North and Central America and Caribbean

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• There is no British High Commission in the Bahamas. British nationals requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the British Honorary Consul, Peter Young, on 1 (242) 357 9005. If the Honorary Consul is not available and for all other non-consular related matters please contact the British High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica.  See Contact Details.
  
  
• Around 24,000 British nationals visited The Bahamas in 2010.  Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in 2010 was replacing lost and stolen passports. Some tourists have been the victims of robbery, sometimes armed. See Safety and Security - Crime.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

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.

Safety and Security - Crime
Some tourists have been victims of robbery, sometimes armed, in isolated areas and more recently in tourist areas of New Providence. The local authorities have increased police patrols in the tourist areas.

You should be vigilant at all times. Do not walk alone away from the main hotels, tourist areas, beaches and downtown Nassau particularly after dark. Take care 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. Assailants may 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.

See our victims of crime abroad page.
 
Safety and Security - Local travel
Operators offering sports excursions adjacent to the major tourist hotels are usually independent entrepreneurs. Many of the hotels disclaim responsibility in respect of guests using those services. Before buying an excursion ensure that appropriate health and safety precautions are evident and that the operator has adequate insurance cover.
 
Safety and Security - Local Travel - 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.

For more general information see driving abroad.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - 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.

See our river and sea safety page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Bahamas Country Profile

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.  

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

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
British nationals visiting The Bahamas do not require visas for visits of up to three 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 see our Travel Advice for the USA.

If 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.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Bahamas. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Bahamas. Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with The Bahamas High Commission.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children

For information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact The Bahamian High Commission in London.  

Entry Requirements - Departure Tax
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.

Dengue fever is common across the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. An increased number of reports of dengue fever in the Bahamas in August 2011 has prompted the Government of the Bahamas to issue a public notice and to increase anti-mosquito spraying of affected communities. Dengue fever a mosquito-borne infection that can cause a feverish illness associated with headache, muscle aches and pains, and rash. Some cases of dengue are severe. Dengue can be prevented by avoiding being bitten by the disease-carrying mosquitoes that feed predominately during daylight hours. For more information on prevention, see the National Travel Health Network and Centre website: http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/dengue.htm

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. Ensure that your medical insurance covers the cost of an air ambulance.

In the 2010 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 3.1% 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.

See our travel health page.

The hurricane season in The Bahamas normally runs from 1 June to 30 November.
You can follow the progress of approaching storms on the US National Hurricane Centre website. See our Tropical Cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see when things go wrong page.

Consular - 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.

General - 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.

General - Money

The Bahamas police have 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.