Importing Pets

Importing your dog or cat is fairly straightforward, with no quarantine formalities required. If you plan to import your pet, you will need to start your application process with the Department of Agriculture well in advance. It is recommended to give yourself 1-2 months to process the paperwork, although you may be able to expedite it by calling and checking on the status often. Politely nagging is the most effective way of getting anything done. Go to the Department of Agriculture section of the Government website and download the form here. You’ll fill it out and mail in the $10 processing fee. They will send you a form back that you will bring to your vet within 48 hours of travel to sign off on your animal’s health and shots. The signed form will be presented to customs upon arrival in The Bahamas. You’ll have to check with the specific airline on their pet policy, as some don’t fly with pets if it’s over a certain temperature. Saga Boy has daily flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive into Odyssey FBO in Nassau, where you can fly with your pet in their cargo cabin alongside you. If you’re moving to the Out Islands, you may wish to consider booking a charter plane.  

There are limited hotels, vacation rentals and rental homes that allow pets, and it’s not a very pet-friendly country in general. Many people have dogs, especially the local island dogs called Potcakes, which find homes with dog lovers, but most people keep them close to home, or walk them on quiet pockets of beaches. There are no dog parks, and dogs aren’t always welcome in many public places and in restaurants. Small dogs have been known to be attacked by Potcakes, so keep a close watch on your dog at all times, and don’t assume that any dog is friendly, even another domesticated pet. Most Bahamians are fearful of dogs, because there are a lot of aggressive and unpredictable dogs roaming the streets, so be respectful and keep your dog on a leash if you are in public and there are people around. Even if your dog is “friendly”, people don’t appreciate them running up and getting in their business.