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ChineseSavior · 04-03-2015, 12:56

Obv im missing something

people cruise around forever...

so what is the process after 3 years? is that vessel banned? do you have to leave waters for X days. multiple permits?

thanks in advance for any help from all skippers

Group9 · 04-03-2015, 13:04

Boating Entering/Exiting Policies | The Official Site of The Bahamas

To enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, private vessels need the following:

a) One (1) copy of The Bahamas Customs Clearance Form PDF
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.
Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. US 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.
Entry Fees

All boaters entering The Bahamas are required to pay an entry fee.
a) For boats up to 30', the fee is $150.00
b) For boats over 30', the fee is $300.00
Fees Subject To Change
The fees will cover:
1) Cruising Permit
2) Fishing Permit
3) Departure Tax for up to three (3) persons. Each additional person above three will be charged a $25 departure tax. This fee is good for a second re-entry within a 90-day period.
If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangements must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration. Bahamas Customs and Immigration office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Officers are on call during holidays and weekends.
There is no overtime charge.

ChineseSavior · 04-03-2015, 13:27

ok so that says 12 months?

im not exactly sure what a special request entails. also they are in no way specific about the re entry time after 12 months is that for a specific reason?

Group9 · 04-03-2015, 13:36

I've been to the Bahamas a lot, but I've never been there for over twelve months straight, so you got me on that one.

Beach Cruiser · 05-03-2015, 05:29

You need to remove the boat from Bahamian waters, but for no set time period. We have Canadian friends that sail the their boat to either the USA or the Turks & Cacaos every 3 years, clear customs & Immigration, and then return. Our boat is on it third year here and we will return to the States and perform some maintenance, spend a couple of months and then return.

**GordMay** · 05-03-2015, 05:33

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, ChineseSavior.

ChineseSavior · 05-03-2015, 05:53

yes its an interesting concept. So you can simple get another cruising permit or go back to states like the above gentleman said.

I read somewhere 3 years but the website said 3 months and then it says 300$ but i read somewhere else 500$ which is accurate.

Beach Cruiser · 05-03-2015, 06:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChineseSavior

yes its an interesting concept. So you can simple get another cruising permit or go back to states like the above gentleman said.

I read somewhere 3 years but the website said 3 months and then it says 300$ but i read somewhere else 500$ which is accurate.

It is $300 for the first year, $500 for the second year, and $500 for the third year. After that the boat must leave the country. When you return you can start the 3 year cycle over again. You will receive a new cruising permit upon your return.

A cruising permit is good for 1 year and can be renewed for 2 more. As far as immigration, depending on your country of citizenship, you can stay up to 8 months before you as a person needs to leave.

cofc · 05-03-2015, 07:07

And the $150/$300 line is 35', not 30' as the website and Explorer charts say.

Group9 · 05-03-2015, 07:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by cofc

And the $150/$300 line is 35', not 30' as the website and Explorer charts say.

Actually, I hear that it is kind of a coin flip when checking in with a boat between 30 and 35 feet as to what the Customs Agents will charge you.

But, that's one of the things that I like about the Bahamas. Nobody gets too excited about things down there.

The last time I checked in, I was give an initial seven and a half months on my cruising permit. The agent asked me how long I wanted for, and, I said, "Six months, if that's not too long." He gave me seven and a half months, and I never met anyone on our cruise who been given more time on their initial permit (some people even told me they weren't allowed to give that much time).

But, I sat around talking to the agent (in a little shack in Chub Cay by the runway) for fifteen minutes before I got around to telling him why I was there (when he asked me why, not before). I always wonder what they people who only got one or two or three months on their permits did to piss the guy giving it to them off.

The Bahamas (except maybe Nassau in places) is really like small town America in their attitudes and ways and culture. Operate and act like you are in Mayberry instead of Miami, and the Bahamian officials (and, most people there, really) will reciprocate in my experience

I've never met or worked with any of them, who didn't respond well to that.

lookinggoodrock · 05-03-2015, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Group9

Actually, I hear that it is kind of a coin flip when checking in with a boat between 30 and 35 feet as to what the Customs Agents will charge you.

But, that's one of the things that I like about the Bahamas. Nobody gets too excited about things down there.

The last time I checked in, I was give an initial seven and a half months on my cruising permit. The agent asked me how long I wanted for, and, I said, "Six months, if that's not too long." He gave me seven and a half months, and I never met anyone on our cruise who been given more time on their initial permit (some people even told me they weren't allowed to give that much time).

But, I sat around talking to the agent (in a little shack in Chub Cay by the runway) for fifteen minutes before I got around to telling him why I was there (when he asked me why, not before). I always wonder what they people who only got one or two or three months on their permits did to piss the guy giving it to them off.

The Bahamas (except maybe Nassau in places) is really like small town America in their attitudes and ways and culture. Operate and act like you are in Mayberry instead of Miami, and the Bahamian officials (and, most people there, really) will reciprocate in my experience

I've never met or worked with any of them, who didn't respond well to that.

Yea, flip them some coin.

Group9 · 05-03-2015, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookinggoodrock

Yea, flip them some coin.

Well, I guess that can be Plan B if you have no personal skills (my Yankee ex-wife from Ne Jersey would have definitely have to go straight to plan B).

I used to wonder exactly how much spit her and her family had consumed in all of their meals in restaurants where they had given the wait staff a piece of their mind.