Bahamas Changes Cruising Permits - Again

If you've been following the back-and-forth on Bahamas cruising permits over the past year, you're not alone. The Bahamian government rolled out a major fee overhaul in July 2025 that had a lot of boaters (myself included) raising eyebrows. After months of pushback from the boating community, they've just implemented an amended fee structure effective April 1, 2026.

Here's the bottom line on what it costs to bring your boat across the Gulf Stream right now.

Updated Cruising Permit Fees (Effective April 1, 2026)

The new structure breaks permits into 30-day, 6-month, and 12-month options based on vessel length:

Vessels up to 30 feet: $150 (30-day) | $300 (6-month) | $500 (12-month)
Vessels 31–50 feet: $250 (30-day) | $500 (6-month) | $750 (12-month)
Vessels 51–100 feet: $350 (30-day) | $1,000 (6-month) | $2,000 (12-month)
Vessels over 100 feet: $600 (30-day) | $2,000 (6-month) | $3,000 (12-month)

These fees cover your cruising permit, Customs officer attendance, Immigration officer overtime and travel, and two entries within a 30-day window.

These fees will not apply for ancillary equipment being towed or on board a pleasure vessel, excluding tenders exceeding 25 feet in length. The fee for a tender vessel exceeding 25 feet will be $500 for a period not exceeding 12 months. When a pleasure vessel carries more than three passengers, every additional passenger of or above the age of six and who is not an ordinary resident of the Bahamas will be subjected to a tax of $30.

Anchorage Fees

Anchorage fees for foreign vessels, not mooring at a marina, have been amended in a new regulation 91B.

Up to 30 days

Not exceeding 30 feet in length – $50
For vessels 31 to 100 feet in length – $100.
For vessels over 100 feet in length – $200.

Up to 6 months

Not exceeding 50 feet in length – $150
For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length – $350.
For vessels over 100 feet in length – $1,000.

Up to 12 months

Not exceeding 50 feet in length – $200
For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length – $350.
For vessels over 100 feet in length – $1,500.

On the FDCC Permit

Not exceeding 50 feet in length – $200
For vessels 51 to 100 feet in length – $350.
For vessels over 100 feet in length – $1,500.
Anchorage fees are valid for two years.

Frequent Digital Cruising Card for Pleasure Vessels (FDCC)

Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) are available allowing unlimited visits for up to two years.

For vessels under 50 feet in length – $1,500.
For vessels 50 to 99 feet in length – $2,500.
For vessels over 100 feet in length – $8,000.

These fees do NOT cover:

Attendance fees by a customs officer for attendance and travel expenses
Overtime and travel expenses in respect of the attendance of an immigration officer.

Temporary Fishing Permits for Pleasure Vessels (no changes)

Fishing Permits are no longer included in the Cruising Permit fee. Foreign pleasure vessel fishing permits fees:

For vessels under 50 feet in length – $100.
For vessels 50 feet in length and over – $300.

Fishing permits are only valid for 30 days, even if you possess a 12-month cruising permit. It is necessary to renew fishing permits every 30 days.

Stay tuned for any updates...

If you're shopping for a yacht and Bahamas cruising is on your radar, and let's be honest, it should be, I'm happy to walk you through how these fees factor into your overall ownership costs. It's all part of the conversation.