Bahamas Travel Requirements for U.S. Citizens

All U.S. citizens traveling to the Bahamas by plane are required to present a valid U.S. passport. Airlines will not allow passengers to board any aircraft bound for the Bahamas without one.

U.S. citizens arriving on the Bahamas by ship must also present a valid U.S. passport to enter the country. The only exception to this is a valid U.S. passport card, which is issued to travelers who frequently travel between select North American countries over land or sea. U.S. passport cards are not valid for air travel to the Bahamas.

U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a visa to travel to the Bahamas for visits up to 90 days. The immigration service of the Bahamas may request proof of financial solvency if you are staying longer than 90 days.

U.S. citizens are not required to get any special vaccinations or shots before visiting the Bahamas. However, if you need a vaccination or shot anyway, it is a good idea to get it before traveling to the Bahamas. Medical care in the Bahamas is quite good, but it is expensive.

It is important to take measures to protect your safety while traveling in the Bahamas. While most resorts and golf courses are safe for visitors during the day, remote and urban areas can be unsafe at night. Use common sense and be suspicious of strangers. The drinking age in the Bahamas is 18 years old. The U..S embassy has received many reports of sexual assaults associated with alcohol consumption.

The Bahamas has very strict laws concerning what can be taken in or out of the country. Expensive cameras, jewelry and golf equipment should be declared upon entry to avoid paying duty on them when you leave. Retain all receipts for purchases in the Bahamas to prove what you paid for them. Firearms must be declared even if they are left aboard a ship anchored off shore. Illegal drug use and distribution can result in long prison sentences in a Bahamian prison.