Bahamas Cruising Fees Increasing July 1st, 2025

[-Waypoint-]

In case anyone planning on a trip to the Bahamas. Starting July 1st, 2025 it will cost $800 USD total, for a cruising permit, anchor permit, and fishing permit.
For any boat under 35 ft. Below is pasted from the new amended Bahamian Law book for your reading enjoyment!

“ 89B. Frequent Digital Cruising Card for pleasure vessel.
(1) The Comptroller may issue a Frequent Digital Cruising Card
(FDCC) for the following purposes ––
(a) submission and processing of an application made under
regulations 90, 91(3), (5) and (6), 91B and 92;
(b) the requirements for pleasure vessels issued with a FDCC
include the following ––
(i) the vessel must report to the Customs authority upon
each entry for clearance;
(ii) upon approval, the vessel shall be issued a Pleasure
Craft Request (PCR) number that shall be used for all
subsequent voyages;
(iii) all applicable fees must be paid;
(iv) the vessel's registration number shall be linked to the
FDCC;
(v) the FDCC shall permit unlimited visits for a period not
exceeding two years from the date of issuance.”.
(2) The FDCC shall be valid for two years.
(3) The fees for FDCC shall be, for a vessel ––
(a) not exceeding thirty-four feet in length, one thousand five
hundred dollars;
(b) exceeding thirty-four feet in length, but not exceeding one
hundred feet in length, two thousand five hundred dollars;
(c) exceeding one hundred feet in length, eight thousand
dollars.”.
(d) pay attendance fees payable in respect of attendance and travel
expenses by a Customs officers pursuant to regulation 7.

4. Amendment of regulation 91 of the principal Regulations.
Regulations 91 of the principal Regulation is amended ––
(1) A temporary cruising permit shall be issued on Form No. C39, on —
(a) approval of the application made under regulation 90(c); and
(b) payment of the fee specified under paragraph (2).
(2) The fee for a temporary cruising permit referred to under paragraph (1)
shall be, for a vessel ––
(a) not exceeding thirty-four feet in length, five hundred dollars for a
period not exceeding twelve months;
(b) exceeding thirty-four feet in length, but not exceeding one hundred
feet in length, one thousand dollars for a period not exceeding
twelve months;
(c) in excess of one hundred feet in length, three thousand dollars for a
period not exceeding twelve months.”;
(3) The fees referred to in paragraph (2) shall cover the costs of —
(a) a cruising permit under regulation 90(a);
(b) attendance fees payable in respect of attendance and travel expenses
by a Customs officer pursuant to regulation 7; and
(c) overtime and travel expenses in respect of the attendance of an
Immigration officer.
(4) Subparagraphs (a) to (c) of paragraph (2) shall not apply for ancillary
equipment being towed or on board a pleasure vessel excluding tenders
exceeding twenty-five feet in length.
(5) Where a pleasure vessel carries more than three passengers, every
additional passenger of or above the age of six years who is not an
ordinary resident of The Bahamas shall be subject to a tax of thirty dollars
as specified under the Passenger Tax Act.
(6) The fee for a tender vessel exceeding twenty-five feet shall be five
hundred dollars for a period not exceeding twelve months.
(7) The fees for a foreign pleasure vessel fishing permit shall be, for a
vessel —
(i) not exceeding thirty-four feet, one hundred dollars;
(ii) exceeding thirty-four feet, three hundred dollars.
(8) The fee for a pleasure vessel shall permit the vessel to enter The Bahamas
two times within a thirty-day period.”.

5. Insertion of new regulation 91B into the principal Regulations.
The principal Regulations are amended by the insertion, immediately after
regulation 91A, of the following new regulation 91B ––
“91B. Anchorage fees.
The anchorage fees for foreign pleasure vessels, not mooring at a marina,
shall be, for a vessel ––
(a) not exceeding thirty-four feet in length, two hundred dollars;
(b) exceeding thirty-four feet in length, but not exceeding one hundred
feet in length, three hundred and fifty dollars;
(c) exceeding one hundred feet in length, one thousand, five hundred
dollars.

 

[thataway]

There is a bit more to this--you can get a 2 year permit for not much more than a one year permit, and the two year permit allows unlimited entry.

Also there is a requirement for AIS transceiver. It may have been revoked for a vessel less than 50 feet. Below is the law passed:

40B, has been inserted into the principal Act in the new bill. This new section states that every foreign vessel that is in Bahamian waters shall at all times:

Be equipped with an automated identification system;
Ensure that the automated identification system is properly functioning; and
Ensure the automated identification system is turned on.
To avoid any doubt, the three points apply to foreign vessels that are docked in the Bahamas, traversing Bahamian waters, or passing through the Bahamas. The owner and master of a vessel that violates this new section commits an offense and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $1,000, according to the new bill.

 

[thataway]

There is a bit more to this--you can get a 2 year permit for not much more than a one year permit, and the two year permit allows unlimited entry.

Also there is a requirement for AIS transceiver. It may have been revoked for a vessel less than 50 feet. Apparently this is currently under discussion, but elow is the law passed:

40B, has been inserted into the principal Act in the new bill. This new section states that every foreign vessel that is in Bahamian waters shall at all times:

Be equipped with an automated identification system;
Ensure that the automated identification system is properly functioning; and
Ensure the automated identification system is turned on.
To avoid any doubt, the three points apply to foreign vessels that are docked in the Bahamas, traversing Bahamian waters, or passing through the Bahamas. The owner and master of a vessel that violates this new section commits an offense and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $1,000, according to the new bill.

 

[-Waypoint-]

UPDATES TO FEES

New Fee Structure as of April 1, 2026:



Temporary Cruising Permits for Pleasure Vessels

Regulation 91 of the principal Regulation is amended in the new bill, with changes to temporary cruising permit fees. The fees for pleasure vessels are as follows:



Up to 30 days

• Not exceeding 30 feet in length - $150
• For vessels 31- 50 feet in length - $250.
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $350.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $600.
• Vessels on a 30 cruising permit are NOT entitled to a free reentry.

Up to 6 months

• Not exceeding 50 feet in length - $300
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $750.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $2,000.
• Vessels on a 6 month cruising permit are entitled to ONE free reentry within the duration of the permit.

Up to 12 months

• Not exceeding 50 feet in length - $500
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $1,000.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $3,000.
• Vessels on a 12 month cruising permit are entitled to TWO free reentries within the duration of the permit.

These fees cover:

• Cruising permit under regulation 90(a)
• Attendance fees by a customs officer for attendance and travel expenses
• Overtime and travel expenses in respect of the attendance of an immigration officer.
• Entrance into The Bahamas twice within a 30 day period.

These fees will not apply for ancillary equipment being towed or on board a pleasure vessel, excluding tenders exceeding 25 feet in length. The fee for a tender vessel exceeding 25 feet will be $500 for a period not exceeding 12 months.

When a pleasure vessel carries more than three passengers, every additional passenger of or above the age of six and who is not an ordinary resident of the Bahamas will be subjected to a tax of $30.



Temporary Fishing Permits for Pleasure Vessels

Fishing Permits are no longer included in the Cruising Permit fee. Foreign pleasure vessel fishing permits fees:

• For vessels under 50 feet in length - $100.
• For vessels 50 feet in length and over - $300.

Fishing permits are only valid for 30 days, even if you possess a 12-month cruising permit. It is necessary to renew fishing permits every 30 days.



Anchorage Fees

Anchorage fees for foreign vessels, not mooring at a marina, have been amended in a new regulation 91B.



Up to 30 days

• Not exceeding 30 feet in length - $50
• For vessels 31 to 100 feet in length - $100.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $200.

Up to 6 months

• Not exceeding 50 feet in length - $150
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $350.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $1,000.

Up to 12 months

• Not exceeding 50 feet in length - $200
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $350.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $1,500.

On the FDCC Permit

• Not exceeding 50 feet in length - $200
• For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length - $350.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $1,500.
• Anchorage fees are valid for two years.

Frequent Digital Cruising Card for Pleasure Vessels (FDCC)

Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) are now available allowing unlimited visits for up to two years.

• For vessels under 50 feet in length - $1,500.
• For vessels 50 to 99 feet in length - $2,500.
• For vessels over 100 feet in length - $8,000.

These fees do NOT cover

• Attendance fees by a customs officer for attendance and travel expenses
• Overtime and travel expenses in respect of the attendance of an immigration officer.

If you travel to The Bahamas by boat more than three times each year, then the Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) may very well end up a total cost that is lower for you than before the cruising and fishing permit changed in July of 2025 by allowing unlimited entries for two years.

AIS

A new regulation, 40B, has been inserted into the principal Act in the new bill. This new section states that every foreign vessel OVER 50 feet in length that is in Bahamian waters shall at all times:

• Be equipped with an automated identification system;
• Ensure that the automated identification system is properly functioning; and
• Ensure the automated identification system is turned on.

To avoid any doubt, the three points apply to foreign vessels that are docked in the Bahamas, traversing Bahamian waters, or passing through the Bahamas. The owner and master of a vessel that violates this new section commits an offense and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $1,000, according to the new bill.