CUSTOMS FEES--NEW INFO 9/1/10Customs duty changes: To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently, there is now a 10% duty for any size vessel. The former fees were 27% for vessels under 30 feet and 6%, over 30 feet. Another change is in the clearing-in fees: Currently, only 3 persons (over 6 years old), rather than the former 4 persons, are covered under the entry fee of $150 (for vessels under 35 feet) or $300 (for vessels over 35 feet). An additional $20 (formerly $15) is due for each additional person, and the new departure tax has also been increased to $20 (formerly $15). The normal Bahamas clearing-in fees (also referred to as "boarding fees" by Customs officials) are as reported in our Explorer Chartbooks in the Customs articles--$150 for vessels under 35' and $300 for vessels over 35'. The newest policy allows a vessel to clear in a second time within a 90-day period under the applicable fee. On the second visit, a note indicating such is written on your cruising permit. However, we just learned that a vessel clearing in for the second time in 90 days is subject to a $30 transportation fee each for the Customs and Immigration Officers. Recently, a vessel reported to us being charged $60 in Nassau for officials to come to the boat. We verified with Customs that this is a valid charge for a second visit within 90 days as the officers provide their own transportation for the visit. |
NO DUTY ON BOAT REPAIR PARTS and PRINTED MATTER
On June 16, 2009, we spoke with the Bahamas Chief Customs Officer, Mr. Ralph Munroe, who explained the current status of duty on spare parts for cruising boaters. An amendment was recently passed to the Tariff Act stating that those cruising visitors with a valid Bahamas Temporary Cruising Permit are allowed to import boat repair/replacements parts DUTY FREE. In addition, the original exemption on printed matter and original artwork has been reinstated. Mr. Munroe stated that all local Customs Officers have been informed of this change. If you find anything to the contrary, call Bahamas Entry Checking in Nassau at 242-302-3509 to get assistance. |
US. Customs User Fee Decal OnlineFollow the steps below to obtain your U.S. Customs User Fee Decal online. Customs and Border Patrol is not yet equipped to receive applications by mail, but you can send them an email and request a form to be faxed to you. Processing is much slower this way than online. U.S. vessels of 30+ ft. must display a Customs User Fee Decal and be prepared to give the decal number when clearing back in to the States. The new Decal and Transponder Online Procurement System (DTOPS) replaces the previous online system. To procure your Decal, go to https://dtops.cbp.dhs.gov. Click on >Register under New DTOPS User. Enter name and information and set password (case sensitive; check Password Help.). Follow steps; system will assign a User ID. >Log in. If you have a decal, >Link Existing Account. Enter Account # from 9/22/08 letter. (9 characters beginning with a letter.) >View Account Details. Verify information. Enter current decal #. >Submit; >Yes to link. Bottom of screen: Successfully linked account. >Cancel or Home. > Acct. #. >Create/manage orders. >Create New Order. >Renewal. >Private vessel/Next. >Check One Vessel/Year. >Add to order. >Order Detail page. >Proceed to Checkout. Choose Shipping terms and verify address. >Click to agree. >Make Payment. If you do not have a decal, Register New Account on Home Page. For technical assistance call 317.298.1245 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You will be called back, but not for several days. Customs is still trying to simplify the website and make it more user-friendly. Posted 12/2/08 |
Passports Required for Air Travel to United States as of January 23, 2007The Departments of State and Homeland Security requires citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere.This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. These new travel document requirements make up the Departments' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). In order to obtain national security benefits as quickly as possible, and to expedite the processing of arriving passengers, the plan will be implemented in two phases. Regulations are published can be viewed at www.regulations.gov. That rule is also available on the Department's consular web site, travel.state.gov and on the Department of Homeland Security's web site, www.dhs.gov.
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Bahamas Customs Form (click here to print out forms before you go) |
ENTERING THE BAHAMAS |
| The procedure for vessels clearing Customs & Immigration entering the Bahamas as of August 20, 2004, is as follows: A pleasure vessel arriving in the Bahamas shall be subject to a fee of $150 for boats under 35 ft and $300 for boats over 35 ft. Each additional person over four persons will be charged $15. No charge for children under six years old. This covers the cost of an initial-entry cruising permit, plus a return visit within ninety (90) days; a vessel would be exempted from additional fees within that 90-day period, except for possible transportation fees for Customs and Immigrations officials IF they have to come to your boat to clear you in (for instance, in Nassau). This also covers a three-month fishing permit and any attendant fees payable to a Customs Officer, as well as any overtime and travel costs required for the attendance of an Immigration Officer. If you need to fly home, present your receipt at the airport for the $15 departure tax so that you don't have to pay it twice. (Bring a copy of your cruising permit to the airport.) There should be no overtime, holiday, or transportation charges above this fee. Ask for a receipt, get the name of the officer, and call Customs (242-326-4401 or 325-6551) or Immigration (242-325-2668) in Nassau if you have any problems. You may want to call Customs before you cross the Gulf Stream into the Bahamas to verify fees. POLICY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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BAHAMIAN PORTS OF ENTRY |
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WHAT TO DO |
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FISHING LICENSE |
At the time of clearing Customs, you will have an opportunity also to obtain a fishing license as part of the fee. If you intend to troll or spearfish (fishing with SCUBA equipment or speargun is illegal), you will need a fishing license. Details of fishing regulations are on the permit.
SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS
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| The Department of Marine Resources has made changes to the Regulations governing sports fishing as of October 19, 2007. (changes since Jan. 1. 2007 in red) Sport Fishing and Tournament Rules and Regulations for The Islands Of The Bahamas : a) A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel. b) A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net. c) Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels. h) Any migratory fishery resource that is caught shall not in total exceed more than eighteen (18) Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo per vessel. Any resource not intended to be used shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive. i) Each vessel must adhere to the following catch limits: no turtle, a maximum of six (6) conch, ten (10) crawfish and a maximum of twenty (20) or sixty (60) pounds of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) per vessel at any time. j) Any type of Billfish (such as Marlins, Sailfish or Swordfish, etc) must be returned to the sea unharmed except where landed under the terms of an approved sports fishing event or tournament. k) A fishery inspector has the authority by law to enter and inspect any vessel that has engaged in sports fishing. l) The limitations specified above also apply to a Bahamian vessel engaged in fishing for purposes other than commercial by persons who are not Bahamians. For the purposes of this regulation, residents will be treated the same as Bahamians. m) Foreign vessels engaged in sports fishing in The Islands Of The Bahamas under a permit are able to, on leaving the country, export the amount of fishery products aboard that vessel in accordance with the catch limits outlined above.
In addition, there is a ban on Nassau grouper from Dec. 1, 2008 to March 1, 2009. For more information, contact: Posted December 18, 2008 |
FIREARMS |
| Bahamian law permits firearms on your vessel as part of your ship’s equipment. They must remain aboard in a secure compartment. In the event of your being boarded by Customs or the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the information on your cruising permit will be checked carefully against your actual supply. Ammo must match cruising permit. |
PETS |
| If you wish to bring a pet aboard when cruising the Bahamas, secure a permit before you leave home. An application will be sent to you if you write to: Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box N-3704, Nassau, N.P., Bahamas. You may expedite the process by calling 242-325-7413 or faxing 242-325-3960. Expect to pay a $10 fee (send International Money Order or Postal Order made payable to the Public Treasury) with your application. To receive your certificate by fax, include an extra $5 and your fax number. In addition, you will need a health certificate for your pet from your veterinarian to present to the Customs officials when you clear in. You can now download an application to import domestic animals at the following link: Pet Import Form. The new phone number is: 242-325-7502 or 325-7509. Please update your Explorer Chartbooks! |
IMMIGRATION NOTES |
| There is no set policy for Bahamas Immigration in terms of length of stay granted to persons on cruising boats. You will find a wide diversity at various Ports of Entry. To quote a senior Immigration Officer in Nassau, "It is at the whim of the officer. There is no policy." The maximum time permitted is eight months though six months, and often less, is usually given. This may be extended to the full eight months by personal application to the Immigration Department before expiration. In the event that you are given less time on your visa than you would like, you have three choices: 1) Ask to speak to the Immigration Officer’s supervisor (if there is one), 2) Call Immigration Nassau 242-325-2668 or 326-1211 to report it, or 3) Renew and extend your visa where you are near the time of expiration. We are advised that there is usually no problem clearing in Nassau. Every major island in the Bahamas has both Customs and Immigration. Exceptions are at Green Turtle Cay, Chub Cay, Cat Island and Stella Maris. At those sites, there is only a Customs Officer, who is authorized to act for Immigration. Depending on the guidelines of the District Immigration Office, the Customs Officer can grant varied periods of length of stay. If you clear in at one of the ports with only a Customs Officer, you may receive only a short stay and have to appear later at a Customs and/or Immigration Office on the day your visa expires to get an extension. |
SPECIAL REMINDERS |
| When leaving home, make sure you have the three essential flags for cruising in the Bahamas—your country’s flag, a yellow quarantine flag and the Bahamian courtesy flag. Your vessel’s Temporary Cruising Permit is for one year from date of entry. It may be renewed for up to two additional years by written application to Bahamas Customs, Nassau, prior to expiration and with payment of $500 per year. To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently, you must pay an import duty of 27 percent for vessels under 30 ft. or six percent for vessels 30-100 ft. At your first opportunity, make copies of your cruising permit. If you need to fly home, you will need a copy, as well as your passport, to present to your airline and Bahamas Immigration when you reenter the Bahamas. Leave the original on the boat. Customs duty is payable on most items shipped to the Bahamas. Items such as printed matter, original artwork, or replacement parts for pleasure vessels are exempted from duty. However, a 7% stamp tax is payable. In the case of replacement parts for pleasure vessels, a copy of the cruising permit (C-39) must be presented when clearing the parts through Customs. If you experience anything contrary to this, call the Comptroller of Customs in Nassau at 242-302-3302. |
U.S. Customs: EXITING THE BAHAMAS |
| It is not necessary to clear out of the Bahamas when going farther south or entering the U.S. When entering the States, you must clear in with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). U.S. citizens can make an appointment with one of the Ports of Entry below to appear in person and pre-register under the "Local Boater Option" before going to the Bahamas. Upon return to the U.S., call the appropriate number. You may be asked to appear personally at the nearest Immigration Office. Be prepared to leave your boat and get a ride there if necessary. However, by choosing this option to pre-register, your chances are greater that you will not have to report in person to clear in when you return from the Bahamas. You may be able to clear in over the phone.*See note "US Customs User Fee Decal Online" at the beginning of this article for the newest information. If you are clearing back in to the U.S. anywhere from the Sebastian Inlet south down the east coast of Florida, including Ft. Pierce, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami, and on through the Keys to Key West and as far north on the west coast as Ft. Myers, the correct phone numbers are 800-432-1216 or 800-451-0393. Numbers for clearing in at other locations in Florida are:
The least busy times to call are during business hours on weekdays. Weekends and evenings are busier times for CBP, so you may have to wait longer.
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Cruising Information Customs Information - Bahamas & US
Cruising Information Customs Information - Bahamas & US
Customs Information - Bahamas and U.S.
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