US Passport Card for Bahamas Entry

[mshozda]

Has anyone cleared into the Bahamas using a US passport card rather than the normal passport book?

The card is supposed to be valid for entry in the Caribbean for land and sea travel, however that I suspect they aren’t commonly used and make not be universally recognized. I’ve reached out to the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign affairs but haven’t heard back.

I have to send my passport off for work visas and I’m wondering if I should take the chance of sailing down on just the passport card. Sure would hate to get turned around on arrival.

[SailingHarmonie]

Passport cards are commonly used by cruise ship passengers, or regular travelers by land to Mexico or Canada.

They are not terribly useful for the cruising sailor since they can not be used for international air travel, so in an emergency you can be left stranded. I am not at all sure how the Bahamian authorities would handle your visa, since that is normally a stamp in your passport. Official requirements from the Bahamas say you need two blank pages in your passport for visa stamps, although they do accept the card at cruise ship ports.

If your passport is out for you hands for visa processing, there is a provision for getting a second one. Check with the Department of State.

[Montanan]

Call them:

https://www.immigration.gov.bs/contact-us/

[Iron E]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Passport cards are commonly used by cruise ship passengers, or regular travelers by land to Mexico or Canada.

They are not terribly useful for the cruising sailor since they can not be used for international air travel, so in an emergency you can be left stranded. I am not at all sure how the Bahamian authorities would handle your visa, since that is normally a stamp in your passport. Official requirements from the Bahamas say you need two blank pages in your passport for visa stamps, although they do accept the card at cruise ship ports.

If your passport is out for you hands for visa processing, there is a provision for getting a second one. Check with the Department of State.

^^^^ This ^^^^

Use your PP Book.

[SailingHarmonie]

FYI: Here are the USA guidelines for having a 2nd passport and how to apply.

https://nl.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...cond-passport/

I do know that having your valid passport out for visa processing at a foreign consulate while you need to travel is considered an acceptable reason for the second passport. I know that sometimes the processing time for a passport to the French Pacific Islands can be many weeks which could leave you stuck if you were out of the USA waiting for your passport to return.

[MIRELOS]

If you are sailing into the Bahamas you need a passport. The passport card is not good, my wife had one and they did not accepted, they were very accommodating in immigration and when we showed them a picture of her citizenship they allowed her in.......you need a passport

[mshozda]

Thanks for the replies. I realize this isn’t the best option, and I appreciate your feedback.

[GordMay]

According to the Bahamas Immigration Department
Passports are required by all persons entering The Bahamas.

According to the US Dept of State:
U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas.
Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document, such as a U.S. passport card.

[H0BBES]

One new thing that Started Sept 18th 2024, a $200 "Extension of Stay" fee for anyone wanted to stay beyond the 90 day visa.

It's really a mystery why they would do this because it can only hurt the local economy by driving cruisers away. None of it will filter back to the locals or infrastructure.

We paid $600 for a 1 year cruising permit and now we'll have to pay another $1200 for both of us (my wife and I) if we want to stay here for the duration of our cruising permit.

A family of 4 would be $3000 for a year just to be in the Bhamas....

So, what will happen (in my opinion) is that people will not stay in the Bahamas for more than the basic 3 month cruising permit (cost: $300). It will also have a negative effect on the local businesses because a lot of people will recoup that $200 per person fee by not going out as much. Just my thoughts....

The government officials will get some good kickbacks for this...but this fee will not benefit any of the locals in any way...

Add this to the 10-15% VAT and mandatory 15-18% Gratuity in a lot of restaurants and I just have to think the Bahamas is trying to strangle it's main industry.

What are your thoughts...?

[davil]

Bahamas Cruising Permit Fees as of January 1, 2020:



The following fees will be applied to boats staying in The Bahamas for up to 3 months:



Boats up to 34 feet: $150

Boats 35-99 feet: $300

Boats 100-149 feet: $500

Boats 150-200 feet: $800

Boats over 200 feet: $1,000



The fees cover both a cruising permit and fishing permit, as well as the departure tax for up to three people. Each additional person will be charged a $20 departure tax. The fee is good for a second re-entry within a 90-day period.



For stays longer than 3 months:



Boats up to 34 feet: $300 up to one year

Boats 35-99 feet: $600 up to one year

Boats 100-149 feet: $1,000 up to one year

Boats 150–200 feet: $1,600 up to one year

Boats over 200 feet: $2,000 up to one year



For a stay longer than 12 months, special arrangements must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.



Please note that Attendance Fees, Fishing Permit, Transportation and Overtime fees are all included in the price of the cruising permit. The only additional fees would be for additional departure tax if there are more than 3 persons at a cost of $20 per additional person.

=============================================
VISA EXTENSION

Effective September 18, 2024, The Bahamas Department of Immigration has implemented a new $200.00 Non-Refundable Processing Fee for all extension of stay application. For boaters, the fee is per person requesting the extension.



For visitors in New Providence and Grand Bahama, extensions are available through both walk-ins and appointments. For visitors of other Family Islands, please visit your local Immigration Office. In the absence of an Immigration Office, the Customs Office or Island Administrator office can assist you with your extensions of visitor’s stay.



Most boaters will not be affected by the new extension fee, because a visa extension is not required for those traveling on 90 day permits. If you think you might be staying longer than 3 months, we encourage you to apply for the annual cruising permit.

[Cheyne]

I think their main industry isn't not cruisers, but cruise ships. Each cruiseship has more people on board then all the cruisers combined. Plus all the charter boats and super/mega yachts just don't care. We are a part of the economy, but not really that big of a part.

Cheyne

[Captain Bill]

What happens when you only get 30 days at some ports of entry, do you need to pay $200 to get another 30 days?

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by H0BBES

One new thing that Started Sept 18th 2024, a $200 "Extension of Stay" fee for anyone wanted to stay beyond the 90 day visa.

It's really a mystery why they would do this because it can only hurt the local economy by driving cruisers away. None of it will filter back to the locals or infrastructure.

We paid $600 for a 1 year cruising permit and now we'll have to pay another $1200 for both of us (my wife and I) if we want to stay here for the duration of our cruising permit.

A family of 4 would be $3000 for a year just to be in the Bhamas....

So, what will happen (in my opinion) is that people will not stay in the Bahamas for more than the basic 3 month cruising permit (cost: $300). It will also have a negative effect on the local businesses because a lot of people will recoup that $200 per person fee by not going out as much. Just my thoughts....

The government officials will get some good kickbacks for this...but this fee will not benefit any of the locals in any way...

Add this to the 10-15% VAT and mandatory 15-18% Gratuity in a lot of restaurants and I just have to think the Bahamas is trying to strangle it's main industry.

What are your thoughts...?

Let's be honest here. You are not concerned about the poor people of the Bahamas. You are concerned about YOU. $3000 for a family of four to stay in the Bahamas for a year is still a bargain to me. Even though we are a family of two, $3K would not be a huge dent in our normal cruising budget. Island economies are typically very expensive. It's the way it is.

I get it if you can't afford it, but cruising is a luxury. If the Bahamas are too expensive, just go somewhere else cheaper, if you can find such a place.

[Leadfree]

Originally Posted by H0BBES

I just have to think the Bahamas is trying to strangle it's main industry.

What are your thoughts...?

That cruising sailboats are definitely NOT The Bahamas' main industry, and its loss will not be noticeable except by a very few. And those few will just move on to building B&B cottages which will bring in more money than the boaters did. In fact, there are new gov incentives for building rental cottages, just saw that in the newspaper

One cruise ship, one, brings in more people than an entire season of boaters.

One family renting a condo for a week spends more than one boat for an entire season.

Both of those are rinse-and-repeat.

In re: the new NOT visa, but "length of stay" regs:

It appears that as it has been, the length of stay is determined by the individual immigration officer. Be prepared to justify your length of stay by offering evidence of prior lengths of stay, by showing that you are financially independent, and showing where you contemplate traveling within The Bahamas. If your initial entry is only given 30d, yes, you will have to pay $200 each person to extend your stay. However, there have been intimations that the extensions will be more... shall we say, generous.

Dress nicely, be polite, and have justification for your length of stay. Here are some tips directly from The Bahamas Immigration site:

"To be considered for a visitor’s extension, applicant must provide the following to the extension officer:

Proof of Payment options include credit/debit card, bank draft, or Bahamas Postal Money Order
Return ticket or Temporary Cruising Permit
Valid Passport
Local Address
The Immigration Landing Card
Provide reason for extension of stay
Evidence of Bahamian Visa if applicable
Valid Email Address
Mobile Telephone Number
Sponsor’s Passport and Address"

"All visitors are subject to the following:

No swearing

No loitering

No short: pants/skirts/dress

No sleeveless Tees/No bare arms

No hats

No shades

No weapons

No cell phones

No large handbags

No backpacks

No open toe shoes (unless there is a medical condition that prohibits you from wearing closed shoes)

You may be subject to other security checks for both you and staff safety"

[Cheyne]

Originally Posted by Leadfree

Dress nicely, be polite, and have justification for your length of stay.

This is exactly what I have found. We normally do a 3 month cruising permit and I have never been given less than a 90 day visa. We have checked in twice at Bimini, once at Great Harbour and once at West End. Treat the immigration officers with respect and be nice to them and they will do the same. I have seen way to many cruisers not do this. The results are generally not what the cruiser wants.

I watched once cruiser start off with we are in a hurry to make our next anchorage before dark so hustle it up. He had several mistakes on his cruising permit and one passport was about to expire. They took their sweet time with him and granted a 30 day visa for everyone to match the one passport that would expire. Zero sympathy from the rest of us in line.

Cheyne