Do you need a passport to go to The Bahamas by boat from Florida? - 2023 (2023)

FAQs

Do you need a passport to go to The Bahamas by boat from Florida? - 2023? ›

U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

If you are a US citizen, you can take a “closed-loop cruise” (one that begins and ends at the same port) to The Bahamas without a passport. Instead, you'll need to present another proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID.

Yes, just like when traveling by air, a valid passport book OR passport card is a top most bahamas travel requirement via a boat (note: closed loop cruises are different) being a private charter, fishing boat or party boat.

If you don't bring a passport on your boat trip to The Bahamas, you will need to show proof of citizenship and identification such as a passport card, Trusted Traveler Card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST), or Enhanced Driver's License / REAL ID. All of these options are valid for land and sea travel but not for air travel.

Passport exceptions for U.S. citizens traveling to The Bahamas. If you are traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise ship that embarks and ends at the same U.S. port, you can use your government issued driver's license or birth certificate instead of a passport.

Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship. U.S. citizens must present a passport. Upon your arrival in The Bahamas, you will be asked to fill out an Immigration Arrival/Departure Card, which you will keep until your departure.

Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. U.S. citizens must present a passport.

Yes, personal boats can make the trip between Florida and the Bahamas. Remember that the journey is over the open ocean; boats 40' and larger boats generally offer more storage for supplies you should have aboard and provide a smoother ride through the chop than smaller boats.

Children under 16 can also travel to the Bahamas on a cruise with an original birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or certificate of citizenship. Children under 19 can use these same documents only if they are traveling with a school, church group, sports team, or other organization with adult supervision.

What are the entry requirements for The Bahamas? ›

PASSPORTS. Passports are required by all persons entering The Bahamas.

To enter The Bahamas, non-U.S. citizens need the following documentation: For visits NOT exceeding 30 days: An Alien Registration Card (Green Card) and a Valid National Passport from their country of birth are required.

U.S. citizens can visit the Bahamas for up to 90 days without a visa. Those doing so by air will need to have a valid passport that will be valid for the duration of their stay on the island. Those traveling by sea will need a WHTI-compliant document, a passport card, or a passport book to enter and leave the Bahamas.

ARRIVING BY BOAT

Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. US citizens must present a passport.

All travelers must have a passport book for international air travel. Please note that hospital-issued birth certificates, voter registration cards, and affidavits cannot be used. If you were not born in the United States, you can use your original Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship.

The answer to your question “Do You Need a Passport to Go to Bimini” is Yes! You will need a passport for Bimini for verification purposes. Other identifications like an original birth certificate or voter's registration card, or the picture ID issued by the government are required for Bimini.

The main city of this island is Freeport, which is just 110 miles northeast of Miami, making it easily accessible by ferry. The journey by boat can be as short as 2.5 hours, so it's an excellent choice for a Miami to Bahamas one-day trip.

Ferry from United States to Grand Bahama

There is currently just the 1 ferry route running between United States and Grand Bahama operated by 1 ferry company – Balearia Caribbean. The Fort Lauderdale (Miami) to Freeport ferry crossing operates Weekly with a scheduled sailing duration from about 3 hours.

Entry Requirements

To enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, private vessels need the following: One (1) copy of The Bahamas Customs Clearance Form. One (1) Bahamas Immigration Card per person. Proof of Citizenship—Passport.

In addition, officials will only accept the enhanced driver's license at land and sea borders and not for travel by air. Although you do not need a passport to travel to the Bahamas by sea, the US Department Of State highly recommends it.

Do you need a passport to go to The Bahamas and Cococay? ›

While US citizens visiting the Bahamas for tourist don't need a visa to enter the country, you need a passport with at least three month validity if you plan to fly to the Bahamas, or even to enter by boat, except for in one special case.

Nassau Paradise Island is also one of the few Caribbean destinations with preclearance entry into the United States. Passengers returning from The Bahamas can bypass customs upon entering their U.S. destination.

In the past, it took a relatively large boat to safely travel the waters from Florida to the Bahamas. But with today's advancements in hull engineering, you can make the trip in a boat that is only 30 feet or less.

The western islands of the Bahamas are only 50 miles from Florida's east coast. With a bit of prep and planning, you can get there even in a modest-sized boat. Used to be, when cruising the Bahamas, you would mostly see cruising sailboats, trawlers, and large yachts.

The ferry sailings from Florida to the Bahamas takes between 3 hours (Florida - Bimni route) to 4 hours (Florida - Gran Bahama route). Each week there will be 1 frequency to and from Grand Bahama and three frequencies (also roundtrip) to connect Bimini with Florida.

Cultures collide in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, the tropical island that tempts mainland Americans with its proximity to Miami (just a 2.5-hour flight).

Do You Need A Passport To Go To Cancun? Yes, you do! The Cancun Airport website states that U.S. travelers can enter Cancun with alternate forms of ID, such as a birth certificate and a driver's license. However, you must have a passport to return to the U.S. from Mexico.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Upon arrival in Aruba, you must have: a U.S. passport valid for the duration of your stay; a completed Embarkation and Disembarkation Card (ED-Card); a return or onward ticket.

However, in most cases, you won't need one. This is because the majority of cruises that you'll find taking off from the U.S. and heading down to the Bahamas operate on a closed loop. Closed-loop cruises are those that take off from a U.S. port, visit at least one foreign port of call and then return to that same port.

Guests must be 21 years of age or older to be served alcohol on board. Proper I.D with birth date is required.

Can you take a Royal Caribbean cruise to the Bahamas without a passport? ›

We highly recommend that all U.S. Citizen's cruise with their U.S. Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise. Guests may also sail with their official US state-issued Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID...

U.S. Entry requirements

Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States are required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.

Most agents just flag you through, some ask if you have anything to declare. If you are not carrying illegal items, or something that needs to be declared, just answer truthfully and walk through. This process is very quick. Most days this whole process takes less than 1/2 hour.

The Bahamas achieved independence from Britain July 10, 1973, and is now a fully self-governing member of the Commonwealth and a member of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community and the Organisation of American States.

In terms of tropical paradises, The Bahamas is at the top of many couples' lists. With white and pink sand beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious resorts, it's easy to see why. However, vacations on islands like this are often expensive. The costs can add up quickly depending on the kind of trip you take.

The official currency for the Bahamas is the Bahamian Dollar. The $ symbol is used for the Bahamian Dollar; the symbol B$ is used to distinguish it from other Dollar currencies. The Dollar is divided into 100 cents and is pegged to the US Dollar at par.

An original Alien Registration Card (Green Card) is required, along with a national passport (passport from country of birth). For visits exceeding 30 days: A valid national passport and a Bahamas visa are required for U.S. resident non-citizens wishing to stay longer than 30 days.

Can a non-Bahamian travel to The Bahamas on an expired Passport? No; passports must have a minimum of six months validity from the date of departure from The Bahamas. In addition, airlines would not let passengers board with expired travel documents.

Citizens of the Bahamas in need of an identity/travel document must apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to replace their lost, stolen or damaged passport. All passports are valid for a period of 5 years (for persons under the age of 16) and 10 years (for persons 16 years and older).

DOS recommends that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book in case of emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port. Note: Baptismal papers and hospital certificates of birth are not acceptable.

Can you go to Bimini with a birth certificate? ›

Note: A passport or an original birth certificate or a voter's registration card with a government-issued picture ID is required for entry to Bimini (bring your passport to be on the safe side), and an outbound (return) ticket must also be presented to Bahamian Customs before you will be permitted entry.

However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (e.g., for an emergency evacuation, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States.

U.S. citizens are generally required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to The Bahamas, as well as proof of anticipated departure from The Bahamas. Those traveling to The Bahamas on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document.

You cannot travel while your U.S. passport application is still in pending or in process. The only way you can get a passport issued sooner is by applying in person at a regional agency. These agencies require an appointment.

In general, a child under 16 years of age may travel into the Bahamas merely with proof of citizenship. Proof of citizenship can be a raised seal birth certificate and preferably a government-issued photo ID if on a closed-loop cruise or a U.S. passport if entering by air or private vessel.

Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. U.S. citizens must present a passport.

Yes, personal boats can make the trip between Florida and the Bahamas. Remember that the journey is over the open ocean; boats 40' and larger boats generally offer more storage for supplies you should have aboard and provide a smoother ride through the chop than smaller boats.

U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), a government-issued birth certificate (issued by the Vital Records Department in the state where he or she was born) or passport, and if 16 or older, a government ...

In the past, it took a relatively large boat to safely travel the waters from Florida to the Bahamas. But with today's advancements in hull engineering, you can make the trip in a boat that is only 30 feet or less.

How long is a boat trip from Florida to Bahamas? ›

The ferry sailings from Florida to the Bahamas takes between 3 hours (Florida - Bimni route) to 4 hours (Florida - Gran Bahama route). Each week there will be 1 frequency to and from Grand Bahama and three frequencies (also roundtrip) to connect Bimini with Florida.

The western islands of the Bahamas are only 50 miles from Florida's east coast. With a bit of prep and planning, you can get there even in a modest-sized boat. Used to be, when cruising the Bahamas, you would mostly see cruising sailboats, trawlers, and large yachts. Well, things have changed.

The travel time of the Fort Lauderdale – Grand Bahamas ferry is around: 2h 30 minutes. Please arrive early at the harbor and calculate extra time for check-in and boarding if necessary.

Miami (Port of Miami) to Bimini, Bahamas): All U.S. passengers traveling aboard the Bimini Fast Ferry from Miami to Bimini must have a valid passport or valid passport card, whether traveling for the day or staying overnight in Bimini.

Documents you need to travel:

All travelers must have a valid passport in your possession and a current Visa (if applicable) for entry into the United States and for the Bahamas. The passport MUST be valid for at least 3 months from departure date.

ARRIVING BY BOAT

Customs and Immigration officials will come to your vessel. Everyone on board must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. US citizens must present a passport.

If you take closed loop cruises (meaning your trip begins and ends at a U.S. port), you can sail to a variety of dreamy destinations as a U.S. citizen without a passport. For “closed-loop” cruises, U.S. citizens will need to provide: A boarding pass. A government photo I.D.

Do you need a passport for a Caribbean cruise? If you are cruising to the Caribbean, you will need to enter with either your U.S. passport book, passport card, Trusted Traveler card (Nexus, SENTRI, or FAST), or an enhanced driver's license.

We highly recommend that all U.S. Citizen's cruise with their U.S. Passport book that is valid at least 6 months after your cruise. Guests may also sail with their official US state-issued Birth Certificate and a supporting Government Issued Photo ID...