Customs and Immigration
Arriving by Boat
Boaters must clear Customs and Immigration upon arrival into the Bahamas
which they may do at our Marina,
an officially designated Port of Entry. As you enter port, fly the yellow quarantine
flag and and have our dock master notify Customs of your arrival.
No one other than the Captain
is permitted to leave the boat, until your vessel has been cleared.
Customs and Immigration will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must
have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. US citizens
can present a passport or birth certificate. A driver's license by
itself is not
acceptable.
Before leaving The Bahamas, be sure to surrender your copy
of the immigration card at the last Bahamian port you visit.
Entry Fees
The fee for boaters for boats up to 35 feet is $150.00 and the fee for
boats over 35 feet is $300. These fees are inclusive of a cruising
permit, fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons. This
includes the first four persons only. Each additional person will be
charged $15 departure tax.
Firearms
If you have
a firearm on board, you must declare it with Customs. You must provide
the serial number and manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition.
Though you are allowed to have a firearm on your boat, you cannot take
it off the boat unless you obtain a permit from the Bahamian police
ahead of time. Weapons must be under lock and key at all times. Any
infraction of this law is dealt with severely.
Bringing your Pet
An Import Permit is required for all animals being brought into The
Islands of The Bahamas. These are available in advance for a $10 fee for
each animal. Contact our marina staff for more information or write to
The Director of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, P.O. Box N-3704,Nassau,
Bahamas, Tel: (242) 325-7502. Dogs and Cats must be six months of age
and have current proof of rabies vaccination and a health certificate.
Replacement Parts
Spare parts and replacement boat parts may be imported into the
Bahamas duty free, as long as the boat they are intended for has a
cruising permit and transire (issued upon entrance into the Bahamas).
Equipment shipped imported as cargo, will be subject to a six percent
stamp duty based on the value of the parts. Invoices for imported goods
are required in all cases.
Fishing and Diving Regulations
Having paid fees on entry, every vessel
would have received a valid fishing permit from the Customs officials.
Licenses issued to individuals are not sufficient when fishing from a
boat. Fishing gear is restricted to hook and line
and you may not fish with more than six rods at a time. Bag limits are
as follows:
- Lobster or crawfish: six tails per person, at any time. Annual closed
season is April 1 to July 31. Minimum size limits are 3 3/8 inch
carapace length or six inches tail length. Egg-bearing female crawfish
are protected.
- Conch: Harvesting and possession of conch without a well-formed lip is
prohibited. Bag limit at any time is 10 per person.
- Wahoo/Dolphin/Kingfish: Six fish per person, any combination.
- Stone crabs: Closed season is June 1
to October 15. Minimum harvestable claw is four inches. Harvesting of
female prohibited.
- Turtle: Illegal to import; although
legal to eat in The Bahamas.
- Spearfishing: Hawaiian sling is the only approved spearfishing device.
Use of Scuba gear or an air compressor to harvest fish, conch, crawfish
and other marine animals is prohibited. Spearfishing is not allowed
within one mile off the coast of New Providence, within one mile off the
south coast of Freeport, Grand Bahama and
within 200 yards off the coast of all Out Islands. Spearing or taking
marine animals by any means is prohibited within national sea parks.
- Vessel Bag Limit: 20 pounds of scalefish, 10 conch and six crawfish per person may
be exported from The Bahamas.
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