With the beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, the Bahamas is definitely a paradise on earth. There are several reasons why one would choose the Bahamas as their travel destination. However, before traveling first, you need to see if you need a Bahamas visa to enter the country.
Who Needs a Visa for the Bahamas
Citizens coming from all the countries listed below need a visa to enter and visit the Republic of Bahamas:
- Afghanistan
- Guinea
- North Korea
- Albania
- Guinea-Bissau
- Pakistan
- Algeria
- Haiti
- Palau
- Angola
- India
- Palestine
- Belarus
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Benin
- Iran
- Rwanda
- Bhutan
- Iraq
- Saudi Arabia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Jordan
- Senegal
- Burkina Faso
- Kazakhstan
- Serbia
- Burundi
- Kyrgyzstan
- Somalia
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Sudan
- Cameroon
- Lebanon
- Syria
- Central African Republic
- Liberia
- Taiwan
- Chad
- Libya
- Tajikistan
- Comoros
- Macau
- Thailand
- Republic of the Congo
- Madagascar
- Timor-Leste
- Ivory Coast
- Mauritania
- Togo
- Cuba
- Micronesia
- Tunisia
- Djibouti
- Mongolia
- Turkmenistan
- Dominican Republic
- Montenegro
- Ukraine
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Uzbekistan
- Equatorial Guinea
- Mozambique
- Vietnam
- Eritrea
- Myanmar
- Yemen
- Ethiopia
- Nepal
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Gabon
- Niger
- Ghana
- Nigeria
*Indian Nationals who have a valid visa, or valid permanent resident status from the, US, UK, Canada, and Schengen countries, holders of diplomatic or official passports do not require a visa to enter The Bahamas. All other Indian nationals require visas.
How to Apply for a Bahamas Visa?
To apply for a Bahamas visa, follow these steps:
- Contact the nearest embassy/consulate of the Bahamas in your home country and book an appointment.
- Fully complete the application form. You can obtain an application form at the embassy/ consulate of the Bahamas. The application form needs to be filled out in BLOCK letters and blue or black ink only.
- Gather and submit all the requested documents in person at the nearest embassy/consulate of the Bahamas in your home country. For further information regarding the requested documents, see ‘Bahamas Visa Requirements.’
- Wait for a response. You will receive a response to your Bahama visa application within seven to fourteen days.
| Note: If you are a Bahamian citizen who wants to sponsor a foreign family member or a friend to visit you, you need to personally apply for a Bahamian visa at the Bahamas Consular Division in Nassau. |
Bahamas Visa Requirements
Here are all the documents you need to submit when applying for a Bahamas visa:
- Valid passport. Your passport must be valid at least three months after your return date. Make sure your passport is in good condition.
- Two passport-sized photos. Your photos must be recently taken (at least within six months).
- Application form. You must fill out the application form completely and with sincere answers.
- Bank statements. This document must prove that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while staying in the Bahamas.
- Health insurance. Proof that you have a travel health insurance policy, which is valid in the Bahamas.
- Accommodation proof. Document proving that you have a place to stay in the Bahamas. This document can be a rental agreement, a hotel reservation, etc.
- Invitation letter. The invitation letter is a letter issued from your family members or friends. The letter proves that you have someone waiting for you in the Bahamas and have a place to stay there.
- Criminal records. Proof that you are not a threat to the Republic of Bahamas.
- Flight itinerary. The flight itinerary is a document that details your flight procedure, including the date and flight time, the airline name, your return flight ticket, etc.
- Civil status documents. These documents depend on your current civil status. So if you are married, include a marriage certificate if you have a child, a birth certificate, if you live together with your partner, include proof of joint bank account, evidence that you live together, etc.
Keep in mind that any missing document can lead to your visa refusal, so make sure you collect all the documents required by the embassy/consulate of the Bahamas.
Duration of a Bahamas Visa
The Republic of the Bahamas has different types of visas. The duration of a Bahamas visa depends on the type of visa you apply for:
- A transit visa is valid for 24 hours.
- A short-stay visa is valid for three months.
- A long-stay visa is valid for one year.
Bahamas Visa Fees
The Bahamas visa fees depend on the type of visa you apply for:
| For a visa without biometric data features | |
| Multiple entries visa for three months | $110 |
| Multiple entries visa for six months | $110 |
| Multiple entries visa for one-year | $110 |
| Multiple entries visa for three years | $500 |
| Single entry visa | $100 |
| Seaman’s visa | $110 |
| Diplomatic visa | NIL |
| For a visa with biometric data and features | |
| Multiple entries visa for three months | $250 |
| Multiple entries visa for six months | $250 |
| Multiple entries visa for one-year | $250 |
| Multiple entries visa for three years | $500 |
| Single entry visa | $160 |
| Seaman’s visa | $160 |
| Transit Visa | $100 |
The fees for a Bahamas visa are non-refundable.
Long-Stay Visas for the Bahamas
A long-stay visa allows you to stay in the Bahamas for one year. However, depending on the purpose of your stay there are different types of long-stay visas you can apply for, such as:
- Work visa.
- Investment visa.
- Study visa.
- Family reunion visa.
Annual Residence Permit for the Bahamas
If you want to live in the Bahamas long-term, you can also apply for an annual residence permit. You can legally enter the Bahamas as a visitor, after which you can apply for the annual residence permit, which is renewable.
After living in the Bahamas for five years with an annual residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.
Note: The fee amount for an annual residence permit is BS $100.
Permanent Residence Permit for the Bahamas
If you plan on staying longer than five years in the Bahamas, you need to apply for a permanent residence permit. You need to apply for a permanent residence permit at the Department of Immigration. A permanent residence permit allows you to live, work, and study in the Bahamas for five years. However, to apply for a temporary residence permit, you must fit in one of the following categories:
- If you have been legally staying in the Bahamas for five years with a long-stay visa.
- If you have been married to a Bahamas citizen for five years. After five years of being married, the foreign spouse can apply for a permanent residence permit or Bahamas citizenship.
- If you have proof that you live with a Bahamas citizen.
When applying for a Bahamas residence permit, you need to finish the payment of BS $100. The fee is non-refundable. If you receive a positive answer, you need to complete an additional fee payment of BS$250 for your residence permit application.
| Note: After three to four weeks after applying for a residence permit, you need to personally contact the Inquiries Unit at the Department of Immigration and ask them for an update on your application for the Bahamas residence permit. The Iniguries Unit will inform you of the result of your residence permit application. |
Why Should You Visit Bahamas?
The Bahamas is a beautiful country that offers different opportunities to have fun, see new things, and experience a wonderful time. We have listed some of the reasons below why you should visit the Republic of Bahamas:
- Beautiful luxurious hotels.
- Amazing food.
- Unlimited shopping.
- Swimming pigs.
- Amazing culture.
- Pink sand beaches.
- Family-friendly people.
- Very high-class restaurant.
- Fun and different games you can play throughout the day and night time.