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Bahamas (BS)

An English-speaking Caribbean archipelago close to Florida, known for high-end tourism, no personal income tax, strong financial services, second-home communities, turquoise water and very high island living costs.

Capital: Nassau
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: BSD ($)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 75)
Emergency: 911
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Bringing Pets to Bahamas

Requirements, costs and process for relocating with your pets.

Microchip
Required
Health certificate
Required
Import permit
Required
Quarantine
Not required

Vaccinations

Rabies — primary vaccination 30 days to 10 months before entry; booster must precede expiry of previous vaccination Dogs: distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), leptospirosis, parvovirus Cats: panleukopenia, feline leukemia, calicivirus, pneumonitis (chlamydiosis), viral rhinotracheitis Parasite treatment for internal and external parasites required before travel (treatment records required)

Restricted Breeds

Pit Bull Terrier types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier)Presa CanarioCane CorsoAmerican Bulldog (where classified as a prohibited type)Cats: Savannah, Chausie, and Bengal (unless 5+ generations removed from wild pedigree)Pets from Cuba or Haiti are not permitted entry.

💰 Costs

Import permit fee: USD $10 + 12% VAT = USD $11.20. Government-endorsed health certificate (from origin country vet): USD 50–200. Airline cargo fee: USD 100–500+ depending on airline, route, and size. Agent and crate: USD 200–600+. Budget BSD 1,000–5,000+ per pet total.

🐕 Dog Tax / Registration

No national annual dog registration tax. Licence requirements, HOA, condo, marina, and landlord rules may apply. Dogs staying 28+ days must be licensed.

Register with a Nassau, Freeport, or local island veterinary clinic as soon as possible after arrival. Emergency veterinary access on Family Islands can be very limited — identify the nearest 24-hour option before you need it.

📋 Relocation Process

1. Implant ISO 11784/11785 microchip. 2. Complete vaccinations: rabies (primary 30 days–10 months before entry), dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus; cats: panleukopenia, leukemia, calicivirus, pneumonitis, rhinotracheitis. 3. Apply for import permit from the Bahamas Department of Agriculture at least 4–6 weeks before travel — processing can take 6–8 weeks without expedited service. 4. Obtain the official health certificate from a licensed vet in your origin country — CRITICAL: the certificate must be dated within 48 hours of embarkation (not 10 days — this is a strict Bahamas-specific requirement). Have it endorsed by your country's government veterinary authority. 5. Dogs and cats must be at least 6 months old to enter. 6. Book airline cargo — verify the carrier accepts pets on your specific route. 7. On arrival, present all documents to the Department of Agriculture inspection officer. 8. Resident owners or repeat visitors: dogs must be licensed within 48 hours if staying 28+ days or making multiple entries.

Never arrive with a pet without an approved import permit — the permit must accompany the animal at entry. Pets from Cuba or Haiti are prohibited. Hurricane evacuation planning must include confirmed pet-friendly transport and accommodation. The 48-hour health certificate window is strictly enforced and unusually short — plan accordingly.