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Bringing a Cat from the USA to the Bahamas: Requirements & Timeline

A permit a month ahead, a rabies shot a month ahead, a vet certificate in the final 48 hours — and no cats 6 months old or younger.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a dog instead? See the dog version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Cats follow the same Bahamian process as dogs: an import permit (Click2Clear, ~$11, applied for 4 weeks ahead) that travels with the animal, the over-6-months age floor, a rabies vaccination given 1–10 months before arrival (1-year vaccine), and the feline panel — leukemia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia, pneumonitis. The finish: a licensed US vet completes the certificate and the permit's vet form, with a negative fecal test, within 48 hours of embarkation. No USDA endorsement needed.

Minimum lead time: about 1 months (30 days). Plan about a month: the import permit 4 weeks ahead and a rabies vaccination at least 1 month old on arrival. The Bahamas doesn't admit cats 6 months old or younger.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Rabies vaccination (1 month before arrival; no pets under 6 months)
    A 1-year rabies vaccine must be given not less than 1 month and not more than 10 months before importation (a 3-year vaccine: between 1 and 34 months). And note the age floor: the Bahamas only admits dogs and cats MORE than 6 months old. Dogs also need distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and adenovirus vaccinations; cats need feline leukemia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and pneumonitis.
    Official source ↗
  2. Apply for the import permit (Click2Clear)
    Mandatory for every dog and cat, and it must travel with the animal. Apply through the Bahamas' Click2Clear ePermitting system (about $11.20 per animal); processing is quick but APHIS advises applying at least 4 weeks before travel.
    Official source ↗
  3. Vet certificate + fecal test (48-hour window)
    A licensed US veterinarian completes the veterinary certificate and the permit's AGR/VS/1A form — including a negative fecal test and an external-parasite check — dated within 48 hours of embarkation. No USDA APHIS endorsement is needed.
    Official sources conflict on this window (BAHFSA says within 10 days; bahamas.gov.bs says 48 hours) — we plan the strictest reading. Confirm with BAHFSA if the tight window is hard to schedule.
    Official source ↗

Why the 48-hour reading

Official sources conflict (10 days vs 48 hours); we plan the strictest so a border officer can't catch you short. The trip home is easy — cats have no CDC return requirements.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

How long does it take to bring a cat from the US to the Bahamas?
About a month: permit 4 weeks ahead, rabies vaccination at least 1 month old on arrival, then the vet certificate and fecal test in the final 48 hours.
Can I bring a kitten to the Bahamas?
No — the Bahamas only admits cats more than 6 months old.
Is the trip home easy?
Yes — cats have no CDC requirements returning to the US.

Other cat routes

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.