The Bahamas allows visa-free entry for citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European Union member states for stays up to 90 days. Travelers from these countries need only a valid passport with at least six months remaining validity beyond the intended departure date. Citizens of other nations should verify requirements through the official Bahamas government immigration portal at bahamas.gov.bs before booking travel. All arriving passengers must complete an online Travel Health Visa regardless of nationality, a digital form instituted during the COVID-19 period that has remained in effect. The process takes approximately 10 minutes and requires uploading passport information and contact details for accommodation in the Bahamas.
Cruise passengers disembarking temporarily in Nassau do not require visas for shore visits under 24 hours but must carry their passport or other approved travel document when leaving the ship. Extensions beyond the initial 90-day period require application through the Department of Immigration in Nassau on Parliament Street and involve a fee of 100 Bahamian dollars plus supporting documentation justifying the extended stay. Overstaying the authorized period results in fines beginning at 500 Bahamian dollars and potential detention before deportation proceedings.
Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) in Nassau on New Providence handles approximately 3.5 million passengers annually and serves as the primary international gateway. The airport has two terminals, with the main US Departures Terminal opening in 2019 as part of a 409 million dollar renovation project. Direct flights operate from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Toronto, and London. Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport processes roughly 1 million passengers per year with regular service from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and seasonal routes from several northeastern US cities.
Family Island airports on Great Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, and other inhabited islands handle inter-island traffic primarily through Bahamasair and regional carriers like Sky Bahamas and Southern Air Charter. These facilities typically consist of single runways with minimal terminal buildings. Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco was the third-busiest before Hurricane Dorian in 2019 caused extensive damage; reconstruction efforts have restored limited commercial service as of 2023. Many private islands maintain their own airstrips accessible only via chartered flights.
The Bahamian dollar (BSD) maintains a fixed one-to-one parity with the United States dollar, established in 1973 at independence. US dollars are accepted universally throughout the islands without exchange requirements, though change may be given in Bahamian currency. Bills circulate in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars. Coins exist in 1, 5, 10, 15, and 25 cent pieces. The 15-cent coin is unique to the Bahamas.
ATMs are widely available in Nassau and Freeport through Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, FirstCaribbean International Bank, and Commonwealth Bank. These machines dispense both US and Bahamian dollars depending on the institution. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 500 to 1,000 dollars. On Family Islands, ATM availability becomes sparse; Marsh Harbour, George Town, and Governor's Harbour have machines, but smaller settlements may lack any banking infrastructure. Travelers should arrive on outer islands with sufficient cash. Credit cards are accepted at hotels, major restaurants, and tour operators in Nassau and Freeport, but cash remains essential for local vendors, taxi drivers, and smaller establishments. Visa and Mastercard have broader acceptance than American Express or Discover.
Bank branches maintain limited hours, typically 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Friday. No banks open Saturday or Sunday. Currency exchange services at LPIA operate during all flight arrivals. The Central Bank of the Bahamas regulates all financial institutions from its headquarters on Frederick Street in Nassau.
Hotel rates in Nassau range from 120 to 300 dollars per night for mid-range properties, with luxury resorts on Cable Beach and Paradise Island charging 400 to 1,200 dollars. Family Island accommodation costs 150 to 400 dollars nightly for standard hotels and guesthouses. All-inclusive resorts, concentrated on Paradise Island and Grand Bahama, run 300 to 800 dollars per person per night. A 10 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) applies to all hotel bills, with an additional 6 to 12 percent resort fee common at larger properties. These fees are quoted separately from the base room rate.