Bahamas with Dog

[robert.]

Hello! I read on Noonsite that you have to get a license for your dog (in advance) from the Bahamas. This seemed to be an older thread. Is it still that way now? We plan to be in Key Largo from August-December and make the crossing for about 6 months, with our dog. We want to get everything in order ASAP if there are certain requirements.

[BobH260]

We have taken our dogs to the Bahamas. You need to get a permit from the Bahamian government. It cost $10 plus VAT, if you want it faxed to you add $5. Do not send cash ! Do it as soon as you can, it is good for a year. It does need to be signed by a U.S. Vet. They charge about $75 for this, they don't date it, you fill that in after you leave the U.S. (Have him sign with your pen!).

Lots of information on the web, things do change from month to month there,

New Bahamas Import/Export Procedures for Dogs | Little House by the Ferry

Customs Information - Bahamas and U.S.

One option, I talked to a Bahamas Marina owner and complained about the problems getting a dog permit (delays etc.). He suggested any vessel coming to a marina in the Bahamas contact the marina. They will get you a permit within 24 hrs and fax it to you. We will try that route next time. Our permit was delayed from Oct. to Jan last cruise. The government offices there do not answer phones or emails. I had to reapply and use Fedex, it cost $58 to send the envelope from Florida to Bahamas !

Good luck, Bob

[robert.]

Thanks for the info and that is inline with some of what I read in different forums. We will have several months to get our stuff together and I guess I will try to do it myself. One a side note, do you have the name of the marina in the Bahamas? I may want to give him a call and stay there for a night. Thanks.

[BobH260]

I do not have his business card with me now. He is the manager of the Port Lucaya Marina.
Port Lucaya Marina, Freeport, Bahamas - Freeport, Bahamas Marina

I would guess he would expect a vessel to stay for more than a night for that kind of service, but I don't know.

Good luck, Bob

[robert.]

Thanks for the info BobH. It looks like a really great marina to spend a few days. Do you cruise the Bahamas often? We can't wait to be in Key Largo because it will be so easy to get to great cruising grounds. We've been land locked in Austin forever. Do you have any plans to get to Cuba?

[DDabs]

I went to the Bahamas and they told me when I cleared customs that I needed to fill out a bunch of forms, but I told them I was only going to be in Bimini for a day or so and it was already the weekend. Got away with not paying anything or filling out any pet forms. I did however have a form from my vet that was up to date with rabies, etc., but my dog wasn't technically cleared in the entire trip, and we had him on multiple islands and even walked him around downtown Nassau and not one person asked a single question.


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[Cheechako]

Do they still require a vet certification just prior to arriving?

[DDabs]

If you can, I would try to clear in at Bimini. It was a breeze and very relaxed there. Like I said, they didn't seem to care much about our dog


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[robert.]

Thanks DDabs. I appreciate it and I checked out your blog. It is nice. Are you staying in Florida or headed back somewhere else? I saw you last post in April said you were headed back to the USA from Nassau. I guess everybody has to go home sometimes.

[Capt.Alex]

I downloaded the permit application from the Bahamas Dept. of Agriculture website, completed it and faxed it to them, and FedExed a money order to them. I got my permit back in less than a week. I checked in at Great Harbour Cay Marina with absolutely no issues. Easy Peasy. I got the permit in April, arrived June 1, this year.


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[robert.]

Perfect, Captain A. I will do the same. Great advice. How long did you cruise in the Bahamas?

[Capt.Alex]

Still here. Heading from Georgetown to Cat Island Tomorrow 😀


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[Canibul]

If you plan to keep going south and stopping in the Turks and Caicos, be danged sure you do have your dog's paperwork in order before clearing in. They take it seriously here. No rabies in these islands, yet, and the Bahamas is rife with it. We've seen cruisers come in to Providenciales with dogs not up to date being told that their dogs would be euthanized if they got caught off the boat. We had to go through it all with our dog who has lived on Provo all his life, the titer, the microchip, the vet exams etc. just to re-enter the TCI after visiting the USA.

[Capt.Alex]

Thanks Canibul. We are heading back to FL until Nov. We plan to get a titer test done while there and update all of the dogs paperwork. We then plan to stop somewhere in the southern Bahamas for a last minute Bahamian health check (probably Georgetown) before reaching the T and C. We then plan to get another health cert in PR before heading to BVI's. We hope to have all of our ducks in a row to avoid any issues....


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[robert.]

Thank you for all of the great advice!