Understanding the New Bahamas Cruising Permit Fees

There’s been a lot of confusion lately about the Bahamas Cruising Permit fees, which changed in July of 2025, and again in April 2026. A few readers have asked for clarification, so let’s take a look.

Like many countries that are frequented by foreign pleasure vessels, The Bahamas has long had a cruising permit program. The permits serve as part of customs and border patrol, enabling authorities to monitor the entry and exit of foreign vessels, and ensure compliance with immigration and customs rules. Permit fees help defray some of the infrastructure and operational costs associated with foreign cruising vessels and their passengers.

For quite some time, according to the Association of Bahamas Marinas, the Bahamas cruising permit fees were as follows:

Permit Duration	Boat Size
	Up to 34’	35-99’	100-149’	150-200’	200+’
3 months	$150	$300	$500	$800	$1000
12 months	$300	$500	$800-$1000

This fee included your cruising permit, a fishing permit, anchorage if you chose to forego a marina, and passenger departure tax for up to three people. Any passengers in addition to the three covered by the permit would be charged departure tax of $20 per person.

In July 2025, however, the Bahamian government undertook a major overhaul of the cruising permit program and fee structure. Changes were as follows:

July 2025 Changes to Bahamas Cruising Permit Program

1. Increase in Cruising Permit Fees

Cruising permit fees increased to:

Permit duration was 12 months, as long as the vessel remained in Bahamian waters. Each permit allowed for two re-entries. As before, the cruising permit included passenger departure tax for up to three people.

2. Passenger Departure Tax Increased

Every passenger over 6 years of age in excess of the three covered by the cruising permit would now be charged a passenger departure tax of $30, a $10 increase per passenger.

3. Fishing Permit Separated Out

The new cruising permit fee structure no longer included a fishing permit. These had to be purchased separately at the following rates:

Whereas the cruising permits were for a 12-month period, fishing permits were only available for 30 days. If you wanted to fish for a longer period, you’d have to renew the permit each month.

4. Anchorage Fee Implemented

Vessels that weren’t going to be staying at a marina would be assessed anchorage fees as follows.

The anchorage permit was valid for 12 months.

5. AIS Requirement

All foreign vessels greater than 50 feet that were docked or anchored in the Bahamas, or traversing Bahamian waters were required to be equipped with a properly functioning Automatic Identification System (AIS) that it is turned on at all times.

6. Tender Fee

All tenders exceeding 25 feet would be subject to a fee of $500 per vessel.

7. Frequent Digital Cruising Card Introduced

For visitors who frequent Bahamian waters, a Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) was offered. The FDCC allowed unlimited entries for two years, though you are still required to clear customs each time.

Note that the FDCC covered the cruising permit only. Fishing and anchorage permits were required to be purchased separately.

The Government’s Rationale

In announcing these changes, the government indicated they were intended to help increase maritime safety, to protect marine environments, to fund conservation efforts and add revenue for national development.

It makes some sense. Thousands of foreign vessels vacation in Bahamian waters every year, and they can potentially impact both our infrastructure and ecology. It would be helpful for administrators to know not just how many foreign boats were in our waters, but how many were engaging in fishing, or anchoring in potentially sensitive areas like national parks.

Still, the feedback from boaters, marine operators and related businesses was immediately — and almost unanimously — negative. Separating out the fees meant more paperwork and a more complicated application process.

Furthermore, the fee structure significantly increased boating fees, and it simply didn’t align with real-world usage.

How many cruisers come to stay in Bahamian waters for an entire year? While a $500 cruising permit fee might be reasonable for 12 months, it’s a lot to spend on a two-week visit. Yet the new structure offered no options for shorter-term visits.

It soon became clear that these changes to the cruising permit structure would result in a significant reduction in cruising traffic, and ultimately, revenue, for our marinas, marine-related businesses, and the broader Bahamian tourist industry.

Revised Cruising Permit Fee Structure Announced in April 2026

Thankfully, it appears the government heard and took the negative feedback to heart. On April 1, 2026, a revised cruising fee structure was announced.

1. Shorter Permit Options Introduced

Though the 12-month cruising permit rates remained as they were, new 6-month and 30-day permit options were introduced. The new and current fee structure is as follows:

2. Passenger Departure Tax Increased

As previously, each passenger over 6 years of age in excess of the three covered by the cruising permit will now be assessed a departure tax of $30.

3. Fishing Permits Remain Separate

Fishing permits remained separate, and are as follows:

Remember that fishing permits are only available for 30 days. For longer permits, you must renew. I understand renewals can be processed online.

4. Anchorage Fees Remain in Place

Anchorage fees remained in place, but again, are now available in shorter durations. They are as follows.

5. Frequent Digital Cruising Card

The FDCC card conditions and fees remain the same. Anchorage and fishing permits must be purchased separately.

6. Tender Fee

This, too, remains the same. All tenders exceeding 25 feet are subject to a fee of $500 per vessel.

7. AIS Requirement

No changes were made to this requirement. Foreign vessels greater than 50 feet that are docked or anchored in the Bahamas, or traversing Bahamian must have a functioning Automatic Identification System (AIS) that it is turned on at all times.

Comparison of Fees

On their website, the Association of Bahamas Marinas has compiled a great graphic, comparing the changes from pre-July 2025 to July 2025 and then April 2026.

Out of curiosity, I did some math to compare the cruising fee costs pre-2025, after the 2025 changes and after the most recent changes.

In doing this, I assumed three different scenarios:  

1. A family of 4 (all 6+ years old) on a 30’ vessel visiting for two weeks
2. A couple on a 45’ vessel visiting for the winter (i.e. 6 months)
3. A group of 12 (including passengers and crew) on a 110’ yacht, visiting for a month

Under the new Bahamas Cruising Fee guidelines, fishing and anchorage permits are discretionary. However, for the sake of comparing apples to apples, I’ve assumed all vessels in these examples would want fishing and anchorage permits for their entire stays, since these items were included in the pre-2025 rate structure.

Scenario 1: Family of 4 | 30′ Vessel | 14 Days

Pre-2025: This family would have paid $150 for a cruising permit, which would have included fishing license and anchorage fee, and departure tax for 3 people. They would also have paid $20 in passenger departure tax for the fourth person. Total: $170.

As of July 2025: They would pay $500 for the basic 12-month cruising permit, $100 for a 30-day fishing permit, and $30 departure tax for the fourth passenger. If they wanted the option of anchoring, they’d pay another $200. Total: $830.

(Of course, they had the option to forego fishing or anchorage permits, which would reduce balance owing to $530.)

As of April 2026: They’d pay $150 for a 30-day cruising permit, $100 for a 30-day fishing permit, $50 for anchorage permit and $30 for the fourth passenger’s departure tax. Total: $330. (Again, they could choose to forego fishing and anchorage, which would bring them to $180.)   

Scenario 2: Couple | 45-foot Vessel | 6 Months

Pre-2025: This couple would have paid $500 for a year-long cruising permit, which again would have included cruising fee, fishing license fee and anchorage permit. Total: $500.

As of July 2025: They would pay $500 for 12-month cruising permit, a $100 fishing permit fee for each 30-day period ($600), and anchorage fees of $200. Total: $1,300. (Of course, they could choose not to anchor or fish at all, which would have reduced fees to $500.)  

As of April 2026: The couple would pay $300 for a six-month cruising permit, $600 for 6 months of 30-day fishing permits, and anchorage fees of $150. Total: $1,050. (If they chose to forego fishing and anchorage fees, their total cost would be $300.)

Scenario 3: Group of 12 | 110′ Yacht | 30 Days

Pre-2025: This group would have paid $500 for a 3-month cruising permit, plus $180 ($20 x 9 additional people) in passenger departure tax. Total: $680.

As of July 2025: They would pay $3,000 for a 12-month cruising permit, plus $300 for a 30-day fishing permit and $1,500 for anchorage. They would also pay $270 ($30 x 9) for the additional passengers’ departure tax. Total: $5,070. (If they chose to forego fishing and anchorage, their total cost would have been $3,270.)

As of April 2026: The group would pay $600 for 30-day cruising permit, $300 for a 30-day fishing permit, $200 for anchorage and $270 ($30 x 9) for departure fees for extra passengers. Total: $1,370. (Without anchorage and fishing permit, total would be $870.)

What’s Different?

Though the new April 2026 rate structure still represents an increase over pre-2025 rates, most vessels will pay less than they would have under the July 2025 structure — some, significantly so.

As of April 2026, permit costs are more closely tied to real-world scenarios, taking into account vessel size, duration of stay, number of passengers and the activities in which they partake.

Cruisers also have the ability to reduce fees by opting not to fish or use anchorages. This represents more of a user-pay model, where vessels pay fees in proportion to the number of resources they and their passengers potentially impact.

Under this new system, the government will have access to much more detailed data related to cruising in the Bahamas. They will more accurately be able to track, for example, how many people are fishing in our waters, which can help with resource management. And knowing how many people are anchoring out rather than staying at marinas can help with maintaining and protecting our national parks and other anchorages.

Hopefully, the Bahamian government will put this newly available data and increased revenue to effective use to keep our waters and beaches protected for future generations of Bahamians and visitors.

Learn More

Please note that the above rates and calculations are estimates for informational purposes only. Actual fees may vary, and will be determined by Bahamian customs officials at the time of purchase of cruising permits and/or entry.

For more information, or to arrange your cruising permit and related paperwork, visit the Bahamas Customs’ Click 2 Clear Information Page.