Florida & Georgia - Bahamas Boat Size Change for Customs

Haven't seen this posted yet and not sure when it went into effect.

http://www.bahamas.com/vacation-planning/customs-immigration

If entering The Bahamas by boat, there is a flat fee to clear Customs and Immigration, which is $150.00 for boats 30 feet and under and $300.00 for boats 31 feet and over. This covers a vessel with three persons or less. Also included is a cruising permit, a fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges and the $25.00 Departure Tax is waived for up to three persons. Each additional person above three will be charged $25.00 Departure Tax. In Grand Bahama the Departure Tax is $28.00. If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangement must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.

It looks like it changed from 4 people to 3.............I think.

unless the change is the number of people, the other stuff has been in effect at least five years, maybe more.

The bigger PITA is the rentry to the US. Even though I have the LBO, (local boaters option) I end up having to go down to customs 3 times out of five.....usually for nothing.

Now that I think about it, the fee used to be $150 for vessels 35' and under, and $300 for over 35'.
I'm glad I have a little boat :)

Went there last weekend 35 ft , 150.00.

Florida boaters should be able to purchase an annual pass .... $300 for me is a PITA...

I would run over to Bimini more often if I could clear at the dock and pay --- say $700 for the year ?

Run over Sat and home Sunday ....

I thought an annual pass would be awesome too. Problem is the idiots not vlearing customs and the people who would abuse the pass.

I read on another website they already revoked this change.

has anyone gone to Bimini within the past few months and actually know they are charging for the cruising permit? I went about six months ago and it was $150 for vessels 35' and under, and $300 for over 35' .... Permit included 3 people and we had to pay extra for the forth person.

has anyone gone to Bimini within the past few months and actually know they are charging for the cruising permit? I went about six months ago and it was $150 for vessels 35' and under, and $300 for over 35' .... Permit included 3 people and we had to pay extra for the forth person.

I was there for the full moon in DEC... was $150 to check in at bimini.......

Went with 2 people so don't know about the 3 or 4 persons.....

it changes depending on the person at the window and the port.

I have been paying that, I always figured they were ripping me off for the extra $25...

west end was 300 for boats over 30 and 25 for every person over 3

west end was 300 for boats over 30 and 25 for every person over 3

Yes last time i ws there in july they had said the rule for $300 and 30' or more went into effect the day I arrived. Just my luck. It was an expensive 24 hours! :o

They would do alot better financially if they waived the entrance fee and enforced the no wake fine of $500. Plus alot more people would run back and forth buying more fuel, staying in hotels more nights etc.

They would do alot better financially if they waived the entrance fee and enforced the no wake fine of $500. Plus alot more people would run back and forth buying more fuel, staying in hotels more nights etc.

Ain't that the truth...i'd be over there alot more if i didn't have to pay the 300. We always have more than 4 people so its gets expensive at 25 extra a person. I've pretty much stopped going because i can afford it anymore. I guess 3 young un's ain't helping either.lol

Haven't seen this posted yet and not sure when it went into effect.

http://www.bahamas.com/vacation-planning/customs-immigration

If entering The Bahamas by boat, there is a flat fee to clear Customs and Immigration, which is $150.00 for boats 30 feet and under and $300.00 for boats 31 feet and over. This covers a vessel with three persons or less. Also included is a cruising permit, a fishing permit, Customs and Immigration charges and the $25.00 Departure Tax is waived for up to three persons. Each additional person above three will be charged $25.00 Departure Tax. In Grand Bahama the Departure Tax is $28.00. If you plan to stay longer than 12 months, special arrangement must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration.

Never have paid a departure tax even with 4 except when departing by airplane.

They would do alot better financially if they waived the entrance fee and enforced the no wake fine of $500. Plus alot more people would run back and forth buying more fuel, staying in hotels more nights etc.


Definitely annoying, but it doesn't determine if I am going or not. Like snookyJ, my 3 kids are a bigger factor.

I liked the 35 and over cutoff point a lot better. Kind of odd that a 32 CC pays the same as a 65 sporty?

I would like to see an annual permit available. Even if I had to clear in person, an annual permit ($1000?) would be preferable and cheaper.

west end was 300 for boats over 30 and 25 for every person over 3


Me too. First week of December. 34'.

Sounds like you need to bring $300 if you're going to Bimini and hope for the best.... How do they measure? My mfg. spec is 29'6" but the LOA is probably 33'.... Just wondering....

whatever your registration says. i think they need to do it based on size but the 35 and over was fine and then they need to have another one higher than that for the big boats. unless of course they are just trying to keep the little guys out.

Sounds like you need to bring $300 if you're going to Bimini and hope for the best.... How do they measure? My mfg. spec is 29'6" but the LOA is probably 33'.... Just wondering....

What bradv said. You are supposed to have your registration or Documentation certificate in your hand when you clear in, although they do not normally ask for it. BUT if the RBDF ever stopped you and took a close look at your registration and Cruising Permit, and the vessel length on each did not match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maybe they will someday learn that raising taxes doesn't always raise revenue. I understand the Bahamas needs to charge boaters to visit. That's fair. It's too bad they only give you 90 days for a second "free" visit. It's also a shame to raise the tax on the 30-35 foot boats.

All govs are getting more and more aggressive and deceptive in their taxation.

Taxing a country into prosperity is like standing in a five gallon bucket and trying to lift yourself up by the handle. If they were smart, they would make going across a little more appealing price wise for the average joe, JMO.