New York is America’s most-populous city, and its metropolitan area has over 20 million people. New York City contains the five boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx. The New York metropolitan area includes New York City, Long Island, and the Mid and Lower Hudson Valley. It also includes several large cities in New Jersey such as Newark, Edison, Elizabeth, Paterson, Jersey City, and Hoboken, along with cities in Connecticut that include New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford. New York is one of the most important economic regions in the world and has the highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the United States. New York is considered “Capital of the World”, not only due to its economic power, but also because it is a center of diplomacy and culture. The city is home to the United Nations and there are over 800 languages spoken here. The island nation of The Bahamas is represented at the United Nations, and their government also has a consulate and tourism office located in New York. There are several thousand Bahamian people living in New York and the city is home to the Bahamian American Association. New York’s three major airports have direct flights to The Bahamas and cruise lines operate itineraries from Cape Liberty Port.
Where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, visitors from around the world flock to the powder-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The former British colony is comprised of more than 700 islands plus 2,000 small cays and islets. The tropical paradise features natural beauty alongside five-star resorts, duty-free shopping, Caribbean dining, casinos, and glamorous entertainment venues. Just 50 miles off the coast of Florida at their nearest point, The Bahamas are the perfect destination for New Yorkers arriving by cruise ship, private boat, or airplane to enjoy world-class boating, sailing, diving, snorkeling, and deep-sea fishing. Most tourists from New York visit the capital city of Nassau on New Providence and Paradise islands. The former British colonial capital is known for its cruise ship port; luxury resorts like Atlantis Paradise Island; historic sites; 17 beaches; and traditional pastel-colored British colonial buildings such as the pink Government House. Top attractions include Parliament Square, Fort Charlotte, Primeval Forest National Park, Salt Cay/Blue Lagoon, the Nassau Straw Market, and Aquaventure Water Park.
The country’s second-largest tourist draw is Grand Bahamas, the northernmost island and the third largest. The capital city of West End was a rum-running port during Prohibition. However, the island’s main city is Freeport, the second largest city in the nation. Tourism centers on nearby Lucaya, with its beachside hotels, the Port Lucaya Marketplace, and UNEXSO, the world’s first destination dive charter business. The areas outside the main urban centers are known as the Out Islands. The three islands of Bimini – legendary site of the Fountain of Youth – were a favorite deep-sea fishing basecamp for Ernest Hemingway. Today it draws scuba divers to the Bimini Wall in the Gulf Stream and the historic 300-foot-long Stones of Atlantic rock formation. The Abacos and Exuma islands provide world-class boating and sailing opportunities. Treasure Cay Beach on Great Abaco often ranks among the most world’s most beautiful beaches. Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park was also the first no-take-zone and marine protected area in the Caribbean. Andros Island, home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, is considered the bonefishing capital of the world. For quiet relaxation, destinations like Green Turtle Cay recall Old Bahama with small shops, pastel cottages, and working fishing boats.
Travel Health Visas Required for All Visitors
In recent years, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas has limited international travel to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. In 2020, it introduced The Bahamas Travel Health Visa for all international visitors– even those who are not required to obtain a traditional visa. Also known as The Bahamas Travel Health Card, the BTHV can be obtained by creating an online profile (https://travel.gov.bs/login), filling out a brief form describing their trip, and submitting it for government approval. Minor children (less than age 18) must also have a profile on the BTHV account belonging to their parent or guardian.
Fully vaccinated travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 test result to the portal, as well as proof that they have passed the two-week immunity waiting period following their last shot. Unvaccinated travelers ages 12 and up are also required to upload favorable COVID-19 test results.
The BTHV fee is $40 for U.S. and Canadian citizens who have been vaccinated using an approved vaccine, and $50 for vaccinated visitors from other countries. The fee includes one month’s COVID-19 health insurance. The turnaround time for the online application is 48 hours.
Although the pandemic had generally eased by early 2022, further changes in COVID-19 rules remain possible for the foreseeable future. Currently both vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers must also present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before their arrival in The Bahamas. The most current testing requirement, lists of approved vaccines, and other BTHV information can be found at https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates.
Obtaining a Bahamas Visitor Visa in New York
Travelers from the United States and Canada are only required to present a passport valid for at least three months to enter The Bahamas (in addition to the BTHV). U.S. and Canadian visitors can stay up to eight months before they must obtain a standard visitor visa. U.S. resident non-citizens holding an Alien Registration Card (Green Card) and a national passport can also stay up to 30 days without a visa. Country-specific details about documentation, visa requirements, and lengths of stay are at https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
Most visitors are not required to obtain special vaccinations to visit The Bahamas. However, those arriving from certain countries in Latin America and Africa that have a high risk of yellow fever must be vaccinated at least 10 days before arrival. The full list of countries covered by yellow fever requirements is available via The Bahamas Tourism Center website at https://www.bahamas.com/plan-your-trip/island-faq/visa-immigration.
The most common type of visa is the self-sponsored visa. The fee to apply for a visa without biometric data features is $100 for a single entry; $110 for multiple visits during one year; or $500 for multiple visits spanning three years. When applying for a visa with biometric data and features, the fees are $160 for a single visit; $250 for multiple visits over one year; and $500 for three years (these fees are in addition to the travel health card noted above). The current visa fee schedule can be found at https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/f87e2c8a-a3ea-42b5-82b0-1d17a453fc6f/VISA+FEES.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
To obtain a Bahamas visa through the traditional method, you must first complete an application at BHS-eVISA-appForm-2v1-200312-1-pdf-master-ldr.pdf (mofa.gov.bs). You must then appear in person at the Bahamian consulate in New York with your completed application and the necessary supporting documentation (by appointment only). Required documentation includes:
Here is the address of the consulate located in Midtown Manhattan:
The Bahamas Consulate General
231 E 46 th Street
New York, NY 10017
Electronic visas can also be obtained by visitors from certain countries. The e-VISA process requires you to upload PDF versions of the documents above, and the fees are the same as those listed previously. Eligible countries and other details about the e-VISA program are available at https://mofa.gov.bs/evisa-online-services.
We Can Help if You Need Assistance
If you live in New York City or anywhere in the state of New York or New Jersey and have difficulty applying for a Bahamas visa or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company. We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Bahamas visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of The Bahamas. Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.
We provide the following Bahamas visa and travel services for our customers in New York:
