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Entry Requirements

Entry requirements differ depending on what country you are a resident and citizen of. Check below to find out the necessary documentation you will need to insure a smooth entry into our country.

NOTE: Where a minor child is traveling with only one parent, a notarized letter of permit from the parent not traveling may be requested. If traveling with non-parents, a notarized letter from the minor's guardians would be required. The letter should indicate that the chaperones are authorized to travel outside the country with the minor, as well as permit the chaperones to seek medical attention for the minor, if necessary.

US & Canadian Citizens
US and Canadian citizens do not require a visa to visit The Bahamas and can remain there for a maximum period of 90 days. The individual, however, must have the following documents:

- A valid passport, with an expiry date that is NOT less than 3 months after leaving The Bahamas
- A return ticket

UK Citizens
British nationals visiting are usually allowed entry into the Bahamas for up to 21 days. This can be extended up to a maximum of 8 months by applying to the Department of Immigration in Nassau. Penalties for overstaying include fines and detention pending deportation.

If you are travelling via the USA, you may need to apply for an ESTA. The Bahamas counts as part of the ‘contiguous territory and islands’ for US visa waiver purposes and time spent in The Bahamas counts towards the 90-day maximum permitted stay in the US under this waiver. If you travel to The Bahamas via the USA under US visa waiver arrangements and are in any doubt about your US visa status, you should seek advice from either the US Immigration and Naturalization Service or any US diplomatic mission before starting your return journey. The individual must have the following documents:

- A valid passport, with an expiry date that is NOT less than 6 months after leaving The Bahamas
- A return ticket

Departure Tax

All visitors leaving The Bahamas are subject to a departure tax of $15.00 (US or Bahamian Dollars), which may or may not be included in the price of your ticket.

Weather

Bahamas is warm all year round; visitors are able to bask in sunny weather whenever they like. The trade winds have blessed us with warm year-round weather, with winter lows averaging a comfortable 70 degrees Fahrenheit and summer highs with high humidity at around 80–90 degrees Fahrenheit, with a gentle dip at night of just 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. The rainy season involves afternoon showers that come and go fast. The hurricane season extends from June to November.

Driving

Cars drive on the left-hand side of the road in the Bahamas.

Language

The official language of the Bahamas is English, although locals speak a dialect that can be very difficult to understand. Some locals may also find your English very difficult to understand.

Emergency Number

To contact the Police Department, Fire Department or Ambulance Service, dial 911 or 919

Time Zone

The Bahamas is on the Eastern Daylight Standard Time (GTM -4).

Duty Free Allowances

The duty free allowance is: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 454g tobacco, 1 liter of spirit, goods up to the value if B$100. In order to be eligible to buy duty free goods the purchaser must show a valid confirmed airline ticket and picture ID.

Shopping Hours

Most malls open Monday – Saturday from 09:30 am – 07:00 pm and on Sunday mornings

Banks & Currency

Banks usually open Monday – Thursday from 09.30 am – 03.00 pm and Friday from 09:30 am to 05:00 pm.

The currency in The Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar (BSD / B$). The Bahamian Dollar has parity with the US Dollar. The US Dollar is also accepted as legal tender.

Electrical Standard

The Bahamas features the 120/60 cycle electrical standard which is compatible with all American devices. British and European appliances require a two pin flat adapter and a 220-volt converter.

Cell Phones

Many US and Canadian carriers have roaming agreements with Batelco, the GSM cellular operator in the Bahamas. Therefore, while most phones will work, the rates are approximately $3.00 per minute plus tax for all in and out calls.

Therefore, it makes sense to either purchase a local SIM card (if your phone is GSM) or to rent or buy an inexpensive GSM handset. Rates are between $0.15-$0.33 per minute for local calls and incoming calls and about a dollar more for outgoing calls to the USA or Canada.

Tips

15% is the acceptable amount to tip wait staff, taxi drivers and others offering personal services. Many restaurants automatically add the gratuities to the guest bill, so be sure and look for the restaurant policy or upon the bill. If you are uncertain of the policy or if the charge has been added inquire. For bell boys and porters is customary to tip $1.00 per bag.

WHAT OUR GUESTS ARE SAYING

"Isle Blue is everything they say they are. They were a pleasure to deal with and were very responsive and informative. The pictures on their website are exactly what you end up getting and they provide full concierge service throughout your stay. My family and I had an amazing time and before we even returned home, we went to the Isle Blue website to check out their inventory for our next vacation. They really are just that good!"
Marc W.
Emvie
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