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Welcome to the U.S. Citizen Services Unit at the United States Embassy in Nassau, The Bahamas. We provide information and assistance to U.S. citizens in The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For specific information and instructions on consular services, please visit the appropriate section below.
Routine (non-emergency) services for U.S. citizens are by appointment only. Please see information on how to schedule an appointment. Before scheduling an appointment for a U.S. passport renewal, please review all the renewal requirements here. Please note that the Embassy is closed on all official Bahamian and American holidays.
Our U.S. Citizens Services Navigator (below) will guide you to information that you need, and help you ask us for assistance if you need it.
International Parental Child Abduction
International parental child abduction is the removal or retention of a child outside their country of habitual residence in breach of another parent or guardian’s custody rights.
One of the highest priorities of the Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is to provide assistance to U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad. The Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international, domestic, and foreign law. More information available at Travel.State.gov.
When an U.S. citizen dies abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs assists the family and friends. The Bureau of Consular Affairs attempts to locate and inform the next-of-kin of the U.S. citizen’s death. The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides information on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the remains to the United States. The disposition of remains is subject to U.S. and local (foreign) law, U.S. and foreign customs requirements, and the foreign country facilities, which are often vastly different from those in the United States.
When an American Citizen is presumed dead/missing and a body has not been located, procedures are as follows: (1) A police report must be filed immediately with the nearest police station where the person would have last been seen. Witnesses if any, must provide statements to the police. (2) Proof of the deceased/missing person’s citizenship must be confirmed/provided to the police. The U.S. Embassy can help identify whether or not the person in question is a U.S. citizen. (3) Notify the US Embassy, American Citizen Services section immediately at acsnassau@state.gov or by telephone at 1-242-322-1181 ext 4519 or 4406.
Being the victim of a crime in a foreign country can be a devastating and traumatic experience. While no one can undo the emotional trauma, physical injury, and/or financial loss you may have experienced, the ACS Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau stands ready to help. We are very concerned about crimes committed against U.S. citizens in The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCIs).
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport. Link text: Be wary of International Financial Scams.
Local Western Union & MoneyGram Information
If your money has been lost or stolen in the Bahamas, the Embassy can help receive funds from friends or relatives in the U.S. If they need help in transferring funds to you, they should contact the U.S. Embassy in Nassau at 242-322-1181. The most efficient way to get money to someone who is temporarily destitute in the Bahamas is if they have a U.S. bank account, to have the funds deposited into the individual’s U.S. bank account that can then be withdrawn from the account in the Bahamas using an ATM card. The person must have an ATM card and pin to be able to use this option. If that option is not possible, we suggest wiring money through Western Union or MoneyGram.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you reside in The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos and have questions regarding services provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in Santo Domingo. For more information on their services and how to contact them, please visit their webpage at: Santo Domingo. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits services on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website at www.va.gov. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) can also be of assistance if Veterans and beneficiaries have questions about benefits and services.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you are a U.S. government employee working overseas, you cannot claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For additional information, visit the IRS website.
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas assist the Selective Service System with its registration program abroad.
Now all U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), print and sign the form then return it to your local election office in the United States. We recommend overseas U.S. citizens get in the habit of completing FPCAs each January. You should include your email address on the form so it’s easier for your election officials to reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, be sure to include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you’ll receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal Assistance Medical Assistance Funeral Homes Real Estate Matters Disaster Preparedness Hurricane PreparednessWhile U.S. Consuls are prevented from providing legal advice or becoming involved in private legal matters involving Americans abroad, the American Citizens Services Unit does maintain several lists of attorneys and law firms willing to work with U.S. citizens to resolve legal disputes.
The level of available medical assistance and facilities vary throughout the archipelago. While there are hospitals and/or clinics on the major islands, medical facilities are limited or even non-existent on many smaller islands. Medical facilities may accept U.S. health insurance, but will require a deposit up front for non-emergency care. A patient will most likely have to pay the full charge to the hospital, and get reimbursed by the insurance company after returning to the United States.
View a list of funeral homes available in Nassau, Freeport, and Turks and Caicos islands. The names are arranged alphabetically and the order in which they appear has not significance.
A number of U.S. citizens who have purchased or sold real estate in The Bahamas have reported tremendous difficulties in the process, some even losing their entire life savings. For example, U.S. citizens have reported that after “purchasing” property in The Bahamas, they discovered that the seller did not have clear and/or indisputable ownership of the property.
Millions of Americans visit The Bahamas and TCIs safely each year. Nonetheless, the archipelago which forms The Bahamas and the TCIs consists of hundreds of individual islands and cay, which are subject to risks and natural disasters. In recent years, for example, Hurricanes Jeanne and Ike devastated various parts of the archipelago. Most potential natural threats can be successfully managed, or their adverse impacts mitigated, through awareness and preparation.
The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands, like all countries in and near the Caribbean Sea, are potentially at risk from hurricanes. The official hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, although hurricanes have been known to form in other months. August, September, and early October are traditionally the months of highest risk.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 provides for automatic naturalization of a child who both has been legally adopted by a U.S. citizen and has lawfully entered the U.S. as an immigrant. This means the child “automatically” becomes a U.S. citizen as soon as he/she meets all of the requirements stipulated in the law. For further information, see the Travel.State.Gov webpage regarding International Adoptions.
A child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may be eligible for U.S. citizenship if the parent(s) meets the requirements for transmitting U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. U.S. citizens eligible to transmit citizenship are required to file for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages in foreign countries. Depending on the law of the foreign country, local civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. Marriages performed overseas are considered valid in the country where they take place if they are entered into in accordance with local law. Recognition of the validity of marriages performed abroad depends on the laws of the place in which the marriage is to be recognized.
Transmission of U.S. citizenship depends on: (1) At least one parent having the nationality of the United States at the time of the child’s birth; (2) The existence of a blood relationship between the child and U.S. citizen parent(s); (3) Documentary evidence demonstrating the U.S. citizen parent(s)’ presence in the United States prior to the child’s birth, as specified in the Transmission Requirements Table below.
Each country determines who is and who is not a citizen of that country in accordance with its own laws. Therefore, some persons may acquire citizenship under the laws of more than one country, either from the moment of their birth or upon taking certain actions. It is important to recognize that some countries limit or prohibit their citizens from being citizens of another country, while others do not.
What is required to enter The Bahamas may vary greatly than what is required to re-enter the country of origin. The Bahamas requires compliance with regulations to divert child abduction. Any child traveling without one of the parents as listed upon the birth certificate must have a letter from the absent parent granting permission for the child to travel. This should be sworn before a notary public and signed by the absent parent(s). If the parent is deceased a certified death certificate may be necessary.
Please call: 1-242-322-1181 ext.1
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 1-242-322-1181 ext.43111
Emergency Contact – All Locations Get Travel Alerts International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
