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do you have to get a new permit every crossing or is it good for 6mon or a year?
Bahamas Cruiser permit
- Thread starter jmeirhofer
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I think it's 6 months. If I remember correctly, they've got some tax crud that kicks in after that. But the permit is easy enough. It's issued when you check in, which I believe you have to do each visit that you step on land.
We'll see if I'm right when Dan, Pascal, Bob, and others reply.
We'll see if I'm right when Dan, Pascal, Bob, and others reply.
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thanks for the quick answer. Is there a charge each time you check in or just when you purchase the permit?
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From ... Bahamas.gov.bs:
c. Cruising permit (Form C39) issued by Customs after clearance
(a) A pleasure vessel arriving in The Bahamas shall be subject to a fee of One Hundred ($150.00) Dollars up to 35 feet and three hundred ($300) dollars for vessels more than 35 feet. If the vessel depart and returns within a 90 day, it is exempted from payments of fees. This fee is to cover the cost of a Fishing Permit, a Cruising Permit, Attendance Fee and transportation fees payable to a Customs and Immigration Department.
(b) Where a pleasure vessel under paragraph one (1) carries more than four passengers, every additional passenger of or above the age of six (6) years, who is not a resident of the Bahamas, shall be subject to a tax of $15.00 as specified under The Passenger Tax Act.
The Owner/Master of a pleasure vessel after completion of the necessary arrival document is issued with a Temporary Cruising Permit (Form C-39) for twelve (12) months, initially. After the twelve (12) month period, the Comptroller, on application, can subsequently renew the Cruising Permit for a fee of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars each year up to two (2) years, making a period of stay in The Bahamas, three (3) years in total. At the end of the (3) year period the vessel must leave the Bahamas or be duty paid.
No Customs clearance is required for vessels under this category when leaving for the United States. However the master of the vessel is required to return the Cruising Permit form C39 and Immigration cards by mail to (Comptroller of Customs P.O. Box N-155 Nassau, Bahamas).
c. Cruising permit (Form C39) issued by Customs after clearance
(a) A pleasure vessel arriving in The Bahamas shall be subject to a fee of One Hundred ($150.00) Dollars up to 35 feet and three hundred ($300) dollars for vessels more than 35 feet. If the vessel depart and returns within a 90 day, it is exempted from payments of fees. This fee is to cover the cost of a Fishing Permit, a Cruising Permit, Attendance Fee and transportation fees payable to a Customs and Immigration Department.
(b) Where a pleasure vessel under paragraph one (1) carries more than four passengers, every additional passenger of or above the age of six (6) years, who is not a resident of the Bahamas, shall be subject to a tax of $15.00 as specified under The Passenger Tax Act.
The Owner/Master of a pleasure vessel after completion of the necessary arrival document is issued with a Temporary Cruising Permit (Form C-39) for twelve (12) months, initially. After the twelve (12) month period, the Comptroller, on application, can subsequently renew the Cruising Permit for a fee of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars each year up to two (2) years, making a period of stay in The Bahamas, three (3) years in total. At the end of the (3) year period the vessel must leave the Bahamas or be duty paid.
No Customs clearance is required for vessels under this category when leaving for the United States. However the master of the vessel is required to return the Cruising Permit form C39 and Immigration cards by mail to (Comptroller of Customs P.O. Box N-155 Nassau, Bahamas).
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Woops! I don't think I've ever returned anything after departing. Oh well, they keep letting me back in at least.
I tried using the "photocopy" setting on my new underwater camera the last time I checked in to capture just how "interesting" the Bahamian customs forms are. I'll see how they turned out and try to post. I think it took me 3 tries before I could finally fill the forms out correctly
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Bill - Thanks. I had read that but it also said it was effective November 2003 so I did not know if that was still valid.
Capt. Bill1
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Just when you buy the permit. You also get your fishing license included in that fee.
sabrejocky
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I have friend who keeps his boats in the Bahamas and he told me you can get a cruising permit for a year that is renewable 2x, so 3 years total and than you have leave but you can come right back and do an other 3 years.
Cor
Cor
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The fees were recently changed. Out last trip they tried to increase it on us, but the gov't ended up delaying it until there was additional notice.
The following was on the Bahamas chatter website this week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Customs Duty for Keeping Boats in the Bahamas
Posted: 01 Sep 2010 01:17 PM PDT
Customs duty changes: To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently, there is now a 10% duty for any size vessel. The former fees were 27% for vessels under 30 feet and 6%, over 30 feet. Another change is in the clearing-in fees: Currently, only 3 persons (over 6 years old), rather than the former 4 persons, are covered under the entry fee of $150 (for vessels under 35 feet) or $300 (for vessels over 35 feet). An additional $20 (formerly $15) is due for each additional person, and the new departure tax has also been increased to $20 (formerly $15).
Ken
The following was on the Bahamas chatter website this week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Customs Duty for Keeping Boats in the Bahamas
Posted: 01 Sep 2010 01:17 PM PDT
Customs duty changes: To leave your boat in the Bahamas permanently, there is now a 10% duty for any size vessel. The former fees were 27% for vessels under 30 feet and 6%, over 30 feet. Another change is in the clearing-in fees: Currently, only 3 persons (over 6 years old), rather than the former 4 persons, are covered under the entry fee of $150 (for vessels under 35 feet) or $300 (for vessels over 35 feet). An additional $20 (formerly $15) is due for each additional person, and the new departure tax has also been increased to $20 (formerly $15).
Ken