian dollars is specified. The fee for three-month, six-month, or one-year multiple-entry visitor and seafarer visas is 250 Bahamian dollars. The fee for a three-year multiple-entry visa is 500 Bahamian dollars, and this option is not offered through the online system. Fees are non-refundable.
  • Payment can be made by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit or debit card.
  • The standard e-visa processing time is seven to ten business days, excluding the day of initial submission. This period applies if all documents are complete on the first application and no interview is required. No fixed central deadline for how many days before travel the application must be made is specified.
  • If deemed necessary, the applicant may be called for an interview at the chosen visa office and fingerprints may be taken. The applicant must attend the interview with the completed application form, visa approval page, and original documents. The applicant may be directed to another Bahamas external representation if necessary, or may be required to upload additional documents.
  • A single-entry visa is valid for one entry within the three-month period from its issuance. Multiple-entry visas may be valid for three months, six months, one year, or three years. The validity period of the visa is not the same as the actual permitted duration of stay at the border.
  • Upon entry into the country, the passport used in the application and the Electronic Entry Visa must be presented to the border officer. Whether the electronic approval must be carried in print or digitally is not explicitly specified in the central official source. Issuance of a visa does not guarantee entry into the country.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Visa types or applications not offered online are processed through the Consular Division of the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorized Bahamas embassy, high commission, or consulate. Diplomatic and official visas cannot be obtained from the online system. If an offline application is to be made for a sponsored visitor visa, the Visa Office must be contacted.
  • All Bahamas visas must be obtained before travel. The application form must be completed, signed, and submitted together with the required documents and the applicable fee to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorized consular officer.
  • The printed form must be completed in block capitals, in black or blue ink. It must bear the signature of the applicant or, in the case of child applications, the legal guardian.
  • The applicant must have a passport valid for more than six months and a return or onward ticket. For applications at a representation, a passport photograph with a white background, employer letter or business license, bank reference letter or statement, criminal record certificate, hotel or cruise itinerary, flight reservation or ticket copy, invitation or conference letter, and copies of previous visas may generally be required.
  • For child applications, a birth certificate proving the parental relationship may be submitted. If the child will travel with one parent, alone, or with a non-parent adult, the relevant notarized consent requirements must be fulfilled separately.
  • Marriage, birth, and death documents issued in foreign countries may be required to be legalized or apostilled in the country of origin. If the documents are not in English, an English translation may be requested. The exact translation, notary, apostille, and legalization requirements may vary depending on the representation applied to.
  • A residence card, work permit, or similar document proving the applicant's legal status in the country of residence may be required. In some cases of travel by vessel from the United States, presentation of a valid third-country visa or residence document may be necessary.
  • There is no single current central list applicable to all representations for the number of photographs, number of document copies, period that the bank statement must cover, minimum financial sufficiency amount, travel health insurance, and insurance coverage for consular applications. These elements must be confirmed with the representation to which the application is made.
  • The statutory fee schedule specifies 100 Bahamian dollars for a single-entry visa without biometric features, 110 Bahamian dollars for a multiple-entry visa and seafarer visa; 160 Bahamian dollars for a single-entry visa with biometric features, 250 Bahamian dollars for a multiple-entry visa, and 160 Bahamian dollars for a seafarer visa. The fee for a three-year multiple-entry visa is 500 Bahamian dollars. No fee is charged for diplomatic or official visas. The fee may vary in case of representation, reciprocity practice, or if the application is accepted through the representation of another state.
  • The accepted payment methods for consular applications, current processing time, and how long in advance of travel the application must be made are not explicitly specified in the central official source. This information must be obtained from the representation where the application will be made.
  • The applicant may be called for a personal interview, may be required to provide fingerprints, and may have to submit original documents. The consular officer may request additional documents or reject the application. Issuance of a visa does not automatically confer the right to enter the Bahamas.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • A transit visa is a separate visa type under the Bahamas' official visa legislation and must be obtained before travel. There is no official system for issuing a transit visa on arrival.
  • The application must be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or an authorized Bahamas consular officer using the official visa form; the form must be completed in full, submitted with the required information and documents, and the relevant fee must be paid.
  • The applicant must have a passport valid for more than six months, confirmed onward travel, and the documents required for entry to the destination country.
  • The official fee for a transit visa with biometric features is 100 Bahamian dollars, and the fee is non-refundable.
  • There is no current and detailed central checklist for the number of photographs, accommodation requirement, financial sufficiency amount, bank statement period, insurance, validity period, permitted transit duration, application time, processing time, and payment method specific to a transit visa. These conditions must be confirmed with the authorized Visa Office or the Bahamas representation to which the application will be made.
Population
404,628(2026 est.)
Official language
English
Government type
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Continent
North America
Capital
Nassau
Currency
Bahamian dollar
Area
13,878 km²
Phone code
+1242

Bahamas: Key Destinations

Nassau, the capital and largest city, serves as the primary gateway for most visitors arriving at Lynden Pindling International Airport. Other key destinations include Freeport on Grand Bahama Island and the Family Islands offering distinct experiences.

The Bahamas is renowned for its vibrant culture, duty-free shopping, and business hubs like Nassau and Freeport. The archipelago's extensive coastline and pristine islands such as Exuma and Andros attract visitors seeking both relaxation and adventure.

Travelers typically begin their journey in Nassau, then explore other islands via domestic flights or ferries. Common itineraries combine the capital's attractions with island-hopping to the Out Islands for a varied tropical experience.