Traveling with your pet has changed. If you are one of the Bimini Sands homeowners that paid the duty to import your dog or cat several years ago and have been traveling back and forth using your receipt to gain entry for your pet, this will no longer work!
Trust me on this and save yourself the headache of being turned away by the Bahamian officials! You MUST now have a new import permit and health certificate with each entry.
Below you can read the latest information and you can also download the form HERE to send to Nassau to get the permit. Do this early as the permits can be slow in coming back to you
BAHAMAS IMPORT REQUIREMENTS
For your Pet:
An import permit is required from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry
(Nassau), for all animals being brought into the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Applications for such permits (along with a $10 processing fee) must be made in
writing to the Director of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry,
P.O. Box N-3704, Nassau, The Bahamas. For more information, call 242-325-
7502 or 325-7509.
The application must be accompanied by a $10.00 processing fee for each
animal and a $5.00 fax fee in cases where persons wish to have the permit
faxed to them - money order or cash only. No personal cheques will be
accepted.
You can download the form HERE
For the U.S. and Canada, the following are the main provisions of the import
permit as it applies to dogs and cats:
(a) The animal must be 6 months of age or older.
(b) The animal must be accompanied by a valid certificate which substantiates
that it has been vaccinated against rabies within not less than one (1) month and
not more than ten (10) months prior to importation for the one (1) year vaccine.
For the three (3) year vaccine it must be within no less than one (1) month and
not more than thirty-four (34) months prior to importation into The Bahamas.
(c) The animal must be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate
presented within 48 hours of arrival in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to
a licensed veterinarian for an examination.
The Permit Is Valid For One (1) Entry And Must Be Used Within One (1)
Year From The Date Of Issue.
Regulations for all other types of animals and relating to countries not mentioned
above may be obtained from the Director of Agriculture, P.O. Box N-3704,
Nassau, The Bahamas. Applications should state the kind of animal, breed, age,
sex, and country of embarkation. Additional information may be required if, for
example, the animal or animal produce is listed under the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Plants and Animals (CITES).
Customs Duty for permanent entry of all animals from outside the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas (dogs, cats, cattle and horses) are $10 plus
1/2% of the value of the animal. Yearly fees for dog licenses in New Providence,
Grand Bahama and the Family Islands are: male or spayed female, $2;
unspayed female $6.
Animals not meeting these requirements will not be allowed to enter the
Commonwealth of The Bahamas.