New Bahamas Customs Regulations
as of July 15, 2003
In a meeting with Customs Officer Forbes in Marsh Harbour on July 14, 2003, the following answers were received, reviewed and approved concerning the new Customs fees and procedures.
- *A cruising permit is normally issued for 12 months.
- *You cannot leave the Bahamas during that period and return on the same cruising permit. You must check in again and pay the published fees.
- *Fees for entering the Bahamas - $150 for all vessels under 35 feet and
$300 for vessels 35..1 feet or greater. $150 for dinghys/tenders over 18
feet. - *The above fees cover the Captain and 3 crew members. Any
additional crew members over 6 years old must pay $15 per person. Your fishing license for three months is included. If you wish to extend your fishing license it is an additional $150 for 12 months. Also included is a $15 exit/departure fee for four individuals. - *For those of you that keep your boat here for more than one year it will cost you $500 per year for the next two years. You can do that for a max of two years and then you must either leave the Bahamas or "duty in" your vessel. The cost of duty on your vessel is 27% under 30 feet and 6% for 30.1 feet or greater.
- *In addition to the paperwork you now submit when entering the
Bahamas, Customs Officers will now require the ORIGINAL of your State Registration or Coast Guard Documentation to be submitted with your application and a copy of same. They will return the original but will
retain the copy for their records. They require that the copy show the
names of the vessel and the length. Since some of the Customs Offices
may not have a copy machine I strongly recommend that you make several copies and bring them with you. - * You should always ask the Customs Officer for a receipt for monies paid. You will not need to pay your exit/departure fee of $15 at the airport if you need to fly out of the country on an emergency or if one of your crew members goes home. Be sure and bring the receipt and a copy of your cruising permit to the airport with you.. In the event the officer does not have a receipt book with them you can go to the Customs office in Marsh Harbour, at the new port facility and they will give you one.
- *Overtime....there are NO overtime charges for weekend Customs clearance.
- *This information covers the Abacos and is supposed to be standardized for
ALL of the Bahamas./s/ Don Van Beck, Commodore, Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht
Club"
Please read the above carefully, especially about the extra
documentation. Suggest that you also make copies of dinghy registration
as well as mother boat. Transportation fees were not asked about at the
time, but we were told by another source later, that those fees might be
levied at the discretion of the officer clearing you in if he uses his
personal vehicle and travels to your location. A boat clearing in at
Marsh Harbour was charged $35 transportation fee on a Saturday.
Info on West End (Old Bahama Bay Club) charges: 35' minimum. Weekdays $1.65 ft pd, Weekends (Fri & Sat night) $1.95 ft pd, $18 electricity, $10 water per day used or not. Can anchor in turning basin for $25 per day, includes amenities.
That's the news for now. Cindy & Art, S/V Gypsy Jean
Thanks Cindy and Art for the update!