Bahamas entry requirements for US citizens

How long you can stay

Up to 240 days per visit.

What you need

• Passport valid for at least 6 months (Bahamas Immigration: 'present a passport that is valid for at least six months'; passport cards are not accepted)
• Return ticket or other means of departing The Bahamas
• Proof of sufficient funds for the stay (or a local sponsor who will receive you)
• Completed Bahamas Immigration Disembarkation/Embarkation Card
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate only if arriving from (or transiting >12 hours through) a country with yellow fever risk

Good to know

Visa-free. Bahamas Immigration 'Entry Requirements': no visa for 'United States Citizens entering as a bona fide visitor for a stay not exceeding eight (8) months.' The source states 8 months, not days; we model 240 days, which is never longer than any 8-month span. The officer stamps the actual period, which may be shorter. US citizens are not exempt from the passport requirement ('Passports are required by all persons entering The Bahamas'). Bahamas Immigration 'Before Your Arrival' (updated 2026-08-10) sets the entry criteria under the Immigration Act (Ch. 191) s.22: a valid return ticket/means of departure, no intention to work, financial means (or a local sponsor), a passport valid for at least six months (passport cards not accepted) and a completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card. 'Admittance is not automatic' — the officer can refuse leave to land. The officer also decides how long you may stay; the period is documented in your passport ('the maximum period of stay, documented in visitors' passports, may vary, as this is dependent upon the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry'), and the absolute maximum for a visitor is 8 months. Extensions: apply to the Department of Immigration before the granted time expires; in-person interview with an extension officer; $200.00 non-refundable processing fee since 18 September 2024; bring return ticket, valid passport, local address, the Immigration landing card, reason for extension, sponsor's passport and address (Immigration 'Extension of Stay' page). Overstaying is a punishable offence. Yellow fever certificate required from travellers over 1 year arriving from (or transiting more than 12 hours through) a listed risk country (including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Kenya and others), vaccinated at least 10 days before entry.

Source Bahamas Department of Immigration — Entry RequirementsChecked against the source on 2026-10-10