Bahamas travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Entry Requirements section (Passport validity) . The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• The hurricane season in the Bahamas normally runs from 1 June to 30 November. You should monitor local and international weather reports and follow the advice of the local authorities. See the Natural Disasters section of this travel advice and the tropical cyclones page of the FCO website for more details.
  
  
• The Ministry of Health reports that there has been one confirmed case of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu in the Bahamas and that it has been contained. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The at WHO website has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website .
  
  
• There is no British High Commission in The Bahamas. For emergency consular assistance, please telephone (00) (1) (242) 357 9005. Alternatively contact the British High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica. See the Contact Details of this advice for more details.
  
  
• It is estimated that 45,000 British nationals visited The Bahamas in 2007. Most visits to The Bahamas are trouble-free. However, the main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in 2008 was for dealing with replacing lost and stolen passports. Violent crime in The Bahamas is usually within the local community but tourists have been the victims of robbery, sometimes armed.
  
  
• The water sports industry in The Bahamas is poorly regulated. There have been a number of accidents including fatalities. We advise you not to rent jet-skis unless you are an experienced jet-ski user. See the Local Travel (Water Sports) section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

Violent crime is usually within the local community, but tourists have been the victims of robbery, sometimes armed, particularly when alone or in isolated locations.

You should be vigilant at all times. It is not advisable to walk alone away from the main hotels, tourist areas, beaches and downtown Nassau particularly after dark. Extra care should be taken if travelling on local bus services after dusk on routes away from the main tourist routes. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Do not offer resistance in the event of an attempted robbery, as the assailant is likely to be armed.

The outlying islands of the Bahamian archipelago (known as the Family or Out Islands) are attracting an increasing number of visitors. These islands are relatively free of crime compared to the main islands of New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) but sensible precautions should still be taken.

For more general information see victims of crime abroad.

Political situation

Bahamas Country Profile

Local travel

You should note that operators offering sports excursions adjacent to the major tourist hotels are usually independent entrepreneurs and that many of the hotels themselves disclaim responsibility in respect of guests using those services. You may wish to assure yourself, before buying an excursion, that appropriate health and safety precautions are evident and that the operator has adequate insurance cover.

Road travel

You can drive in The Bahamas on a UK or international driving licence. Although traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road most vehicles are imported from the United States and are left hand drive. Drivers should therefore exercise caution, especially when overtaking.

For more general information see driving abroad.

Water sports

The water sports industry in The Bahamas is poorly regulated. Every year people are killed or seriously injured by the improper use of jet skis or other watercraft or by the careless or reckless operation of such equipment by others. In view of a number of accidents, we advise you not to rent jet-skis or other water sports equipment unless you are an experienced user.

If you choose to rent any type of water sports equipment, you should first consider the dangers involved and satisfy yourself that adequate safety precautions are in place. Once satisfied about this, rent only from reputable operators and insist on sufficient training before use. Also ensure that the operator is licensed and has adequate insurance cover.

For more general information see river and sea safety.

Local laws and customs

Penalties for possession or trafficking of drugs are severe. Tourists may be offered narcotics in pubs and bars. Police are vigilant and you could face a substantial fine, imprisonment and deportation. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through Customs for anyone else.

You should carry photocopies of your passport and travel insurance documents and keep the originals in a safe place.

For more general information for different types of travellers see travel advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

British nationals visiting The Bahamas do not require visas for visits of up to 3 months. If you wish to extend your stay you must apply to the Department of Immigration in Nassau. Penalties for overstaying include fines and detention pending deportation. If travelling via the USA you should have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.

If you intend to work or the reason for your visit is not tourism, you should seek advice from The Bahamian High Commission in London.

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) you should seek advice from either the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service or any US diplomatic mission before commencing your return journey if you have any doubt about your US visa status.

Passport Validity

Your passport should be valid for at least six months from date of arrival in The Bahamas. Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with The Bahamas High Commission.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact The Bahamian High Commission in London.

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

Health

The Ministry of Health reports that there has been one confirmed case of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu in the Bahamas and that it has been contained. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.

Medical treatment is of a good standard but can be expensive. Emergency medical facilities are limited on all the Family Islands and serious cases are transferred to Nassau, Freeport or Miami by air ambulance. You should ensure that your medical insurance covers the cost of an air ambulance.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 6,100 adults aged 15 or over in The Bahamas were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 3.0% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to The Bahamas and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.

Natural disasters

The hurricane season in The Bahamas normally runs from 1 June to 30 November. Please also see Tropical Cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.

You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation. You can access the National Hurricane Centre website for updates.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Consular assistance

The British High Commission in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas closed in April 2005. Please address queries to the British High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica.

In the event of a genuine consular emergency in The Bahamas, please telephone (00) (1) (242) 357 9005. This number should not be used for passport or visa queries.

Money

The Bahamas police have recently notified the public that counterfeit higher denomination notes are in circulation. You should check for a ship watermark and metallic strip on genuine notes and not purchase any currency except at established exchange centres.