Do Bahamian passport holders need a visa for Canada?
By Ananya Sethi · Travel Writer, Tripmojo · Updated
No visa, but if you fly you need an eTA. The Bahamas is on Canada’s visa-exempt list, so Bahamian citizens do not need a temporary resident visa for a short visit. Flying to Canada requires an electronic travel authorisation, which costs 7 Canadian dollars and lasts five years. Arriving by land or by sea, including by cruise ship, requires neither.
Quick facts
Travel authorisation- Visa required
- No, the Bahamas is visa-exempt
- eTA required
- Only when arriving by air
- Cost
- CAD 7
- eTA validity
- 5 years, or until your passport expires
- Length of stay
- 6 months by default, or another period set by the officer
- Arriving by sea or land
- No eTA needed
Entry requirements
- A Bahamian passport valid for the whole of your stay.
- An approved eTA if you are arriving by air. Airlines check it before boarding and will not carry you without one.
- Nothing beyond the passport if you are arriving by land, or by sea from anywhere other than St. Pierre and Miquelon.
- Proof of funds for the visit and of ties that will bring you home, which the border officer may ask about.
- A return or onward ticket.
How to get an eTA
Apply on the Government of Canada site. The fee set in the regulations is 7 Canadian dollars, and any site charging you appreciably more than that is a reseller rather than the government.
You need your passport, a credit card and an email address. Most approvals arrive within minutes, though some are held for review, so it is not something to do at the airport.
An approved eTA lasts five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and covers as many trips as you like in that window. If you renew your passport you need a new one.
Good to know
- The eTA is tied to how you arrive, not to the trip. Sail into a Canadian port on a cruise or drive across from the United States and you need no authorisation at all. Fly, and you do. The same person on the same holiday can need one leg and not the other.
- The eTA is permission to board, not permission to enter. Admission and the length of stay are decided by the border services officer when you land, and six months is the usual maximum rather than a guarantee.
- A visitor cannot work or study on this basis. Short business meetings are fine; taking a job or enrolling on a course longer than six months needs a work or study permit arranged in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bahamians need a visa for Canada?
No. The Bahamas is on Canada’s visa-exempt list, so no temporary resident visa is required for a short visit. If you are flying you need an eTA instead.
How much does a Canadian eTA cost for Bahamian citizens?
Seven Canadian dollars, the fee set in Canada’s immigration regulations. It is valid for five years or until your passport expires.
Do Bahamians need an eTA to arrive in Canada by cruise ship?
No. The eTA requirement applies to arrivals by air. Arriving by sea or crossing by land does not require one, though you still need a valid passport.
How long can Bahamians stay in Canada?
Usually up to six months, but the exact period is decided by the border officer on arrival rather than fixed in advance.
Can Bahamians work in Canada on an eTA?
No. An eTA covers tourism, visiting family and business meetings. Employment requires a work permit obtained before you travel.
Related pages
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources below on .
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), Schedule 1.1 and s.190(1)(a) — visa-exempt countries (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s.7.1 — eTA required for entry by air
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s.294.1 — CAD 7 eTA fee; s.12.05 — five-year validity
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, s.183(2) — the authorized period of stay is six months, or another period fixed by an officer
Entry rules change without notice and the official source is always the authority. Confirm with the embassy or immigration portal before you book.
