Bringing your pet to the Bahamas
You may bring your pet into The Islands of the Bahamas, but you need to make preparations before your departure. An import permit is required from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry (Nassau), for all animals being brought into 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
PO Box N-3704, Nassau
The Bahamas.
For more information, call 242-325-7502 or 242-325-7509.
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 checks are accepted.
- For the U.S. and Canada, the following are the main provisions of the import permit as it applies to dogs and cats:
- The animal must be six months of age, or older.
- The animal must be accompanied by a valid certificate which substanciates that it has been vaccinated against rabies within not less than 1 month and not more than 10 months prior to importation for the 1 year vaccine. For the 3 year vaccine, it must be within no less than 1 month and no more than 34 months prior to importation into The Bahamas.
- 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 1 entry and must be used within 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, PO Box N-3704, Nassau, The Bahamas.
Applications should state the kind of animal, breed, sex, age, 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) is $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 $2 for males or spayed females and $6 for unspayed females.
Animals not meeting these requirements will not be allowed to enter the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Quarantine Information:
There are no quarantine requirements for dogs traveling to The Bahamas.
Click to view the bahamas pet import application