Clearing out of Bahamas??

[Uno Mas Cerveza]

When we left Port Lucaya in May, 2012, the marina office person told us we did not have to "clear out." There was no one to leave our paperwork with, nothing. Now, we are looking at going back this winter and am wondering if we will have problems checking back in. Will they try to charge us for staying longer than the original cruising permit? Has anyone had experience with this?

[s/v 'Faith']

I have not experienced any problems. Generally, there is no need to clear out of the Bahamas unless your next stop is somewhere other then the US.

There is a tourism information card (like a survey) they ask you mail back, but I am not aware of any penalty for not doing so.

[pete33458]

I've never "formally" cleared out (mainly because I'm usually leaving at some ungodly hour), when I've cleared out at all it has been by leaving my departure cards with a dockmaster (when leaving from a marina), who knows what happens to them from there, but the Bahamas being what they are (and I'm not knocking it), my guess is they go into the trash.

If you're concerned about not having a departure stamp in your passport, don't. pete

[DotDun]

Read the cruising permit, it has an address on it to mail it back. You can include the immigration forms with it.

[Uno Mas Cerveza]

Thank you!