Getting your pet permission to come to the Bahamas has always been a bit of a hassle for boaters. As with crossing any international border, you must get permission from the appropriate authorities and complete all the paperwork to ensure that your pet meets the letter of the law: not a banned breed, has all the right shots, etc.
On September 1, 2024, things changed in the Bahamas as the responsibility to issue pet importation permits moved from one department to another. It’s now under the Bahamas Agriculture and Health Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA), which has decided to use the Customs Department’s online Click2Clear system to issue the certificates.
Click2Clear is a mixed bag. We’ve been using it for a few seasons now to get our cruising permits while checking in, but that’s a completely different process in a different part of the system. Here’s a look at how the process now works for getting your pet into the islands legally.
Note: Because these changes are new, many online references and cruising guides are now out of date. This includes the official Bahamas government site seen here. Any site that references the “Department of Agriculture” is outdated.
Always double-check the requirements before submitting any forms, and if in doubt, consider using a local agent like bahamaspetpermit.com.
Rules for Bringing Pets Into the Bahamas
The actual requirements for bringing a pet in haven’t changed much.
A few breeds cannot come to the Bahamas at all. These are banned:
- Pit Bull
- Presa Canario
- Cane Corso
- American Bully
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Dogo Argentino
- Any mixed breed dogs that are mixed with these breeds are also restricted, so a pit bull mix is also restricted from importation.
- Restricted Cat Breeds: Savannah Cat, Bengal Cat, Chausie
Next, you must provide proof that your pets meet immunization requirements. These specifics should be listed on the permit form for your vet to sign off on.
Your new permit from BAHFSA will come with a copy of Appendix 1, Conditions for the Importation of Cats and Dogs. Here is what is stays about dogs and cats coming from the US (“a country not free from rabies”):
a. Dogs
an international verterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the dog(s):
1. is/are more than six (6) months of age
2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
a. Rabies by either:
i. one (1) year duration vaccine — the vaccine must have been administered within not more than ten (10) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation;
or
ii. three (3) year duration vaccine — the vaccine must have been administered within not more than thrity-four (34) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation.
b. Distemper
c. Hepatitis
d. Leptospirosis
e. Parvovirus
f. Adenovirus, and
g. Coronavirus
3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative faecal matter test result.
4. is/are free of external parasites.
b. Cats
an international verterinary certificate (within forty-eight (48) hours of importation) is required and must attest that the cat(s):
1. is/are more than six (6) months of age
2. was/were actively immunized against the following diseases:
a. Rabies by either:
i. one (1) year duration vaccine — the vaccine must have been administered within not more than ten (10) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation;
or
ii. three (3) year duration vaccine — the vaccine must have been administered within not more than thrity-four (34) months and not less than one (1) month prior to importation.
b. Feline Leukemia
c. Feline Rhinotracheitis
d. Feline Calicivirus
e. Feline Panleukopenia and
f. Feline Pneumonitis
3. is/are free of internal parasites as determined by a negative faecal matter test result.
4. is/are free of external parasites.
--BAHFSA, Appendix 1, Conditions for the importation of Cats and Dogs (2024)
Steps to Complete to Get Your Bahamas Pet Permit
Here’s a rough outline of what you need to do to get your pet into the Bahamas with the new 2024 system.
- Register for an account on Click2Clear (You may have used Click2Clear in the past, but chances are you didn’t need an account to do it, so this is new.)
- Choose “Register” at the top and complete the form.
3. Then, email their support desk (click2clear@bahamas.gov.bs) and ask that your account be activated to submit permits. Here’s the email I sent:
Hello:
I’ve just registered for Click2Clear, but I need to activate it to submit permits/concessions. I am looking to apply for the new pet permit/domestic animal temporary import.
Thank you,
4. Once you get the approval email (mine only took a few hours), you can log into the system and create a request for the permit. From the main Customs homepage, click the pink button on the far right labeled “Permits/Concessions.”
You’ll select the “Submit General Concession/Permit Application” in the left-hand column.
5. Before continuing past the first page, hit “Save” and write down the “Provisional Ref. No,” which will be used to find your application in the future.
√ Double-check all your contact information on the second page under “Party.”
√ Fill out your trip details (departure and arrival ports and date) on the third page, “Transport.”
√ Under “Item,” you will fill out the details of your dog or cat. The video implies that you can type “dog” into the box, and it will find the right code, but it didn’t work for me. I copied the code from the video, and then it came up.
The HS code for a dog is 01061910.
Here is the completed item page; your dog’s breed and weight will obviously vary.
√ Finally, under “Documents,” you should upload a copy of your pet’s most recent vaccination record. While the Bahamas form lists quite a few, what they are really looking for here appears to be the rabies vaccine.
6. At the end of the process, in the “Summary” tab, you will “Validate” the application, and then “Submit” the application. After that, you can pay the $50 per animal fee to get the permit.
Your application will be reviewed by an inspector and issued within 48 hours (mine was ready in about that time). That’s a big improvement over the old system.
7. Once you receive the email that says your application was approved, you can log back in and download the permit.
Once logged into Click2Clear Permits and Concessions, choose “Search Documents” on the left hand side, underneath “Application Submission.”
You should see your permit listed under “Submitted Documents List,” and it should say “Status: Approved.”
Choose the three dots on the right of the document, and choose “Print.” This will download the PDF to your computer, which you can then print to take to your vet.
There are two important pages: one is the stamped permit, and one is the accompanying form that your vet must fill out.
Here’s a video from BAHFSA with a step-by-step tutorial on the system. Tutorial PDF/ Video
Finding a Vet Before Setting Sail
Once you get the permit, it should be taken to your vet for their sign-off just before you depart on your trip (the form states you must visit your vet no more than 48 hours before your departure).
Historically, officials have been lax on boaters with this time limit, understanding that boat trips take much longer. The 48-hour limit is really only vital for pets traveling by air. But this is a new system, so it’s anybody’s guess how this will be enforced in the future. It’s best to comply with the rules as closely as possible in 2024/2025 just to be on the safe side.
Your vet should also issue you a USDA international health certificate, which you may need to re-enter the United States. It has never been asked for by boaters in the past, but some airlines may require it should you have to fly home.
It’s always been a challenge for us to find vets who can and will do the paperwork. It is always best to call the office before your appointment to ensure that the vet on duty can issue international paperwork — not all vets can!
We’ve started using Banfield Animal Clinics, a national chain with locations in most PetSmarts. This way, no matter what town we’re in, there’s a vet who has access to our dog’s records, and most can do international paperwork. So far, we’ve been to four or five different Banfields, and it has been pretty smooth.
There’s also a list of veterinarians boaters have used. It’s posted in Addison Chan’s excellent Facebook group Bahamas, Land, and Sea.
Checking In to The Bahamas
When you use Click2Clear to request your cruising permit, you can declare your pet and upload your signed Bahamas pet import permit.
Remember, you’ll request this by choosing “Cruising Permit” from the Customs homepage, not by logging in as you did for the pet permit. You do not need to log in to request a cruising permit.
Using an Import Agent
In years past, we used the services of Wellington Saunders of BahamasPetPermit.com. The primary reason was that the initial process of getting the permit by snail mail was so fraught with problems: You had to use DHL to get the paperwork there, and you had to pay via an international money order, which was a pain to get. In all, using Wellington allowed you to pay online, and then he would hand-deliver the forms.
Now that it’s all online, we will try doing it ourselves. However, Wellington is still available to help you file the forms. Don’t hesitate to use his service if you want to smooth out the process.
While the new, online process is easier and cheaper than before, the Click2Clear system is still far from simple. If in doubt, we recommend you hire Wellington.
Returning to the US With Your Pet
In 2024, the US Center for Disease Control began requiring permits for all animals coming into the US, including US pets returning home. Instructions can be found on the CDC website. This is a new step, in addition to the USDA international health certificate your vet will give you before you leave the country.
Thankfully, this isn’t a burdensome change. The form is simply downloaded, filled out, signed, and emailed to the CDC for approval — no vet visit required.
Once you get a permit emailed back, keep a copy to show to Customs and Border Patrol (if requested) upon your return. In our experience, CBP has never shown the slightest interest, but they might start with this new form. And while agents have historically been lax with boaters, if you have to fly home due to an emergency, you’ll need to have all the paperwork completed before the airline will let you fly.
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