Passport renewal Bahamas costs B$50 for an adult and B$25 for a child, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Bahamian dollar is pegged one to one with the US dollar, so that is US$50 and US$25. An adult ePassport is valid for 10 years, and a child’s for five. Online renewal takes 7 to 10 business days, and in-person applications take 3 to 5 weeks.
If you’re researching passport renewal Bahamas, you have three routes: the online ePassport service, an in-person visit to a passport office in the islands, or an appointment at a Bahamian embassy or High Commission abroad. The fee is the same on all three, but the timing, documents and eligibility are not. This guide covers the fee schedule, the online service and its limits, in-person documents, minors, lost passports, applying abroad and the places where the sources disagree. It draws on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pages on online renewal (last updated 13 February 2025, with a later modification date of 29 April 2026), on applying for a passport and on replacing a lost passport (all undated), and on the Bahamas High Commission in Canada (undated). Only the courier fee has a firm date, 1 November 2024, so confirm every amount with the passport office before you pay. For how renewal works in the United States, see our passport renewal guide.
How Much Does Passport Renewal Bahamas Cost?
B$50 for an adult and B$25 for a child, with B$300 for expedited online processing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the following fees.
The processing fee is nonrefundable, and the online service takes credit or debit cards. At the passport office, you pay in cash after your application is approved.
What Do the Fees Work Out to per Year?
An adult passport costs B$5 per year, and a child’s passport costs B$5 per year as well. The arithmetic is 50 divided by 10 for an adult and 25 divided by 5 for a child. The ePassport page says the validity is 5 years under age 16 and 10 years from age 16.
A family of two adults and two children pays B$150 at renewal (B$50 twice plus B$25 twice). Expediting just one adult passport online adds B$250 (300 minus 50). The expedited fee therefore costs six times the standard one, so it suits an emergency, not a routine renewal. Outside The Bahamas, the B$35 courier fee applies on top.
How Does Online Passport Renewal Bahamas Work?
Confirm you have the documents, complete the online application, pay by card and wait 7 to 10 business days. The service is limited to Bahamian citizens who previously held an ePassport, and you can renew up to one year before expiry.
- Tick the boxes confirming you hold the required documents, then open the online application.
- Upload the documents and complete the form.
- Pay by credit or debit card. You receive an electronic receipt by email, so check the junk folder if it doesn’t arrive.
- Collect the passport or have it couriered, and bring your old passport and the receipt, since the old one is cancelled at collection.
The office may ask for other government information or updated documents. The Ministry says it doesn’t guarantee or control courier delivery times.
Which Documents Does Online Renewal Need?
A scan of your current ePassport, a recent digital photo, your National Insurance Board (NIB) number and card, and a card for payment. The Ministry lists four items.
- A PDF of the personal data page and signature page of your current ePassport.
- A recent digital photo taken within six months, in JPEG, PNG or BMP format, 2 by 2 inches (about 5 by 5 cm) at 600 dots per inch. The photo must be in colour on a plain white or off-white background, with a neutral expression, a full face view and visible hairline and ears. Selfies are not accepted.
- Your NIB number and a PDF of your NIB smartcard.
- A valid credit or debit card.
Who Cannot Renew Online?
Anyone with a lost, stolen or damaged passport, a name change or a first ePassport must go in person. The Ministry says these cases need an enrollment location. A traveler with a damaged passport therefore books an in-person visit instead.
How Does the In-Person Application Work?
Book an appointment on the ePassport eCalendar or walk in, attend with your documents and have your biometrics captured. The application page lists offices in Nassau (the Basden Building on Thompson Boulevard), Freeport (the Cornelius A. Smith Government Complex) and the Abaco administrator’s offices in Cooper’s Town, Marsh Harbour and Sandy Point. The replacement page says no appointment is required but it is strongly recommended, and that online applicants get a confirmed appointment within 48 hours and a dedicated window.
Enrollment in Nassau runs from 8:30 am to 3:45 pm, according to the application page. The same page says the normal wait is 20 to 30 minutes, and peak periods in summer, around Thanksgiving and at Christmas can mean three hours or more. You receive three copies of a receipt, and you bring the receipt and your current passport to collect the ePassport.
What Documents Does an In-Person Renewal Need?
A completed form, three colour photos, a birth document, a National Insurance card and your existing passport. The application page lists these for a renewal.
- A completed application form.
- Three colour photos on a white background, taken within six months. Teeth must not show, and hairline and ears must be visible.
- A birth certificate, registered affidavit or adoption certificate.
- A National Insurance card.
- Your existing passport.
If the passport expired 10 or more years ago, Section 10 of the form and one photo must be countersigned by an approved person such as a notary public, pastor, marriage officer, Justice of the Peace, school principal or manager-level corporate executive. A name change after marriage needs a certified marriage certificate or a decree absolute. Originals are returned after enrollment. The photo rules differ from the online ones, as the paper process asks for three prints and the online one a single digital image.
What Applies to Minors?
A parent or documented legal guardian must attend, and a first passport includes an interview. The application page says a father who accompanies a minor must show a certified marriage certificate or proof of guardianship. For renewals without a parent present, bring a letter of authorization from the parent or guardian plus the authorized person’s valid photo ID. The replacement page says children aged 10 and over must sign the form, and everyone aged 14 and over must be fingerprinted.
The sources set the child cut-off in three different places. The Ministry fee list says under 15 for the online service, the application page says under 16 in one place and 15 and under or 15 and a half in another, and the High Commission says under 16. A 15-year-old should confirm which fee applies before the visit.
How Long Does It Take?
Online renewal takes 7 to 10 business days, in-person processing takes 3 to 5 weeks, and the Canada High Commission quotes about 12 weeks. The table lines up the timings.
The in-person estimate can run longer in peak periods, and courier time is never included. A traveler who applies on 2 November in Nassau should plan for the passport in early December, and one who applies in Ottawa should plan for late January. Ten business days is about 14 calendar days, while the in-person range is 21 to 35 days.
What If the Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
Report it to the passport office, file a police report and apply in person, at the same B$50 fee for an adult. The replacement page lists B$50 for an adult, B$25 for a minor and B$100 for an adult frequent traveller, whether the passport was valid or expired, lost, stolen or damaged. A frequent traveller therefore pays B$50 more than a standard adult (100 minus 50).
The replacement page does not mention a police report. The application page and the Canada High Commission do, and the application page asks for a police report to collect the ePassport if you’ve lost your old one. Bring one. For a damaged passport, the office verifies and copies the original and returns it. The documents are a completed form, three colour photos (one countersigned), a birth certificate or affidavit and a National Insurance card, and an interview is conducted.
How Does Renewal Work Abroad?
Online applicants pay a B$35 courier fee and collect in person at a chosen location, and missions in Canada, China, London and the USA accept applications. The Ministry says collection outside The Bahamas requires appearing in person with your most recent passport and payment receipt. The High Commission in Ottawa takes applications in person by appointment only, booked by phone from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and quotes about 12 weeks from enrollment.
The Ottawa page lists B$50 for adults 16 and over, B$25 for children and B$50 to replace a damaged, lost or stolen passport, and a B$35 emergency travel document. A traveler in Toronto who needs to fly home in two weeks would ask about the emergency travel document, since the 12-week passport timeline doesn’t fit.
Which Route Fits Which Applicant?
Use the online service if you held an ePassport and have no complications, and go in person if you don’t. The table lines up the options.
How Reliable Are the Sources?
They are government pages, but most are undated and they differ on details. The online renewal page is the best dated source, last updated on 13 February 2025 with a modification date of 29 April 2026. The application and replacement pages carry no date, and they mention a deadline from 24 November 2015, so they describe the ePassport system’s early years. The High Commission page is undated too.
The sources conflict on the child cut-off, the processing time (7 to 10 business days online against 3 to 5 weeks in person), and whether a police report is required for a lost passport. Treat the fee of B$50 and B$25 as the safest figure, since all three pages agree. Treat timing and age cut-offs as estimates.
What Should You Check Before You File?
Confirm that you are eligible for the online route, your age band and your photo format. Three quick checks save the most time.
- Check that you held an ePassport and that nothing has changed, since the online route excludes name changes.
- Check which age band applies to a 15-year-old before paying.
- Match the photo to the route: three prints in person, one digital image online.
A parent renewing a 14-year-old’s passport should bring a letter of authorization if the other parent isn’t present.
Which Mistakes Delay Passport Renewal Bahamas?
Using the wrong route and skipping the police report cause most delays. Check each point first.
- Starting an online renewal for a lost or damaged passport.
- Uploading a selfie or an old photo.
- Forgetting the NIB card scan.
- Paying the B$300 expedited fee without needing it.
- Leaving out the police report for a lost passport.
- Sending a minor without a parent or a letter of authorization.
- Skipping the countersignature on a passport that expired 10 or more years ago.
- Planning a trip within 12 weeks of applying in Ottawa.
FAQs
How much does passport renewal Bahamas cost?
B$50 for an adult and B$25 for a child, equal to US$50 and US$25.
How long is a Bahamian passport valid?
Ten years from age 16, and five years for children under 16.
How long does online renewal take?
7 to 10 business days, or 36 to 48 hours with the B$300 expedited option.
Can I renew while living abroad?
Yes, online for a B$35 courier fee, or through a mission in Canada, China, London or the USA.
When can I renew before expiry?
Up to one year before the passport expires, according to the Ministry.
What if my passport is stolen?
Report it, bring a police report and apply in person. The fee is B$50 for an adult.
Conclusion
Passport renewal Bahamas costs B$50 for an adult and B$25 for a child, and an adult ePassport is valid for 10 years. Renew online up to one year before expiry if you held an ePassport.
