Entry Requirements/Customs:
For visitors, entry requirements differ slightly depending upon place of birth, length of stay and what items accompany the traveller.

U.S. and Canadian citizens entering The Islands Of The Bahamas as visitors are required to show proof of citizenship with either a passport (current or expired within five years) or two forms of identification, one of which has to have a photo. For example, you may bring your birth certificate and a driver’s licence. You may apply for a visa at any of the following offices:

Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Section Norfolk House, Frederick Street P.O. Box N–3746 Nassau, Bahamas Phone: 242–323–5578/5565 Fax: 242–326–6186

London Bahamas High Commission No. 10 Chesterfield Street London W1J 5JL, England Phone: 011–44–207–408–4488 Fax: 011–44–207–499–9937 E–mail: information@bahamashclondon.com

Haiti Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas P.O. Box 15611 – 12 Rue Goulard Place Boyer Petion–Ville Port–Au Prince, Haiti Phone: 011–509–2571–448 Fax: 011–509–256–5729

Hong Kong Bahamas Consulate General Suite 704–7054 Sino Plaza 255–257 Glouster Road Causeway Bay Hong Kong Phone: 852–2147–0202 Fax: 852–2893–3917 E–mail: bahacghk@netvigator.com

Canada Bahamas High Commission Metropolitan Life Centre 50 O’Connor Suite 1313 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 6L2 Phone: 613–232–1724 Fax: 613–232–0097 E–mail: ottawa–mission@bahighco.com

USA/Washington, D.C. Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20008 Phone: 202–319–2667 Fax: 202–319–2668

USA/New York Bahamas Consulate General Bahama House 231 East 46th Street New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212–421–6420 Fax: 212–688–5926 Telex: 2343–2580 E–mail: bhsun@undp.org

USA/Miami Bahamas Consulate General 25 S.E. Second Avenue Ingraham Bldg. Suite 818 Miami, FL 33131 Phone: 305–373–6295 Fax: 305–373–6312 Telex: 203–807849 E–mail:bcgmia@bellsouth.net

USA/Los Angeles Bahamas Consulate General 3450 Wilshire Bvd. Suite 1204 Los Angeles, CA 90010 Phone: 213–383–0033 Fax: 213–383–3966

When you enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will be asked for a verbal baggage declaration. However, your luggage is also subject to customs inspections. If you are carrying dutiable items, you will need to fill out a Baggage Declaration Form.

Custom Duty: Baggage declaration by temporary visitors is oral, but baggage is subject to Customs inspection. In case there are dutiable articles, the visitor will be required to complete a Baggage Declaration Form. Each adult is allowed 50 cigars or cigarettes or one pound of tobacco and one quart of spirits free of Customs Duty, in addition to personal effects. In addition, purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars ($100.00) are permitted by all arriving passengers.

Household effects, such as small appliances (such as blender etc.) are dutiable at 45‰ of the cost. Linen and china are duty free for each arriving visit. Computers such as laptops are considered a part of your personal effects and therefore are duty–free.

When travelling to The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will need to fill out certain forms. You can download some of these documents by following the links below. Although most visitors don’t need these forms prior to leaving for The Islands Of The Bahamas, you may find it helpful to have some of these documents beforehand.

If you are interested in arriving in The Islands Of The Bahamas by your own boat or plane, you can download this permit, which allows private vessels to enter the country.

You may bring your pet into The Islands Of The Bahamas, but you need to make preparations before your departure. Follow this link to download the document, Application to Import Domestic Animals Into the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and to read the pet import requirements.

The Bahamas Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Phone: 242–325–6742. Emergency after–hours phone: 242–323–5138.

Departure from a foreign country can be stressful and intimidating, but in The Islands Of The Bahamas, it is usually a pleasant experience. You will find that on average, departure procedures are as "smooth as glass."

Before leaving the islands, you will present the disembarkation card that you received on your arrival and pay a small tax of $15 or $18. If you are a United States citizen, you will most likely then go through U.S. Customs Pre–Clearance before you board your plane. Then, you will find yourself on your way home!

Like most countries, The Islands Of The Bahamas requires you to pay a nominal tax upon your departure. Discover how you can forgo the customs lines at American airports and what the duty–free allowance is for travelling to The Islands Of The Bahamas.

When returning to Canada from The Islands Of The Bahamas, residents are required to present a written declaration, claiming all duty–free merchandise.

Although the United Kingdom prohibits the importation of several duty–free items, residents are permitted to take home various items –– up to a total worth of £145.

Currency:
Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which is fixed to the US dollar. Recent exchange rate was US$1.00 = EC$2.65. US currency, travelers checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere.

Banks:
Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank, Antigua and Barbuda Investment, Bank Antigua Commercial Bank, Bank of Antigua, Bank of Nova Scotia, Barclays Bank PLC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Caribbean Corporation Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Swiss American National Bank of Antigua. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm and again from 3:00pm to 5:00pm; Friday from 8:00am to 12:00pm, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Time:
Eastern Standard Time is used on all islands. April to October is Eastern Daylight Time, in conjunction with U.S. summer hours.

Language:
The official language of The Islands Of The Bahamas is English, more British than American, and generally intertwined with a special Bahamian dialect. Some Indian words like "cassava" and "guava" have been retained in the language.

Health:
Vaccinations are not required for visitors to The Islands Of The Bahamas, unless arriving from an infected area. The visitor emergency number for travellers in distress is 242–326–HELP.

Electricity:
Electricity is normally 120 volts AC. American appliances are fully compatible.

Climate:
The trade winds that blow almost continually throughout The Islands Of The Bahamas give the islands a warm, agreeable climate which varies little year–round. The most refreshing time is from September through May when the temperature averages 70–75 degrees Fahrenheit. The rest of the year is a bit warmer with temperatures between 80–85 degrees. Rainfall is scarce from November through April each year; however, showers can occur during the months of May through October.

The Islands Of The Bahamas have a semitropical climate with temperatures ranging from 70°F to 80°F.