The Bahamas is one of the most visited, desired places around the world. These islands (Over 700 islands that make up the Bahamas) amaze thousands of visitors every year. Islands are considered to be ideal places for vacation or summer holidays with their pink beaches, crystal waters. You read it right. Pink beaches are highly common in these islands. It stands to a reason that the Bahamas is called holiday heaven as it offers many exciting touristic activities such as scuba diving, excursions, most luxurious hotels, etc. More interestingly, it is not limited to beaches and hotels, the country has its own unique culture and cuisine. Here you can taste national foods that are rich in various spices. As the country had witnessed foreign interferences such as arrivals of Spanish, English with many Africans. Now all differences are set aside, and a nation is established from these differences, and this is the main factor that makes the Bahamas so attractive to visitors. You can enjoy festivals that gather all people from different cultural backgrounds. Unfortunately, we have to make the information on the touristic places of Bahamas short and move on to the main topic. If you wish to learn more about the Bahamas, you are welcome to search it on Pickvisa.com, as it has great travel blogs regarding the Bahamas and many others. For this article, we will look at visa-related issues such as Bahamas visa requirements, Bahamas travel visa, Bahamas visa application, Bahamas work visa, Bahamas health visa, etc.
Bahamas Visa Policy
Bahamas visa policy can vary depending on the mutual relations countries have. In general, there are two types of countries according to their visa status for the Bahamas, and they are visa-required countries and visa-exempt countries. You can check to see which group your country is in on Pickvisa.com. There are many types of visas for the Bahamas, and they are categorized under two main categories. They are short-term visas and long-term visas. You might be wondering how to get Bahamas visa? In most cases, to acquire a visa, you attend an embassy, but for the Bahamas, there is another option that many find to be more convenient, and it is called Bahamas Electronic Entry Visa (EEV).
Bear in mind that you can attend the Bahamas embassies for short-term travels such as Bahamas travel visa, Bahamas tourism visa, etc. As for requirements, you need to meet the requirements and present the following documents to the nearest Bahamas embassy:
Bahamas visa application form filled out in English. It should bear the signature of the applicant and the date that it was completed.
A passport, which should remain for at least six months after the applicant’s departure from the Bahamas. It should possess the signature of the applicant. It should not be older than 10 years. It should have a minimum of one or two pages that are not issued yet. Pictures of the applicant should be affixed to the passport.
A photo that is taken recently or taken not more than 6 months before. It should show a frontal view and cover the face, which takes 70-80% of the photo. The background should be light-colored. The size of the photo should be 2x2. The photo should demonstrate clear facial features.
Copy of national ID
If the country you reside in and the country you are a national of is different, then a residency permit or visa should be presented.
Booking for flight itinerary. Documents proving the accommodation during the trip. It can be hotel booking, an invitation from the host, etc.
Documents that show the nature of the applicant’s travel. If you are planning to visit the Bahamas for leisure purposes, you can apply for A self-sponsored Visitor Visa. To do that, you must present the following. A document or letter proving the employment. Note that it can not be older than 6 months. The original bank reference letter covering at least 6 months. Report from the police for last 6 months. Medical certificate for the last 6 months. Address details of your planned accommodation in the Bahamas. Travel itinerary. If you are invited to a conference, invitation letter.
If you are applying for a seaman’s visa, which is given to vessels’ crew members, entering the Bahamas for temporarily commercial purposes, you need to present a report from the police for the last 6 months and a medical certificate for the last 6 months. Furthermore, proof that ship or boat is registered or owned by the person. A permit processed by Bahamas customs, allowing temporary entry and visit, is required as well. Fees for dockage set by the Bahamas Port Department should be paid.
To apply for a diplomatic visa, you need to present an official invitation letter and a verbal given by the official mission.
For minors to apply for a visa, they need to present their birth certificates translated into English and a letter indicating parents’ approval for the travel.
Almost the same requirements are set for long-term visas. However, there can be some additional documents requested depending on the type of visas. To give you a better idea, we will cover the required additional documents for the Bahamas work visa. To get the visa, you need to fill out the application form first. Then a letter from the possible employer in the Bahamas, stating his/her reasons for the job offer. A medical certificate showing the applicant is in good health—written references from former employers and etc. To get more info, it is advised to contact the nearest Bahamas embassy.
When considering to travel the Bahamas, one should be familiar with the Bahamas health visa. You might be asking, what is that? Well, because of the pandemic, Bahamas health visa application was created to ensure that travelers who visit the country are in good health. Everyone over the age of 18 should have a Bahamas health visa. To do that, the applicants should fill out the Bahamas health visa application form and a present negative result from Covid 19 test.
Bahamas Electronic Entry Visa
Nationals of countries that are obliged to have a visa to visit the Bahamas are also entitled to apply for the Bahamas Electronic Entry Visa. How to get Bahamas visa using online system? It is an easy process. You need to present the required documents to the online portal. They have to make an appointment for an interview at their selected visa office.
Bahamas visa application form filled out in English.
A passport, which should remain for at least six months after the applicant departs from the Bahamas. It should possess the signature of the applicant. It should not be older than 10 years. It should have a minimum of one or two pages that are not issued yet. Pictures of the applicant should be affixed to the passport.
A photo that is taken recently or taken not more than 6 months before. It should show a frontal view and cover the face which takes 70-80% of the photo. The background should be light-colored. The size of the photo should be 2x2. The photo should demonstrate clear facial features.
Copy of national ID
If the country you reside in and the country you are a national of is different, then a residency permit or visa should be presented.
Booking for flight itinerary. Documents proving the accommodation during the trip. It can be hotel booking, an invitation from the host, etc.
Documents that show the nature of the applicant’s travel. If you are planning to visit the Bahamas for leisure purposes, you can apply for A self-sponsored Visitor Visa. To do that, you must present the following. A document or letter proving the employment. Note that it can not be older than 6 months. The original bank reference letter covering at least 6 months. Report from the police for last 6 months. Medical certificate for the last 6 months. Address details of your planned accommodation in the Bahamas. Travel itinerary. If you are invited to a conference, invitation letter.
If you are applying for a seaman’s visa, which is given to vessels’ crew members, entering the Bahamas for temporarily commercial purposes, you need to present a report from the police for the last 6 months and a medical certificate for the last 6 months. Furthermore, proof that ship or boat is registered or owned by the person. A permit processed by Bahamas customs, allowing temporary entry and visit, is required as well. Fees for dockage set by the Bahamas Port Department should be paid.
To apply for a diplomatic visa, you need to present an official invitation letter and a verbal given by the official mission.
For minors to apply for a visa, they need to present their birth certificates translated into English and a letter indicating parents’ approval for the travel.
Fees can change depending on the type of visas, nationality of the applicant, and entry types (single, multiple).
