Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to the Bahamas
A move from United Kingdom to Bahamas with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Plan on roughly 5-8 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Bahamas
typically takes around 5-8 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to Bahamas import process
01
As early as possible; account activation can take a few working days on its own.
Register for a Click2Clear account by emailing BAHFSA.
Responsible: Owner
02
Once the travel date is set.
Apply for the BAHFSA ePermit through Click2Clear.
Responsible: Owner
03
Well ahead of travel, respecting the 30-day to 10-month primary vaccination window.
Microchip checked and rabies vaccination confirmed current.
Responsible: UK vet
04
Within 48 hours of departure, not earlier.
UK vet health certificate issued.
Responsible: UK vet
05
Once the ePermit is approved.
Flight booked, direct via British Airways or via Miami on American Airlines.
Responsible: Owner / relocation agent
06
At the point of entry.
ePermit and health certificate presented on arrival in Nassau.
Responsible: Owner
Requirements
Bahamas entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Microchip identification required before the rabies vaccination used for entry.
Rabies vaccination
Primary rabies vaccination given between 30 days and 10 months before entry; booster vaccinations must be given before the previous one expires. Confirm the current window with BAHFSA before booking, since published third-party sources vary slightly on the exact figures. 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The Bahamas doesn't ask for a rabies antibody titre test from pets arriving from any country.
Quarantine
None published for a pet arriving with a valid ePermit, current rabies vaccination and vet health certificate.
Import permit
ePermit required from BAHFSA before travel, applied for through the government's Click2Clear online system. Register first by emailing click2clear@bahamas.gov.bs for a username and password, then apply for the pet permit. Processing fee USD 10 plus 12% VAT, USD 11.20 total. Source: bahamas.gov.bs, 'Application for Permit to Import Domestic Animals,' 2026.
Health certificate
Veterinary health certificate dated within 48 hours of embarkation, confirming health and active rabies immunity.
Leaving United Kingdom
Export requirements
Export permit
No UK export permit needed for a single pet travelling with its owner.
Veterinary inspection
Standard pre-travel health check by a UK vet, confirming the pet's rabies vaccination is current and the microchip is registered, in time to meet the certificate's tight validity window.
Government endorsement
No APHA endorsement stamp required for this route. The vet-signed health certificate submitted with the BAHFSA ePermit is sufficient on its own.
Health certificate
UK vet-issued health certificate confirming rabies immunity and general fitness, dated within 48 hours of the flight, the window BAHFSA specifies for the certificate's validity. Source: bahamas.gov.bs, 'Pet Import Rules,' 2026.
Air cargo Heathrow to Nassau via British Airways / IAG Cargo: GBP 900-2,000
Total typical range: GBP 1,100-2,500
Critical points
The Click2Clear registration step, emailing BAHFSA for a username and password, can take a few working days by itself. Starting it only once the flight is booked is a common cause of last-minute delay.
The UK vet health certificate has a tight 48-hour validity window before embarkation. Booking the vet appointment too early makes it invalid by the time the flight departs.
No routine quarantine is published for compliant pets, but confirm this directly with BAHFSA before travel, since requirements can change without a UK-facing notice.
Hurricane season, June to November, can disrupt Nassau arrivals with little warning; a rebooked flight can also mean a lapsed 48-hour health certificate that has to be redone.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
British Airways
Flies Heathrow direct to Nassau (NAS), nonstop, seven days a week on a Boeing 777. Pets travel as manifested cargo through IAG Cargo. The same temperature embargo (7C to 29C) that applies on the return leg applies here too, so factor Nassau's heat into the arrival slot.
Cargo Only
American Airlines
An alternative routing via Miami (MIA), with frequent onward connections to Nassau, useful if the direct BA slot doesn't line up with the vet certificate's 48-hour window.
Cargo Only
Bahamasair
Doesn't operate from the UK, but connects Nassau onward to the Family Islands for owners settling outside New Providence.
Cargo Only
Bahamas entry requirements at a glance
The path into Bahamas is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.
Getting the details right
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. The Bahamas doesn’t require a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin, unlike GB’s own unlisted-country rules. A current rabies vaccination and a vet health certificate are sufficient.
It’s an import permit required for every dog or cat entering the Bahamas, applied for online through the Click2Clear system. The processing fee is USD 10 plus 12% VAT, USD 11.20 total. Source: bahamas.gov.bs, ‘Application for Permit to Import Domestic Animals,’ 2026.
Within 48 hours of embarkation. BAHFSA specifies this window in its Pet Import Rules guidance, so the vet appointment needs to be timed close to departure, not days in advance.
Yes. British Airways flies Heathrow to Nassau nonstop, seven days a week, with pets carried as manifested cargo through IAG Cargo. American Airlines via Miami is the main alternative if that slot doesn’t fit the certificate’s timing.
Airline guides
British Airways
American Airlines
Bahamasair
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.