Everything you need to know about Bahamas Visa
UK
nationals holding a valid British citizen passport are allowed to enter the
Bahamas without a visa and stay there for a period of up to 21 days.
However,
if you wish to extend your stay, you can increase the allowable span for up to
eight months by lodging an application through the Department of Immigration in
Nassau.
You cannot, under any scenario, overstay your limit without seeking the
proper permission first.
In
order to be allowed visa-free entry into the Bahamas, you will need:
- A British citizen passport that is
valid for at least six months from the exit date from the Bahamas
- Proof of return or onward travel
- Necessary documents for the next
destination in the form of a visa or re-entry permit
- Sufficient funds to cover the
intended stay period in the Bahamas
- Proof of accommodation arrangements
for the duration of the trip
Entry requirements for foreigners
In addition to citizens of the UK, the Bahamas follows a visa-exemption policy for nationalities of the United States of America, Canada, most of the Commonwealth countries, the European Union, and several others.
Even Indian citizens who possess a Canadian, UK, US or Schengen Visa can enter the tourist destination without a visa. For the complete list of countries that require a visa to visit the Bahamas, you can check thelink here.
If you belong to this list, you have to apply for a visa prior to your travel dates through theBahamas High Commission in London.
In order to lodge an application for an entry visa, you will need:
- A fully completed and signed visa application form
- A passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of departing from the Bahamas. It should also contain at least one blank page for visa stamping
- Two recent, clear, and passport-size photographs
- A letter that states the dates of travel and the purpose of the visit. It should also contain the return address for the delivery of the passport.
- Air tickets for the Bahamas or a confirmed cruise voucher, which shows that there is a stop scheduled on the Bahamas Islands
- Proof of return travel (tickets, residence permit, or visa to the next destination)
- Transit visas for countries you have made a stop during your travel (if required)
- A letter of employment from your organization or enrolment in school or college
- Recent bank statements, credit card statements, cash or traveler’s cheques, which amounts to $100 per day
- Confirmed hotel reservations or letter of invitation from the host in The Bahamas, which contains the length of your stay period and also has the telephone number and full address of the host
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate if arriving from Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Peru, and Sudan
- The required visa fee: £100.00(GBP) for a single entry visa and £110.00(GBP) for a multiple entry visa (which holds a validity of one year). Payments can be made only in UK pounds sterling through cash or money order
Each of the above documents must be accompanied by photocopies.
Once you submit your visa application, it will take a minimum of two working days to be processed.
It is strongly recommended that you apply at least one week (not more than four weeks) in advance of your travel to The Bahamas.
You need to make an application in person. Postal applications are only accepted from residents of the UK, Ireland, Europe, and the Middle East.
For postal applications, you have to include a recorded, stamped, self-addressed envelope to return your passport. It should also contain a postal order for paying the fee, payable at the Bahamas High Commission.
Traveling to the Bahamas from the US
If your travel itinerary requires you to travel to the Bahamas from the USA, you might have to apply for an ESTA.
Since the Bahamas falls under the ‘contiguous territory and islands’ for US visa waiver purposes, your stay in the islands will be included in the 90-day maximum allowable stay in the US under this policy.
Hence, if you visit the Bahamas through the USA under the US visa waiver facility, you can contact the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service or any US diplomatic mission before you embark on your return travel.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
The authorities in the Bahamas accept UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) at points of entry to and exit from the islands. You cannot use an ETD to enter the United States if you use the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Hence, if you need to enter or transit the US in order to reach the Bahamas using a UK Emergency Travel Document, you have to apply for a US visa prior to your travel dates.