Guides / Vessel size
Bahamas Cruising Permit for Vessels Under 50 Feet
Smaller cruising boats still need a complete guest-boating picture: accurate length, current registration, and passports for everyone aboard. Statutory fees use length bands — under 50 ft often sits in friendlier tiers than larger yachts, but the exact dollar amounts depend on permit duration and add-ons. Always verify against current rules from Bahamas Customs.
Why length matters
Temporary cruising permit tables (Reg. 91) and anchorage (Reg. 91B) both key off vessel length and the period you choose (for example 30-day vs 6- or 12-month options). A few inches mis-stated on your application can put you in the wrong band — measure consistently (often LOA per your documentation) and match what you upload.
What to have ready before you apply
- Registration or documentation that shows vessel identity and length.
- Valid passports for all persons on board you declare for the voyage.
- A realistic plan for anchorage if you will not use a marina (standard anchorage follows Reg. 91B(1) for the same period as your permit — see our cost page).
- Fishing intentions: if you will angle, treat fishing as its own module in the flow — it is not automatically “inside” the cruising permit fee line.
Fees and planning
Use the calculator with your length and permit period, then add optional fishing and (if you use our service) the Less Stress Process line so you are not surprised at checkout. Figures on this site follow the regulatory text we publish on the permit cost page; final amounts are confirmed when you complete your application.