PreArival to Exuma

Pre-Arrival to Exuma: Everything You Need to Do Before You Land:

1. Visa Requirements

US citizens do not need a visa to enter the Bahamas. You need a valid passport.

There is nothing to apply for in advance, no travel authorization portal required, and no fees at the border beyond the standard Bahamas departure tax (which is typically included in your airfare).

One thing that matters: every passport in your group must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Check every family member's expiration date before you book anything. Children's US passports expire every five years.

Learn more here about entry requirements from other countries.

2. The Customs & Immigration Form

You will fill out a paper immigration/customs declaration form on the plane — one form per family member, including children. Flight attendants distribute these before landing. Bring a pen with you!

Fill these out before you land. Do not leave them until you're standing in line.

What you'll need on each form:

• Full legal name as it appears on the passport

• Passport number and expiration date

• Date of birth

• Country of citizenship

• Flight number

• Your villa address in Exuma (have this in your phone before you board — you cannot Google it in line)

• Your return flight information

• Purpose of visit and length of stay

3. The Customs Line at GGT — What to Actually Expect

GGT is a very small, old airport. The customs line is one room, a handful of officers, and the pace depends entirely on how many flights landed before yours and what time of day it is.

The luggage insight nobody tells you: on a direct GGT flight, your checked bags often arrive by the time you clear customs — even if you were the last family through the line. The bag carousel and the customs queue run in parallel. You are not racing your luggage. Take your time, have your forms filled out, and walk out calmly. Your bags will be there.

This changes the math on rushing. There is no advantage to stressing at the back of the customs line — the bags aren't going anywhere.

Tip: It is faster to be seated at the front of the plane for customs, but we are always in the back, and just so excited to be in Exuma that life is good. We always make sure everyone uses the restroom before landing, changes into beach attire, and has water. You can be waiting outside in the hot, sunny weather for 30-plus minutes.

4. SIM Card / eSIM — Install Before You Leave Home

Cell service in Exuma is functional but limited compared to what you're used to at home. You'll have coverage in Georgetown and along the main stretch of the island, with gaps on the more remote beach roads and out on the water.

Our recommendation: Saily Bahamas eSIM (affiliate 15% off)

A country-specific eSIM routes you directly through local Bahamian networks (BTC/Aliv), giving you better speeds and more reliable coverage than a standard international roaming plan. Plans start at $8.

Install it before you board — it activates automatically on arrival.

Between the eSIM on the go and Starlink WiFi at a well-equipped villa, you'll be fully connected the entire trip without paying premium roaming rates.

5. Travel Insurance — Two Layers, Not One

Exuma requires a different approach to insurance than most destinations. Here's exactly what we carry, and why.

Layer 1: Dedicated Travel Insurance Policy

Do not rely on your credit card's built-in travel protections as your primary coverage for Exuma. A significant portion of vendors on the island — villa owners, boat charter operators, private chefs — require payment by wire transfer, bank EFT, or Zelle. None of those transactions run through your credit card, which means the trip costs paid that way fall entirely outside your card's coverage.

A standalone travel insurance policy covers your full declared trip value regardless of how each vendor was paid. Buy it explicitly for this trip; don't assume your card handles it.

Reputable providers we trust: Allianz Travel, World Nomads, and IMG Global. Confirm the policy covers water-based activities — snorkeling, boating, and swimming are the core of the trip.

Layer 2: Medical Evacuation Membership

This is a completely separate product from travel insurance, and it is non-negotiable for a remote island destination.

Exuma's medical clinic in George Town handles routine care. For anything serious — a significant injury, cardiac event, or any emergency requiring surgery or imaging — you are on a plane to Nassau or Miami. Without a medical evacuation membership, that flight involves logistics delays, cost uncertainty, and coordination you do not want to manage in an emergency.

A medical evacuation membership activates a response team with one call. They coordinate and execute your evacuation using their own aircraft and medical personnel.

We carry Global Rescue on every Exuma trip. Annual family membership is available. The cost of an uninsured air evacuation is not.

Pre-Departure Checklist

Before you get to the airport, confirm:

• Every passport is valid for 6+ months past travel dates

• Children's passports checked specifically (5-year expiration date )

• Villa address saved offline in your phone

• Return flight info accessible on your phone

• Saily eSIM is installed and ready to activate

• Travel insurance policy purchased and documents saved

• Global Rescue membership is active, and the card is in the wallet

• Cash (USD) organized and accessible — do not rely on Exuma ATMs

• Drone? CAA Bahamas approval obtained in advance (separate application, allow lead time)

• Windfinder Exuma bookmarked — check the wind forecast the evening before any boat day

• Dry bag packed — keep one accessible for phones, cameras, and documents on the water

• Soft yeti cooler for bringing frozen meats and snacks, plus nice to have for beach days like Cocoplum

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