Bahamas BS
The Bahamas requires every drone, recreational or commercial, to be registered and permitted by the Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAA-B) before flying — apply online with passport, drone details and trip dates for a permit valid 30 days (standard processing 5 business days, $30; expedited 2 business days, $50). Separately, Bahamian Customs requires a cash deposit of 50% of the drone's appraised value on arrival (refunded on departure), and duty of about 70% applies above a small $100 duty-free allowance unless the drone is imported under bond. This makes the Bahamas one of the more paperwork- and cash-heavy destinations in the region for a short trip.
Your plan
Choose your home country (top right) to see steps tailored to you.
1 thing to sort out before you fly
- Register your drone in Bahamas
All drones must be registered with CAA-B and a permit obtained before flying, regardless of weight. Devices over 249 g need to submit a UAS certificate or certification from their country of origin as part of the application. Apply with registrant details, drone make/model/weight/serial number, a colour scan of the passport photo page, arrival/departure dates, intended use, and operational location. Fee: 30 USD (Standard 5-business-day processing for recreational visitors; $50 for expedited 2-business-day processing.). Allow about 5 days before your trip.
Open official page - Bringing your drone in
Bahamian Customs allows $100 of a drone's value in duty-free, with roughly 70% duty charged on the remainder unless the drone is imported under bond. Separately, on arrival travellers reportedly must pay a cash deposit equal to 50% of the drone's appraised value; customs issues a receipt permitting the drone to be flown, and the deposit is refunded in full on departure. Batteries: Carry-on only for spare lithium batteries. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares); over 160 Wh not permitted on passenger aircraft.
- Before each flight
Fly at or below 400 ft (about 122 m) AGL and within 1,640 ft (500 m) horizontal range of the operator · Keep at least 50 ft from any person, building or vehicle not associated with the operation · Do not fly over or within 500 ft (152 m) of an organised open-air assembly, or within about 150 m of any congested/populated area
Flying
- Fly at or below 400 ft (about 122 m) AGL and within 1,640 ft (500 m) horizontal range of the operator
- Keep at least 50 ft from any person, building or vehicle not associated with the operation
- Do not fly over or within 500 ft (152 m) of an organised open-air assembly, or within about 150 m of any congested/populated area
- Stay at least 5 nautical miles (16,500 ft) from aerodromes or helipads
- No night flying or flying in low visibility
- A CAA-B permit is required for all drone use, recreational or commercial, and must be obtained before flying — it is valid for 30 days from issue
- Drones over 249 g additionally need a UAS certificate/certification from their country of origin as part of the application
Commercial use: Commercial operations use a separate CAA-B fee structure and process from recreational tourist permits; contact dronesupport@caabahamas.com for current commercial requirements.
Registration & classes
| Registration | Yes (all drones) All drones must be registered with CAA-B and a permit obtained before flying, regardless of weight. Devices over 249 g need to submit a UAS certificate or certification from their country of origin as part of the application. Apply with registrant details, drone make/model/weight/serial number, a colour scan of the passport photo page, arrival/departure dates, intended use, and operational location. |
|---|---|
| Pilot test | No No recreational pilot test. No pilot knowledge test or licence is required for recreational visitors; the permit process itself (registration plus trip details) substitutes for pilot certification. |
| Remote ID | No Remote ID is explicitly not required for tourists in the Bahamas. |
| Insurance | Unknown No confirmed insurance requirement was found in the CAA-B FAQ for recreational visitors; commercial operators should confirm directly with CAA-B (dronesupport@caabahamas.com). |
| Foreign registration accepted | No Apply for the CAA-B recreational permit before travelling: registrant details, drone specifications, a colour scan of your passport photo page, arrival/departure dates, intended use, and operational location. Standard processing is 5 business days ($30); expedited processing is 2 business days ($50) — plan around whichever fits your trip. Carry the resulting authorisation letter through customs, and budget for the separate 50%-of-value cash deposit (refundable on departure) and potential duty above the $100 duty-free allowance. |
Weight classes
| Class | Weight | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Under 249 g | < 249 g | Still requires CAA-B registration and a permit before flying, but without the additional UAS certificate/certification-of-origin requirement. |
| 249 g and over | ≥ 249 g | Requires CAA-B registration/permit plus a UAS certificate or certification from the drone's country of origin submitted with the application. |
Import & export
- Bahamian Customs allows $100 of a drone's value in duty-free, with roughly 70% duty charged on the remainder unless the drone is imported under bond. Separately, on arrival travellers reportedly must pay a cash deposit equal to 50% of the drone's appraised value; customs issues a receipt permitting the drone to be flown, and the deposit is refunded in full on departure.
- No confirmed source on whether the Bahamas' telecom regulator (URCA) requires separate radio/type-approval homologation for personal drones, beyond the CAA-B UAS certificate requirement for drones 249 g and over.
- Batteries: Carry-on only for spare lithium batteries. Up to 100 Wh freely; 100-160 Wh with airline approval (max 2 spares); over 160 Wh not permitted on passenger aircraft.
- Bring your CAA-B authorisation letter and be prepared to pay a 50%-of-value cash deposit at customs on arrival; keep the receipt to reclaim the deposit when leaving.
- Complete CAA-B registration before travelling — presenting the authorisation letter at customs is described as the key document that lets you fly, separate from the customs deposit itself.
- Given the deposit is described as cash, budget accordingly and keep proof of your drone's value (e.g. a purchase receipt) to support the appraisal.
Export
- No drone-specific export controls were found; general Bahamian customs and any applicable dual-use/strategic-goods rules would apply to specialised or military-grade UAV technology, not ordinary consumer drones.
Costs
| Operator registration | 30 USD (≈ €27.6) · Standard 5-business-day processing for recreational visitors; $50 for expedited 2-business-day processing. Validity: 30 days from issue |
|---|---|
| No recreational pilot test | Not needed |
| Import taxes | 70 % duty + ? % VAT Usually only for drones you buy abroad and bring in to keep. |
Guides
Flying in the Bahamas as a tourist Visitors
- Apply for your CAA-B drone permit before travelling
Submit registrant and drone details, a colour passport photo-page scan, trip dates, intended use and flight location; standard processing is 5 business days ($30), expedited is 2 business days ($50). Open
- Get a UAS certificate ready if your drone is 249 g or heavier
Include a UAS certificate or certification from your drone's country of origin with the application.
- Budget for a cash customs deposit on arrival
Expect to pay a deposit of about 50% of your drone's appraised value at customs; keep the receipt, since it's refunded when you leave.
- Carry your CAA-B authorisation letter through customs
This is the document that confirms you're cleared to fly — present it alongside your customs paperwork.
- Keep to the basic flight rules
Stay at or below 400 ft AGL and within 500 m of yourself, at least 50 ft from uninvolved people/property, 500 ft from open-air gatherings, and 5 nautical miles from airports; no night flying.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Authority Bahamas (CAA-B) — Drone FAQs · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- Droneblog — Can You Bring a Drone to the Bahamas? · accessed 24 Sept 2026
- CAA-B — Notice to Industry: Drone Permit · accessed 24 Sept 2026
How the score is built
- Operator registration−15
- Mandatory insurance−2
- Night flight banned−8
- Visitors need a flight permit−20
- Visitors must register locally−10
- Import permit−40
- Duty + VAT ≈ 80 %−25
- Radio / type certification−4
Every score starts at 100 and loses points for each requirement. How scoring works