Departure from a foreign country can be stressful and intimidating, but in The Islands Of The Bahamas, it is usually a pleasant experience. You will find that on average, departure procedures are as "smooth as glass."
Before leaving the islands, you will present the disembarkation card that you received on your arrival and pay a small tax of $15 or $18. If you are a United States citizen, you will most likely then go through U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance before you board your plane. Then, you will find yourself on your way home!
Departure Tax
Before you leave The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will need to pay a departure tax. The tax is B$15 for all islands, except Freeport on Grand Bahama, which charges B$18. Children under the age of six are exempt from this tax. You may substitute United States dollars for Bahamian dollars since American currency is accepted everywhere and the exchange rate is the same.
U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance
If you are a United States citizen returning to America on a regularly scheduled airline, you will be pre-cleared through U.S. Customs and Immigration before your departure from Nassau or Freeport International Airports. This means you do not have to go through customs once you enter the United States.
Whether you clear U.S. Customs in Nassau, Freeport or the United States, the duty-free allowance is $600. (The allowance is $400 for travel to other countries.) In other words, United States residents (including minors) may take home newly acquired items with a retail value up to $600 if they have been out of the United States for more than 48 hours and have not taken the exemption in 30 days. The exemption may include up to one U.S. quart (32 U.S. oz.) of liquor per person over 21. If a family is from the same household, they are permitted to pool their exemptions.
If, as an individual, you exceed the $600 exemption (or if a family exceeds its allocation), the United States government will tax the amount that is over the limit.
To facilitate your way through customs, it is always a good idea to carry with you a list of the items you have acquired and all your receipts. It will make it easier for you to fill out the Customs Declaration Form at your departure, and it will provide customs with documentation in case it wants to challenge your declaration of goods.
Canada Customs Pre-Clearance
The following duty-free allowances apply to residents of Canada returning to Canada:
(a) Residents who have been absent from the country for 48 hours or more may import up to $200 (Canadian) worth of duty-free merchandise, which must accompany the passenger. The exemption must be claimed through a written declaration.
(b) A person who has been outside Canada for seven days or more may claim duty-free goods valued at not more than $750, once each calendar year. Goods acquired in The Islands Of The Bahamas or any area must be declared on arrival in Canada. The $500 exemption may be claimed regardless of any $200 exemption claimed on any previous trip, but the two cannot be combined. The exemption under (a) and (b) may include 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco and up to 1.5 litres of liquor, if the person meets the required limits set by the province.
United Kingdom Customs Pre-Clearance
United Kingdom residents returning from any country outside EEC may take home duty-free, 60 ml (2 fluid ounces) of perfume, 9 fluid ounces of toilet water and other goods, up to a total worth of £145. In addition, persons 17 years or over may take home 250 grams (1/2 pound) of tobacco or 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (double the tobacco goods if you live outside Europe), plus a litre of spirits or 2 litres of fortified sparkling wines or 2 litres of still table wine. The importation into the United Kingdom of some goods is prohibited or restricted. These include counterfeit coins, copied goods, dangerous firearms, flick-knives, explosives, indecent or obscene books, magazines, films or other articles, CB radios, cordless telephones, microphones, plants, trees, fruits, potatoes and certain vegetables, live animals, birds and certain articles derived from rare species, e.g., ivory, reptile leather and all goods made from it.
No animal can be landed unless the owners have in their possession a valid rabies license by the British Government department.
