Bahamas customs rules & duty-free allowances
The Bahamas enforces one of the region's strictest arrival regimes: every traveller must complete a declaration form, and immigration can refuse entry on the spot if you lack a confirmed ticket out. Customs officers conduct physical bag searches far more often than in most Caribbean destinations, with boats and private aircraft the most frequent targets. Undeclared goods are seized and fined, and undeclared cash can trigger a penalty that is a multiple of the amount. The allowances below apply to non-resident adults arriving for a stay of up to 12 months; residents and Bahamian citizens returning home face lower limits.
Duty-free allowances
Prohibited — banned from import
- Narcotics and cannabis in any form, including CBD oil and edibles — medical cannabis authorisations from other countries are not valid
- Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants and soil without a Department of Agriculture import permit
- Raw or uncured meats, poultry and unpasteurised dairy from most countries
- Firearms, ammunition and imitation firearms without a police-issued permit arranged before travel
- Counterfeit goods and pirated media
- Obscene publications and material deemed offensive
Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration
- Personal prescription medication — declare it; controlled substances need prior approval
- Pets and live animals — import permit and health certificate required in advance
- Drones — must be declared; commercial use needs authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority
- Satellite phones and two-way radios — declare on arrival; licensing may apply
- Plants and plant products — Department of Agriculture permit required
Arriving: red vs green channel
Every arriving traveller fills out a Bahamas Customs and Immigration Declaration Form — you get it on the aircraft or at the cruise terminal, and there is no e-gate alternative. At Lynden Pindling International and the other ports you walk through a single channel; if you have goods to declare, cash over the threshold, or food, go to the officer and hand over the form rather than walking past. If you have nothing to declare, hand the completed form to the officer at the exit — you can still be pulled for a bag search, and boats and private planes are searched far more often than commercial flights.
Bringing medication
Bring prescription medicine in its original labelled container with the prescription or a doctor's letter showing your name and dosage. A 30-day personal supply is normally fine. The Bahamas classifies cannabis, CBD oil, and several opioid and stimulant-based medications as controlled or prohibited — medical cannabis cards from the US or Canada are not recognised, and bringing them in can lead to arrest. Declare anything injectable or narcotic-class at the port.
Food, plants & animal products
Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants, soil, and most raw or cured meats are prohibited or need a permit from the Department of Agriculture. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable food is generally allowed in small quantities for personal use. Any meat, dairy, honey or plant material must be declared — undeclared food is confiscated and can trigger a fine.
Rules worth knowing
Return or onward ticket is mandatory
Immigration can and does refuse entry to visitors without a confirmed ticket out of The Bahamas. If you arrive on a one-way ticket, expect to be questioned and possibly put on the next flight back at your own cost.
Boats and private aircraft get searched
If you arrive by yacht or private plane, expect a physical inspection of the vessel and every bag. Cruisers and private pilots are the most common source of undeclared-goods seizures, and penalties are assessed on the spot.
US dollars are accepted but the peg cuts both ways
The Bahamian dollar is fixed 1:1 with the US dollar and both are legal tender, so you do not need to change money. But the BSD 10,000 declaration threshold applies to the combined total of both currencies you are carrying.
Firearms need a permit arranged before you fly
You cannot simply declare a gun at the airport. A permit must be obtained from the Royal Bahamas Police Force in advance, and even a single round of ammunition found in a bag leads to arrest. This catches hunters and US concealed-carry holders regularly.