Entry rules · Bahamas passport
Yes. Bahamas passport holders need a visa for the United States, applied for before travel.
Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026. Two independent checks agreed.
The passages the two checks relied on, with where they come from. Quotes are shown as published, in the source’s language.
A valid unexpired visa that meets the requirements of part 215, subpart B, of this chapter, if applicable, and an unexpired passport, shall be presented by each arriving nonimmigrant alien
Visa-free travel is not available to Bahamian citizens entering the United States from any other international border crossing, those entering via boat, those only transiting the United States, nor individuals traveling to the United States to embark on a cruise.
(c) Bahamian nationals and British subjects resident in the Bahamas. A passport is required. A visa is not required if, prior to the embarkation of such an alien for the United States on a vessel or aircraft, the examining U.S. immigration officer at Freeport or Nassau determines that the individual is clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission.
(3) Bahamian nationals or British subjects resident in the Bahamas. A passport is required. A visa required of such an alien unless, prior to or at the time of embarkation for the United States on a vessel or aircraft, the alien satisfied the examining U.S. immigration officer at the Bahamas, that he or she is clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission, under section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, in all other respects.
A valid unexpired visa that meets the requirements of part 215, subpart B, of this chapter, if applicable, and an unexpired passport, shall be presented by each arriving nonimmigrant alien except that the passport validity period for an applicant for admission who is a member of a class described in section 102 of the Act is not required to extend beyond the date of his application for admission if so admitted, and except as otherwise provided in the Act, this chapter, and for the following classes:
(i) Individual cases of unforeseen emergencies. Except as provided in paragraphs (a) through (h) and (j) through (l) of this section, all nonimmigrants are required to present a valid, unexpired visa and passport upon arrival in the United States. A nonimmigrant may apply for a waiver of the visa and passport requirement if, either prior to the nonimmigrant's embarkation abroad or upon arrival at a port of entry, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) district director concludes that the nonimmigrant is unable to present the required documents because of an unforeseen emergency. The CBP district director may grant a waiver of the visa or passport requirement pursuant to INA 212(d)(4)(A), without the prior concurrence of the Department of State, if the CBP district director concludes that the nonimmigrant's claim of emergency circumstances is legitimate and that approval of the waiver would be appropriate under all of the attendant facts and circumstances.
On 10 Oct 2026 we checked this rule against the official sources that govern entry to the United States, chiefly Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (Office of the Federal Register / GPO) — 8 CFR 212.1 Documentary requirements for nonimmigrants. Two independent checks reached the same result.
Before the check, public visa data (as of 17 Feb 2026) said: visa required. The official source shows: visa required, and that is what this page shows.
See this check in the log of checks and changes, and how verification works in the methodology.
Something here is wrong or out of date? Report a wrong rule.
What these governments tell their own citizens about travel to the United States as a whole, as of 30 Sept 2026. It is not about visas, and it reflects each government’s relations and consular reach as well as conditions on the ground.
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay in the United States.
In a justified emergency, border officials may accept a passport with less validity left.
This is the rule for Bahamas passports, which are on the Six-Month Club list.
Citizens of the countries in this document are exempt from the six-month rule and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.
This page answers whether you need a visa and how long you can stay on a short tourist visit. It does not cover other documents or permission to work. Entry rules change, sometimes without notice, and border officials make the final decision: confirm the requirements for your trip with the official immigration website or embassy of the United States.