Member's Home Forums General Discussion Bahamas / Caribbean Bahamas Aeronautical & Regulatory New fees in the Bahamas

Effective July 01, 2013, the Bahamas government has implemented new fees on aircraft landing in the Bahamas regardless if entering the country to visit or while in-transit on a refueling stop.

Aircraft that use a C7A INWARD General Declaration (Private Flights) will pay a US$ 50.00 fee on arrival

Aircraft that use a C7 INWARD General Declaration (Charter Flights) will pay a US$ 75.00 fee on arrival

Since Private Aircraft can also use a C7 as an INWARD Declaration, all PRIVATE flights SHOULD ONLY use a C7A as an INWARD General Declaration to avoid paying the higher fee. You can download the C7 and C7A forms from the Bahamas Section of the Procedures and Forms page of the Caribbean Sky Tours Member Website.

The US$ 25 Departure Tax remains in effect at its current amount of US$ 25 for crew and passengers.

This new fee has caught many by surprise so if you are planning a trip to the Bahamas you should take note to avoid any surprises upon arrival.

You can obtain copies of the

After reviewing the new 2013 Customs Management Regulations, it gets even more confusing.

Basically, a C7 INWARD/OUTWARD general declaration form is charged US$ 75 for processing. So a charter will pay US$ 150 total, $75 in and $75 out.

A C7A INWARD general declaration used by PRIVATE aircraft on arrivals is charged US$ 50. However, since PRIVATE aircraft have to us e a C7 for their OUTWARD declaration they could potentially have to pay $ 75 outbound as well.

Right now what I am hearing is that the charter flights are indeed being charged $ 75 each way but the private flights are only being charged $50. The wording in the document is worrisome as it opens the door for a private aircraft to be charged another $ 75 on the way out.

After reviewing the 219 pages of the 2013 Bahamas Customs Regulations, it is even more confusing. The regulations indicate that private aircraft should use a C7B as an OUTWARD General Declaration. Well, there is NO C7B. The section of the same 2013 regulations with all of the Bahamas Customs forms has a C7 and a C7A as there has always been but NO C7B.

Therefore, it is ambiguous. However, after speaking with several FBO's they indicate that PRIVATE flights are only paying US$ 50 in and nothing out. Charter flights are paying US$ 75 in and another US$ 75 out. I am more concerned about AOE's that get little traffic in the Out Islands where the officer may not be totally up to speed.

As far as an official notification, nobody received any prior notification. The FBO's did not find out until the last minute either. We have received emails and telephone calls with predictable reactions.

Taking a step back, the Bahamas continues to be very attractive destination from a fee schedule standpoint when compared to other destinations. However, any fee that increases costs is going to be a negative, period. Unfortunately, the way the communications was handled (or not handled) left a lot to be desired. Worst of all, there is no indication that the fees collected from General Aviation aircraft will be used for the infrastructure used by those aircraft rather than spent on other projects.

A couple of AOPA members have posted a link to an on-line petition that has been started to get signatures for a repeal of the Entry Fee. We have already placed our signature, we ask our members to consider this petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/591/968/9...p;cid=email_na#

During Airventure in Oshksoh, WI, we had several discussions with representatives from the Bahamas government. The bottom line, there are still no changes to the fees that were implemented on private aircraft. We do know that there have been a lot of meetings and discussions on this topic and the Bahamas government is acutely aware of the negative reaction the new fees have had. There is a strong push to eliminate the fee but nothing definitive yet.

As we learn more, we will advise.

Hey Rick!
Any current info on the fees? Heading to Bahamas for Thanksgiving, after experience July 1, looking to be prepared....
I also got whacked with some extra fees I never had before LAST Thanksgiving (prior to the new fee schedule!)
And...what forms....LOL!

Hello Robin, it is great to hear from you.

I spoke with represetnatives of the Bahamas Government yesterday about this very topic. The short answer is, nothing new. There is noise about changes but nothing substantial that we can report.

We have been focused on dealing with mis-application of the new Processing Fee at different airports. If you have details of other fees that you were charged, please let us know so that we can address them.

We will be in the Bahamas in February and March of next year so if you are in the area, let us know.

Thanks Rick! I am heading down next weekend (22-23ish). Rusty and Debbie will be following on or around 25th. Just trying to gauge how much cash I'll need.
Last year I was charged for the first time ever a fee for 'after hours' departure. Left Sunday (pretty much always do) and not only is the airport open (they have commercial flights), but customs/immigration is also open with posted Sunday hours. They still claimed it was 'after hours' and charged me an extra $50.00. (Some other fee was also tacked on, I'd have to look to see what it was. It was about 20ish plus of course the normal departure head tax.) When I got home I pulled out some papers from a recent COPA function I attended where the bahamas tourism folks attended and handed us all a copy of the Bahamas GA Bill of Rights. It clearly stated no after hours fees. Also clearly a useless document their PR folks were handing out to entice us to the Bahamas.

Our experience July 1 was surreal with no rhyme or reason for who was charged what and why. Aircraft all alike (Cirrus) all together, all heading to same place, all stopping for fuel at same time. Dealt with same people on ground. Each charged a different rate to refuel ranging from nothing (other than fuel!) to 175. On the way back....NOBODY stopped in the Bahamas.

Because it is so 'unfriendly' and so many unknowns, we've already decided next year we will not be spending Thanksgiving in the Bahamas (breaking the 10 year tradition.) We would have switched locations this year but already had airline tickets for some of the folks coming plus house already reserved/paid. Entire group agreed to the change for next year.

Off to start weather looking... Give Pia a hug for me!