Bahamas Click2Clear customs entry

ttmott

PhD in OCD
GOLD Sponsor
TECHNICAL Contributor
Apr 3, 2012
8,022
Space Coast Florida
Boat Info
2006 52 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSM11
Have any Bahama bound cruisers registered with the new Bahamas Click2Clear digital customs entry portal?
https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/imports-and-exports/about-ecas/
The portal, it appears, takes care of everything including payment that we normally do in the port of entry customs office. It even registers a firearm.
The question is - do we still need to appear at a customs port of entry when using Click2Clear?

Lastly, it looks as if the Bahamian Gov has eliminated the COVID testing requirement; or better stated it isn't addressed in the entry web site. Can anyone verify yes or no on the COVID testing?

@ocgrant - have you any intel on this stuff?

We are off to the Exumas later this month and this would make things quite a bit easier if we can bypass Bimini or West End for clearing completely.

Thanks
Tom
 
We did Bimini last summer. You print the cruising permit from c2c and take that to the customs office. You still need to go to the office anyway for immigration. I’m headed to West End on Wednesday on a friends boat and we need PCR tests regardless of vax status.

https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates
 
We did Bimini last summer. You print the cruising permit from c2c and take that to the customs office. You still need to go to the office anyway for immigration. I’m headed to West End on Wednesday on a friends boat and we need PCR tests regardless of vax status.

https://www.bahamas.com/travelupdates
OK - thanks
On the testing, do you still have to submit the test results to the gov and get an entry authorization to present at customs? Or just bring the test results for clearing in.
Is it ten days before travel or three days before travel?
 
Or submit the test results as an attachment to the c2c?
Then pay and get the visa??
 
Or submit the test results as an attachment to the c2c?
Then pay and get the visa??
On this trip, my buddy is the Captain and handling the c2c. But when we went, you had to upload your negative test results to get a Health Visa, and then you upload the Health Visa to the c2c site. You can’t pay or print the cruising permit until you upload the health visa.
 
Ok
  • Assuming you are vaccinated you test in the US then submit the test and vax card and pay the Health Visa / Insurance fee. If un-vaccinated only testing is required and a higher Health Visa / Insurance fee.
  • They have up to 24 hours to return an approved Health Visa.
  • You then attach the visa, test results, vax card, and all of the other data in c2c and pay the cruising fee.
  • Then you must arrive and present the docs at customs within 3 days of your testing.

Do I have that right?
 
Ok
  • Assuming you are vaccinated you test in the US then submit the test and vax card and pay the Health Visa / Insurance fee. If un-vaccinated only testing is required and a higher Health Visa / Insurance fee.
  • They have up to 24 hours to return an approved Health Visa.
  • You then attach the visa, test results, vax card, and all of the other data in c2c and pay the cruising fee.
  • Then you must arrive and present the docs at customs within 3 days of your testing.

Do I have that right?

That all looks correct. I recall that it did not take long to get the health visa back, and it also didn’t take long to get the cruising permit issued. When we got there; I didn’t have the immigration paperwork filled out. Fortunately, I had some extra forms from a previously cancelled trip. Immigration guy let me just fill them out and hop back in line. The customs guy takes your printed cruising permit, stamps it, and hands it back to you. Super easy. Make sure you clear outbound to come home also.....supposedly some heavy fines if you don’t clear out, and then return to the Bahamas in the future.
 
That all looks correct. I recall that it did not take long to get the health visa back, and it also didn’t take long to get the cruising permit issued. When we got there; I didn’t have the immigration paperwork filled out. Fortunately, I had some extra forms from a previously cancelled trip. Immigration guy let me just fill them out and hop back in line. The customs guy takes your printed cruising permit, stamps it, and hands it back to you. Super easy. Make sure you clear outbound to come home also.....supposedly some heavy fines if you don’t clear out, and then return to the Bahamas in the future.
Interesting - we've never cleared outbound before; last ten years in travels.... But like all else c2c is like ROAM and SVRS before that to record what you did....
I'll have to find out if outbound can be done online as we are rarely near any customs when coming back. We had planned on south of Andros to trek home.
 
Interesting - we've never cleared outbound before; last ten years in travels.... But like all else c2c is like ROAM and SVRS before that to record what you did....
I'll have to find out if outbound can be done online as we are rarely near any customs when coming back. We had planned on south of Andros to trek home.

Clearing home is a new thing with Covid. I had to stop by the office when we left Bimini.

https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/visitor-info/marine-vessel-declarations-cruising-permits/
 
Have any Bahama bound cruisers registered with the new Bahamas Click2Clear digital customs entry portal?
https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/imports-and-exports/about-ecas/
The portal, it appears, takes care of everything including payment that we normally do in the port of entry customs office. It even registers a firearm.
The question is - do we still need to appear at a customs port of entry when using Click2Clear?

Lastly, it looks as if the Bahamian Gov has eliminated the COVID testing requirement; or better stated it isn't addressed in the entry web site. Can anyone verify yes or no on the COVID testing?

@ocgrant - have you any intel on this stuff?

We are off to the Exumas later this month and this would make things quite a bit easier if we can bypass Bimini or West End for clearing completely.

Thanks
Tom
Yes use it all the time. Do everything on C2C and print out your clearance to take to customs. They verify your payment and you are good. Much faster trust me. On exit the night before you create outbound and submit it. Takes a couple minutes and you get your conformation. Technically you are supposed to take it to customs but I never do as it says “you are clear to leave”. They gave me lip once when I came back but I said read the email and they just smiled….
 
Just got back from West End. Everything is as I mentioned above. Also, I saw all the customs agents at the bar last night after they closed and asked them about clearing outbound. She smiled and said “we won’t stop you from leaving, but when you come back I’m gonna collect $5000 from you in crisp hundred dollar bills”. I smiled and cheers’d my fresh goombay smash and thanked her, lol.

Also, when you’re trying to log back into c2c to upload your info and finish up......make sure when you click “search inbound” you put the rotation # as “PCR-xxxxxxx”. It won’t pull it up without the “PCR-“ in there.
 
Just got back from West End. Everything is as I mentioned above. Also, I saw all the customs agents at the bar last night after they closed and asked them about clearing outbound. She smiled and said “we won’t stop you from leaving, but when you come back I’m gonna collect $5000 from you in crisp hundred dollar bills”. I smiled and cheers’d my fresh goombay smash and thanked her, lol.

Also, when you’re trying to log back into c2c to upload your info and finish up......make sure when you click “search inbound” you put the rotation # as “PCR-xxxxxxx”. It won’t pull it up without the “PCR-“ in there.
I think the only issue for us is when/where to do the COVID testing. If we leave from Cape Canaveral and do a night in Ft Lauderdale then cross the Bimini where does that put us in that three day window. Plus if we are delayed due to weather what happens? Retest and purchase another Health Visa??

Also if you know when the outbound is going to occur why can't it be done with the inbound?
 
I think the only issue for us is when/where to do the COVID testing. If we leave from Cape Canaveral and do a night in Ft Lauderdale then cross the Bimini where does that put us in that three day window. Plus if we are delayed due to weather what happens? Retest and purchase another Health Visa??

Also if you know when the outbound is going to occur why can't it be done with the inbound?

I guess I don’t have an official answer for either. I would think if the health visa expires due to weather delays you’d have to get another one. I search thehulltruth about clearing outbound and there’s some guys there that said they’ve done it both the night before departure, as well as at the same time the checked in.

I will say that for this trip I tested Monday@1030 at the CVS on Courtenay and my results were back at 1500ish on Tuesday. The health visa was then approved in less than 10min upon submission. We left Wednesday AM.

I have read that you can also get home tests on Amazon that can be used to get the health visa. You test, and then FaceTime some doctor of something for the official result. May be worth looking into. Also, I believe there’s a section on the health visa that talks about what types of tests are acceptable if you’re vaxxed/unvaxxed.....I think there’s a difference. The fee is also cheaper if you’re vaxxed
 
I guess I don’t have an official answer for either. I would think if the health visa expires due to weather delays you’d have to get another one. I search thehulltruth about clearing outbound and there’s some guys there that said they’ve done it both the night before departure, as well as at the same time the checked in.

I will say that for this trip I tested Monday@1030 at the CVS on Courtenay and my results were back at 1500ish on Tuesday. The health visa was then approved in less than 10min upon submission. We left Wednesday AM.

I have read that you can also get home tests on Amazon that can be used to get the health visa. You test, and then FaceTime some doctor of something for the official result. May be worth looking into. Also, I believe there’s a section on the health visa that talks about what types of tests are acceptable if you’re vaxxed/unvaxxed.....I think there’s a difference. The fee is also cheaper if you’re vaxxed
Thanks - you are right about the vax'd v un-vax'd testing requirement.
I guess I've been spoiled for the last ten years filling out the paperwork before we leave and clearing in with cash at any port of entry. I'm an old school rusty nail.
 
I'm considering a re-route and direct from Cape Canaveral or Sebastain to Walkers then through West End for fuel on to Nassau and Exumas. This seems a better route with respect to those three days. The seas will determine.
Walkers has re-opened and now again a port of entry.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JC3
I'm considering a re-route and direct from Cape Canaveral or Sebastain to Walkers then through West End for fuel on to Nassau and Exumas. This seems a better route with respect to those three days. The seas will determine.
Walkers has re-opened and now again a port of entry.

Once you get through the process its really not bad. I didn't go into customs on this trip, Captain did, but he was back to the boat in less than 10min. Initially, c2c is cumbersome for sure.
 
Once you get through the process its really not bad. I didn't go into customs on this trip, Captain did, but he was back to the boat in less than 10min. Initially, c2c is cumbersome for sure.
Agreed, once you get used to it again it becomes a piece of cake. I used it for 6 trips last year and worked perfect each time.
 
I'm considering a re-route and direct from Cape Canaveral or Sebastain to Walkers then through West End for fuel on to Nassau and Exumas. This seems a better route with respect to those three days. The seas will determine.
Walkers has re-opened and now again a port of entry.
T, Please post how Walkers is. Wanting to go there at some point. Thanks, JC
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,950
Messages
1,422,865
Members
60,932
Latest member
juliediane
Back
Top