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Boating in the Bahamas: cruising permit, customs and fishing

For many bluewater sailors the Bahamas sit between the Caribbean and Florida. Arriving on your own boat means clearing in at a port of entry, paying the cruising permit through Click2Clear and getting a separate permit to fish. This page sums up what Bahamian customs, immigration and fisheries law require.

Emergency911 / 919UKW 16[12]

Alcohol limit?check locally

Liability covercheck locallyno requirement found[1][3]

Licenceno rule found[1][3]

1 The boat flies the yellow quarantine flag and only the captain goes ashore. 2 He enters the boat and pays the cruising permit in Click2Clear. 3 A customs officer stamps and signs the permit, and only then is it valid.

Best time to go: Exumas

Exumas: going by warmth, rain days and wind, February, March and April are the most pleasant months. Bars show the average daily high, the line the sea temperature, below them rain days and days with wind of 6 Beaufort or more per month, averaged over 2015 to 2024.

Air, daily high (°C) Sea (°C) best months

Rain days6.54.35.57.8172117171817129.4

Days with wind 6 Bft+11%8%6%3%4%1%1%3%2%6%6%7%

Weather: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis, grid values rather than station readings).

Sea temperature from NOAA satellite data. More cruising areas compared: Best time to sail

Clearing in

Entry must be made at a designated port of entry. On arrival you complete the inward declaration and application for a cruising permit (Form C2A) and the maritime declaration of health.[1]
Until customs and immigration have cleared the vessel, only the captain may go ashore. Fly the yellow quarantine flag at each port of entry.[1][3]
Pleasure vessels are entered and paid for in the Click2Clear cruising permit module, with no account needed for up to twelve months. The permit is only valid once a customs officer has stamped and signed it.[1][2]
Pay in advance by Visa card or in cash on arrival through the marina. No vessel is approved until paid in full.[1]
Complete the inward passenger and crew manifest for everyone on board.[5]
Outbound clearance is only needed if your next port outside the Bahamas wants clearance documents. It uses Form C28A and costs USD 75.[1]
Customs points include the Exuma Public Dock, Emerald Bay Marina and Exuma Yacht Club in the Exumas and several marinas in Marsh Harbour, Abaco.[13]

Cruising permit and fees

A 30-day cruising permit costs USD 150 up to 30 feet, 250 up to 50 feet, 350 up to 100 feet and 600 above.[1]
Six months cost USD 300 up to 50 feet, 750 up to 100 feet and 2,000 above, with one free re-entry. Twelve months cost 500, 1,000 or 3,000 with two free re-entries.[1]
Boats not staying in a marina pay an anchorage fee once per permit, for example USD 50 up to 50 feet for 30 days and 200 for twelve months.[1]
With more than three non-resident persons aged six or over on board, a passenger arrival tax of USD 20 per person applies.[1]
After twelve months the permit can be renewed on written application, for USD 500 up to 50 feet, 1,000 up to 100 feet and 3,000 above.[1]
Only boats of non-residents that are not used commercially or for hire qualify for a cruising permit.[1]

Passport, visa and length of stay

German, Austrian and Spanish citizens need no visa for stays of up to three months.[4]
Your passport must be valid for at least six months.[5]
To stay longer, apply for an extension beforehand. The processing fee is USD 200 and the cruising permit stands in for a return ticket.[6]
On entry you show original ID for everyone aboard and the vessel registration or title. Once approved you receive the temporary cruising permit (Form C39).[1]

Licence

Neither customs nor the maritime authority list a licence for foreign skippers. We found no official rule; take your certificate anyway.[1][3]

Liability insurance

Customs, immigration and the maritime authority mention no insurance requirement. Ask your marina which proof it wants.[1][3]

Fishing, firearms and drones

Fishing needs a separate customs permit, USD 100 or 300 depending on length. It is valid for 30 days only, even alongside a twelve-month cruising permit.[1][8]
Each boat may use at most six rods and keep 18 migratory fish such as tuna, wahoo or dolphin, six conch and ten crawfish. No turtles; billfish go back unharmed.[7]
Breathing apparatus other than a snorkel and underwater guns other than the Hawaiian sling are banned for fishing. Crawfish are closed from 1 April to 31 July.[7]
In the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park all fishing, shelling and conching is prohibited. The park monitors VHF channel 09, and channel 16 around the clock.[9]
Declare firearms with serial numbers and ammunition, at most three guns with 250 rounds each. They may not leave the boat.[1]
According to the German Foreign Office, flare pistols also need a special import permit.[11]
Every drone must be registered with the civil aviation authority, and geofencing must be enabled.[10]

Emergency

Ambulance, fire and police answer on 911 or 919.[12]
In the Exuma park VHF channel 16 is monitored around the clock for emergencies. We found no official number for a rescue coordination centre.[9]

In the Bahamas keep the stamped cruising permit, the fishing permit, original boat papers and all passports on board. Declare firearms and flare pistols when you clear in.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

Request a certificate (Bahamas)

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