Country guide

Flying private to The Bahamas: permits, paperwork and handling

The Bahamas requires foreign private and business aircraft to obtain authorization from BCAA (Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority) before landing or overflying. This guide covers what you need, how far in advance to ask, and which airports accept international arrivals, using live data from the i-Handler airport directory, sourced from the country AIP.

Authority: BCAA (Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority) · Reviewed: 2026-09-27

Permits: who issues them and when to apply

Landing and overflight permits for foreign civil aircraft are handled by BCAA (Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority). Private flights are straightforward: no prior landing permit for most private non-revenue operations, but you must clear in at an airport of entry and file the Bahamas general declaration (C7A).

Reference the approved permit in your ICAO flight plan (item 18) and file the plan only once the permit is confirmed. Private non-revenue and charter (revenue) flights follow different tracks; charter requires additional commercial documentation, so start earlier.

Fees are per-leg and published; island hopping after clearing in is unrestricted among domestic strips. US-bound departures can pre-clear US CBP in Nassau.

Documents you will be asked for

Aircraft: certificate of airworthiness, certificate of registration, international insurance certificate with coverage valid for The Bahamas, and noise certificate.

Crew: pilot licenses and current medical certificates.

Passengers: passports (6 months validity is the safe standard) and a General Declaration (GENDEC) for arrival.

The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, passenger manifests and the ICAO flight plan from your trip data, so the paperwork above is produced in minutes instead of retyped per flight.

Airports of entry

The Bahamas has many airports of entry across the islands, including Nassau (MYNN), Freeport (MYGF), Exuma (MYEF), Eleuthera and the Abacos.

Plan your first landing at an airport of entry. Other fields may show customs in the AIP data, but use them as onward stops after clearing in, unless the authority authorizes otherwise. The live table below marks entry, customs, mandatory handling, slots and fuel per airport.

The Bahamas airports at a glance (live from the i-Handler directory)

Airport	Entry	Customs	Handling	Slots	Fuel	Providers
MYABMangrove Cay/Kemps Bay/Clarence A Bain	No	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYAFAndros Town/Fresh Creek	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYAKCongo Town	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYAMGreat Abaco Islands/Marsh Harbour	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	3
MYANNorth Andros/San Andros	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS	1
MYAPSpring Point	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYASSandy Point	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYATGreat Abaco Islands/Treasure Cay International	Yes	Yes	No	No	JET	2
MYAXGreat Abaco Islands/Spanish Cay	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYBCChub Cay	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYBGGreat Harbour Cay	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYBSSouth Bimini	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYBWBig Whale Cay	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYCAArthur's Town	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYCBCat Island/New Bight	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	1
MYCHCat Island/Hawks Nest	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYCIColonel Hill	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYEFExuma International	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	4
MYEHNorth Eleuthera	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	2
MYEMEleuthera Island/Governors Harbour Intl	Yes	Yes	Mandatory	No	AVGAS JET	3
MYENNorman's Cay	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYERRock Sound	Yes	Yes	Mandatory	No	NO FUEL	1
MYESStaniel Cay	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYGDGrand Bahama/Deep Water Cay	No	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYGFGrand Bahama International	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	2
MYGWWest End (PVT)	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYIGGreat Inagua Island/Matthew Town	Yes	Yes	No	No	JET	0
MYLDLong Island/Deadman's Cay	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYLSLong Island/Stella Maris	Yes	Yes	No	No	AVGAS JET	1
MYMMMayaguana	Yes	Yes	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYNNNassau/Lynden Pindling International	Yes	Yes	Mandatory	No	AVGAS JET	3
MYRDRagged Islands-Jumento Cays/Duncan Town	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYRPRum Cay/New Port Nelson	No	No	No	No	NO FUEL	0
MYSMSan Salvador Isl/Cockburn Town/San Salvador Intl	Yes	Yes	No	No	JET	3

Live data from the i-Handler directory; each ICAO links to the airport page with contacts, frequencies and live METAR/TAF.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a landing permit for a private flight to The Bahamas?

Yes. Foreign private and business aircraft need authorization from BCAA (Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority). Private flights are straightforward: no prior landing permit for most private non-revenue operations, but you must clear in at an airport of entry and file the Bahamas general declaration (C7A). The permit goes in item 18 of your ICAO flight plan.

Which airports in The Bahamas accept international arrivals?

The Bahamas has many airports of entry across the islands, including Nassau (MYNN), Freeport (MYGF), Exuma (MYEF), Eleuthera and the Abacos. The table on this page shows entry, customs and handling status per airport, live from the i-Handler directory.

How do I find a handler or FBO in The Bahamas?

The i-Handler airport directory lists ground handlers and FBOs per airport with phone numbers, and pilots contact them by chat through the free i-Handler App.

What paperwork does a flight to The Bahamas require?

Aircraft certificates, insurance, crew licenses, passports and a General Declaration. The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan automatically from your trip.

Do the paperwork once, not per flight

The free i-Handler App organizes the trip, generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan, and connects you by chat with the handlers and FBOs listed at your destination. Create your pilot account at i-handler.app.

Create your free pilot account

Last reviewed 2026-09-27 against operational sources. Requirements change: always confirm current rules with BCAA (Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority) or your handler before the flight. This page is operational guidance, not legal advice.