Local Laws

Customs: The Bahamian customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation or exportation of firearms. Officials have arrested and sentenced to stiff penalties U.S. citizens entering the country with firearms or ammunition. The Embassy advises contacting the Embassy of The Bahamas in Washington, D.C. or one of the Bahamian consulates in the U.S. for specific information regarding customs requirements. Tourists arriving by private boat may seek permission to declare firearms to Bahamian Customs but must leave them secured on the boat for the duration of their stay. U.S, citizens who have failed to properly declare their weapons have been arrested and charged with firearms violations, most of which are punishable by lengthy prison sentences.

Private Vessels: To Enter the Islands of The Bahamas Private Vessels need the following:

a) One (1) copy of The Bahamas Customs Clearance Form
b) One (1) Bahamas Immigration Card per person
c) Proof of Citizenship—Passport

Arriving By Boat: Visiting boaters must clear Customs and Immigration at the nearest designated Port of Entry. As you enter each port, fly the yellow quarantine flag and notify Customs of your arrival. Only the captain is permitted to leave the boat until your vessel has been cleared.

Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. U.S. citizens must present a passport. Before leaving the islands of The Bahamas, be sure to surrender your copy of the immigration card at the last Bahamian port you visit.

If you have a firearm on board (shotguns and handguns only) you must declare it with Bahamian Customs. You must provide the serial number, name of the manufacturer, plus an exact count of ammunition. While you are allowed to have a firearm on your boat, you cannot remove it. Weapons must be under lock and key at all times. In cases of emergencies, which require your departure by air, you must notify Bahamian Police or Customs. They will accompany you to retrieve the firearm and present you with a receipt. Upon your return to the island, Bahamian Police or Customs will escort you to your vessel and return your firearm. Any infraction of this law will be dealt with severely and The Bahamas has recently increased both the penalties and sentencing for violators of local firearm laws.

Entering and Exiting with Cash or Negotiable Instruments: While it is legal to transport any amount of currency or other monetary instruments into or out of the United States, a traveler entering or exiting the U.S. with an amount exceeding USD $10,000 – or its foreign equivalent – must file with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) prior to departure FinCen Form 105, Report of International Transportation of Currency or Monetary Instruments.

According to the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act, if a traveler asks someone to carry currency or monetary instruments on his/her behalf and the full amount exceeds $10,000, then the traveler is required to report the total amount to CBP. This means that you may not give unreported money to any other individual to transport for you if the total amount exceeds $10,000 unless you declare you are the owner of the currency when going through customs.

Failure to declare the total amount of cash carried in or out of The Bahamas may lead to seizure of all cash or negotiable instruments and may subject you to legal proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

For additional information regarding customs and currency, click here, visit CBP’s website page on Monetary Instruments, or review CBP’s publication “Know Before You Go.”

Boating/Fishing: You should be aware that long-line fishing in Bahamian waters is illegal. All long-line fishing gear must be stowed below deck while transiting through Bahamian waters. Fishermen should note that the Bahamian Government imposes significant penalties for catching crawfish (lobster) or other marine life out of season, taking undersized catch, or fishing in protected areas.

Wildlife and Sealife: The Bahamian Government requires a special license for hunting certain types of fowl. All other hunting is prohibited in The Bahamas. A number of endangered and/or protected species reside in The Bahamas. You should not disturb, harass, or otherwise threaten wildlife, including species that may be hunted in the United States. U.S. citizens have been arrested and prosecuted in The Bahamas for hunting, capturing, or even disturbing protected animals, including reptiles and birds. It is also illegal to damage or remove any sea life from the ocean and coral reefs. Additional information is available from the Bahamian Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.

Hurricanes: The Bahamas, like all countries in the Atlantic/Caribbean basin, are vulnerable to hurricanes. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, although hurricanes have been known to occur outside that period. During hurricane season, visitors are advised to monitor local weather reports closely in order to be prepared for any potential threats. Visitors should also be aware that airports and seaports cease operations well before a predicted storm actually arrives, and that seats on most commercial transportation are sold out far in advance.

For more information on hurricane preparedness, please refer to the following pages: Hurricane Season: Know Before You Go, and the U.S. Embassy Nassau’s Hurricane Preparedness page.

General information about disaster preparedness is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or from the State Department links above and the U.S. Embassy’s website on Hurricane Preparedness. Information regarding pets and disasters is also available from FEMA.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a women traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in The Bahamas. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in The Bahamas, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in The Bahamas, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. There is no specific law protecting persons with physical or mental disabilities from discrimination in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision of other state services. However, provisions in other legislation address the rights of persons with disabilities, including a prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability. Although the law mandates access for persons with physical disabilities in new public buildings, the authorities rarely enforced this requirement, and very few buildings and public facilities were accessible to persons with disabilities.