The Private Jet
Customs Authority.

Flying private into the Bahamas or returning to Florida involves a distinct customs and immigration workflow that differs sharply from commercial travel. This hub collects, in one place, every form, permit, fee, and procedure you will touch during a typical charter — from the General Declaration filed the night before, to the C7A handed to the inspector on the ramp, to the eAPIS manifest your handler submits 60 minutes before wheels up on the return leg.

The guides below are maintained by the Vanbert operations desk. We handle dozens of Bahamas and TCI clearances every month, and we rewrite these pages whenever a regulation changes. If a client question comes up twice, it ends up on a page here.

Start Here: the 12 Guides

The Core Workflow for a Bahamas Charter

A typical Vanbert operated leg from Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE) to Nassau (MYNN) follows this sequence. Understanding it end to end is the fastest way to understand why each of the sub pages exists.

1. Trip booked, passports collected

   Passenger passport MRZ data, date of birth, nationality, and gender are collected 48 to 72 hours before departure. Crew data is pulled from operator records.

2. Bahamas eTicket submitted

   Every passenger and crew member files an eTicket on bahamaseticket.gov.bs. A QR code is returned per person and must be presented on arrival.

3. General Declaration filed

   Operator or handler files the GenDec with Bahamas Customs a minimum of 24 hours before arrival, listing aircraft, crew, passengers, and route.

4. eAPIS manifest filed for return

   For the return leg to the US, the eAPIS manifest is filed no later than 60 minutes before departure via the CBP eAPIS portal (eapis.cbp.dhs.gov).

5. CTOT slot requested if MYNN

   Nassau uses a CTOT (Calculated Take-Off Time) slot system during peak periods. Slots are coordinated through the handler.

6. Arrival at Bahamas POE

   Aircraft lands at a Port of Entry. Crew presents GenDec; passengers present passport, C7A, and eTicket QR to Immigration, then Customs.

7. Fees paid on the ramp

   Landing fee, customs overtime (if applicable), and departure tax are typically settled at the FBO desk before departure.

8. Return filing & US arrival

   APIS confirmed, CBP notified of ETA, aircraft lands at a US Airport of Entry with the CBP decal visible, and the PIC meets the CBP officer on the ramp.

Why Private Is Different

Commercial passengers are processed in batches through terminals built for passport control queues. Private passengers clear on the ramp or inside a small FBO room, often with one officer assigned to the arrival. That difference drives every rule on these pages:

• The operator or PIC is liable for manifest accuracy, not a commercial carrier. A bad eAPIS submission is the operator’s fine, not the airline’s.
• Advance notice windows are shorter, but filings are still mandatory. Private is not exempt from APIS or GenDec.
• Ports of Entry are limited. You cannot first-land a private jet on Staniel Cay or Cat Island — you must clear at Nassau, Exuma (MYEF), or another POE first.
• Fees include a user fee for US CBP inspection at smaller airports, whereas commercial terminals absorb it in airport charges.

How to Use These Guides

If you are a charter client, skim the Bahamas Overview and the US APIS page — that is 90% of what you will personally touch. The rest you can delegate to Vanbert.

If you are a pilot or operator new to the region, read all 12 pages in sequence. Start with overflight permits if your aircraft is foreign registered, then work through Bahamas, then TCI, then return to US. Keep the FBO customs matrix bookmarked — it will save you hours in dispatch.

If you are bringing pets or firearms, read those dedicated pages first. The lead times on permits (especially the Bahamas firearm permit) can derail a trip if you start the paperwork the week of the flight.

Frequently Asked Questions