Bahamas: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
97 harbours
Bahamas: 97 harbours, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Bahamian dollar, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar
Clearing in: Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. Pre-arrival notice and payment via Click2Clear, but clearance is still done in person at a port of entry: Abaco (Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Sandy Point, Spanish Cay, Treasure Cay, Walker's and Grand Cay), Andros (Congo Town, Fresh Creek, Mangrove Cay, Morgan's Bluff, San Andros), Berry Islands (Chub Cay, Great Harbour Cay), Bimini (Alice Town, South Bimini), Cat Cay, Cat Island (Bennett's Harbour, New Bight, Smith's Bay), Eleuthera (Governor's Harbour, Harbour Island, North Eleuthera, Cape Eleuthera, Rock Sound, Spanish Wells), Exuma (Black Point, Staniel Cay, George Town), Grand Bahama (Freeport, West End), Inagua (Matthew Town), Long Island (Stella Maris), Mayaguana (Abraham's Bay), New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island, Lyford Cay) and San Salvador (Cockburn Town). Enter flying the yellow flag, only the skipper goes ashore; one immigration card per person. The list changes: ask the marina beforehand.
Ausreise: Clear out (form C28, 75 USD) only if the next state asks for a certificate.
Documents: Passport valid for the length of stay; Germans visa-free up to 90 days. Boat papers with proof of ownership, customs clearance form, from 50 ft a working AIS. Firearms only shotguns and handguns with declaration, pets with an import permit.
Fees: Cruising permit by length (since 1 April 2026): up to 30 ft 150 USD for 30 days, 30 to 50 ft 250 USD (30 days), 300 USD (six months, one free re-entry) or 500 USD (twelve months), 50 to 100 ft 350, 750 or 1,000 USD; this includes the departure tax for three people, each additional person 30 USD per visit. Fishing permit 100 USD (up to 50 ft, 30 days). Since 2025 an anchoring fee for boats anchoring outside marinas (according to the trade press 100 USD per month, 250 USD per six months): check with customs before you go.
Fairway: Buoyage follows IALA system B: red to starboard when entering from seaward, the reverse of Europe. The Great and Little Bahama Banks are mostly only 2 to 5 m deep, with coral heads and shifting sandbanks: navigate by water colour only in daylight and good light (sun high or behind you), and use a chart based on surveys (Explorer Charts). The Gulf Stream between Florida and Bimini runs north at up to 4 kn: do not cross in a northerly wind.
Nature: Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park: no fishing or collecting, moorings for a fee, anchor only in marked places; plus further national parks of the Bahamas National Trust. Fishing rules with closed seasons (lobster 1 April to 31 July), spearfishing only with a snorkel.
Tropical storm season: 1 June to 30 November, peak August to October; the Bahamas lie on the track of many storms (Dorian 2019 on Abaco). Shelters according to sailors: Hurricane Hole in Nassau, the mangroves of Hatchet Bay (Eleuthera), Great Harbour Cay. Insurers usually restrict cover: check your policy.
Emergency: 911 or 919; BASRA (Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association) in Nassau +1 242 325 8864, Royal Bahamas Defence Force and BASRA on VHF channel 16.
Sources: The Bahamas Customs Department: Pleasure Vessel Clearance, Bahamas.com: Boating Regulations, Bahamas Cruisers Guide: Ports of Entry, Megayacht News: Bahamas Cruising Permit Fees Adjusted (April 2026), Cruising Odyssey: Bahamas Update, Cruising Permits and Fees for 2026, Auswärtiges Amt: Bahamas, travel and safety advice (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Bahamas: Abaco (Marsh Harbour, Hope Town, Green Turtle Cay)
- Cherokee
- Conch Inn & Marina
- Coopers Town
- Crown Haven
- Crystal Waters
- Foxtown
- Green Turtle Cay (White Sound)
- Hideways Marina
- Lubbers Marina
- Man-O-War Marina
- Marge's Barges & Sea Charters Dock
- New Plymouth
- North End Boat Basin
- Sandy Point (Abaco)
- Sea Spray Marina
- Spanish Cay Marina
- Tilloo Public Dock
- Treasure Cay
Bahamas: Andros (Fresh Creek, Morgan's Bluff)
Bahamas: Berry Islands (Chub Cay, Great Harbour Cay)
Bahamas: Bimini and Cat Cay
- Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina
- Bimini Sands Marina
- Cat Cay Yacht Club
- Porgy Bay
- Port Royal
- Resorts World Bimini Mega Marina
- Sea Crest Marina
Bahamas: Cat Island (New Bight, Bennett's Harbour)
Bahamas: Eleuthera (Spanish Wells, Harbour Island, Governor's Harbour, Rock Sound)
- Bluff
- Briland Club
- Cape Eleuthera Marina
- Current Village
- Governor's Harbour
- Hatchet Bay
- James Cistern
- Lower Bogue
- Rock Sound (Eleuthera)
- Savannah Sound
- Spanish Wells
- Tarpum Bay
- Valentines Resort & Marina
Bahamas: Exumas (George Town, Staniel Cay, Highbourne Cay)
- Black Point (Great Guana Cay)
- George Town (Elizabeth Harbour)
- Minns Water Sports
- Rokers Point Settlement
- Rolletown
- Staniel Cay Yacht Club
- Warderick Wells (Exuma Park)
- Wemyss Bight
Bahamas: Grand Bahama (Freeport, West End)
- Bell Channel Club & Marina
- Blue Marlin Cove
- Bradford Marine
- Grand Bahama Yacht Club
- Grand Cay (Abaco)
- Knowles Marine
- Old Bahama Bay Marina (West End)
- Point Yacht Club
- West End
Bahamas: Long Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador
- Bains Settlement
- Clarence Town (Long Island)
- Glinton's Settlement
- Millers Settlement
- Pitts Town
- Port Nelson
- Salt Pond
- Simms Settlement
- Stella Maris Marina
Bahamas: New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island)
- Albany Resort Marina
- Atlantis Marina
- Bay Street Marina
- Blue Water Cay Marina
- Coral Harbour Canal
- Coral Harbour Canal
- Coral Harbour Marina & Canal
- Fox Hill Creek Marina
- Hurricane Hole Marina
- Lyford Cay Canal & Marina
- Lyford Cay Yacht Club Canals & Marina
- Nassau Harbour Club Marina
- Old Fort Bay Marina & Yacht Club
- Palm Cay Marina
- Port New Providence Canal
- Sandyport Marina Village & Resort
- Sea Breeze Canal
- Sea Breeze Canal
- Stuart Cove's Marina
- Venice Bay Canal & Marina
Bahamas: south (Acklins, Crooked Island, Mayaguana, Inagua)
Frequently asked questions
Bahamas: Do I need to clear in?
Independent state, outside the EU and Schengen. Pre-arrival notice and payment via Click2Clear, but clearance is still done in person at a port of entry: Abaco (Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Sandy Point, Spanish Cay, Treasure Cay, Walker's and Grand Cay), Andros (Congo Town, Fresh Creek, Mangrove Cay, Morgan's Bluff, San Andros), Berry Islands (Chub Cay, Great Harbour Cay), Bimini (Alice Town, South Bimini), Cat Cay, Cat Island (Bennett's Harbour, New Bight, Smith's Bay), Eleuthera (Governor's Harbour, Harbour Island, North Eleuthera, Cape Eleuthera, Rock Sound, Spanish Wells), Exuma (Black Point, Staniel Cay, George Town), Grand Bahama (Freeport, West End), Inagua (Matthew Town), Long Island (Stella Maris), Mayaguana (Abraham's Bay), New Providence (Nassau, Paradise Island, Lyford Cay) and San Salvador (Cockburn Town). Enter flying the yellow flag, only the skipper goes ashore; one immigration card per person. The list changes: ask the marina beforehand.
Bahamas: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for the length of stay; Germans visa-free up to 90 days. Boat papers with proof of ownership, customs clearance form, from 50 ft a working AIS. Firearms only shotguns and handguns with declaration, pets with an import permit.
Bahamas: What fees apply?
Cruising permit by length (since 1 April 2026): up to 30 ft 150 USD for 30 days, 30 to 50 ft 250 USD (30 days), 300 USD (six months, one free re-entry) or 500 USD (twelve months), 50 to 100 ft 350, 750 or 1,000 USD; this includes the departure tax for three people, each additional person 30 USD per visit. Fishing permit 100 USD (up to 50 ft, 30 days). Since 2025 an anchoring fee for boats anchoring outside marinas (according to the trade press 100 USD per month, 250 USD per six months): check with customs before you go.
Bahamas: What is the emergency number at sea?
911 or 919; BASRA (Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association) in Nassau +1 242 325 8864, Royal Bahamas Defence Force and BASRA on VHF channel 16.
Bahamas: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 97 harbours with harbour info, weather and route planning.