The Bahamas is beginning to digitize its arrival card. On May 5, 2026, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation announced the pilot launch of the Bahamas Digital Arrival Card, also known as the BDAC.
The new system is designed to allow certain travelers to submit their entry information online before arriving in the archipelago.
This is an initial step, not a full rollout to all visitors. During the testing phase, the traditional paper process will remain in place. Bahamian authorities describe the move as an important step in modernizing entry procedures and improving the arrival experience.
A pilot phase limited to certain travelers
According to the official announcement, the Bahamas Digital Arrival Card is currently being offered to selected visitors as part of a pilot program limited to certain flights.
The digital form will allow eligible travelers to complete their entry documents online, through a dedicated web form, before arriving in The Bahamas. The system is presented as an integrated solution covering both the immigration card and the customs declaration.
Authorities say the project is being carried out with the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Bahamas Immigration Department and the Bahamas Customs Department. The aim is to test the system gradually before a broader implementation.
“This represents a critical step forward for The Bahamas,” said Isaac Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. “The Digital Arrival Card is not simply a technological upgrade; it is a statement of commitment to innovation. We are focused on ensuring that when fully implemented, it delivers a seamless and effortless arrival experience for every visitor to our shores.”
The paper arrival card remains in use during the testing period
The BDAC does not yet replace the paper arrival card for all travelers. During this pilot phase, the traditional process remains in place so authorities can evaluate the system, collect feedback from stakeholders and make adjustments to the platform.
This is an important point for travelers. Unless they are invited or granted access to the pilot program, the usual arrival procedures for The Bahamas still apply.
At this stage, no public portal clearly open to all travelers is being highlighted on the Bahamian immigration website. Official pages related to entry requirements continue to refer to standard pre-arrival information, while the new BDAC system is presented in the Tourism Ministry’s announcement as a targeted trial.
The Bahamas Digital Arrival Card has not been announced as a pre-travel authorization comparable to an ETA. It is a digitized version of the arrival card, with a function that combines immigration information and the customs declaration. For visa-exempt travelers, or for those eligible to obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa), the BDAC therefore does not, at this stage, change the entry rules for The Bahamas. It concerns the way information is submitted before arrival, not eligibility to travel.
The Bahamas joins the shift toward digital arrival procedures
With this pilot program, The Bahamas is joining a trend seen in several destinations, where paper forms are gradually being replaced by digital arrival cards or online declarations.
These systems generally help reduce paper use, streamline arrival processing and allow certain information to be transmitted earlier to immigration and customs authorities.
For The Bahamas, the BDAC also represents a tool for modernizing the visitor welcome experience, in a tourism sector that is central to the archipelago’s economy. Authorities say the pilot launch follows several months of technical testing and amendments to immigration law intended to provide a legal framework for the use of digital entry documents.
The modernization comes as The Bahamas records unprecedented tourism arrivals. According to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the country welcomed 12,499,871 foreign visitors in 2025, including 1,688,794 by air and 10,811,077 by sea. The ministry described this as the highest total ever recorded for the destination, following 11.2 million visitors in 2024.
What travelers should know
- The Bahamas Digital Arrival Card is currently in a pilot phase.
- It is being offered only to selected travelers on selected flights.
- It is intended to allow travelers to submit immigration and customs information online before arrival.
- The paper arrival card remains in use during the testing period.
- No full rollout to all travelers has been announced yet.
- The BDAC is not being presented as an electronic visa or as a pre-travel authorization.
