Birth certificate for travel to The Bahamas

[floridacargocat]

Had an interesting moment yesterday, when someone called me with the question "Can I travel with a birth certificate to The Bahamas?". The answer would have been automatically "Yes", but then came the information, that this customer was a naturalized US citizen with a birth certificate from a foreign country, and then the answer is a resounding "NO". You can only travel with your passport, as the birth certificate does not indicate the US citizenship.
Just one more item to verify before you go , also for all the charter companies to ask the right questions.
Goes back to all my postings "Get yourselves a passport", and then avoid quite some problems.

[Abacoparrott]

It's probably smarter for most of you folks to have a passport when traveling to the Bahamas. However, to answer the frequent question.."CAN I travel to the Bahamas with a raised seal birth certificate and drivers license if I am a US citizen"? The answer is yes....at least for now. Ken

[airfloridagreg]

In the four years I have traveled to and from the Bahamas I have yet to have a problem with the issue of someone traveling on a birth certificate with a photo ID! Can't quite understand why this topic keeps poppin' up. If you are flying cargo floridacargocat then why do you keep bringing this question to surface?

[TurtleDreams]

There are a lot of people out there who think they have a valid birth certificate who arrive at the airport and are refused boarding for a vacation of a lifetime because they were wrong. Sure there are ways to make sure your document is what it needs to be and people should take the time find out, and I suppose it's their tough luck if they haven't done the proper research. But I had to leave such a poor sole at the airport so I happen to think that the more often this comes up the better. All I know is a passport is just that; easy, fast and unambiguous. The point of the board is to give people information and let them decide. Treasure Cay, Guana, Hope Town, Gillam, Tahiti Beach, Little Harbor, Cherokee? Private home, small resort, boat, no boat? Cell phones, wireless hotspots? Passport or birth certificate? It's all about information.
Susan

[PattyB]

A little more on the topic.
Back in June, our flight had to leave behind a mother and her 2 children. She was quite insistant that her children did not need birth certificates! Dad and others took off for MH while Mom scrambled for the kid's BCs, hoping to catch a later flight. That family learned the hard way that chidren need proper documentation, also!

[floridacargocat]

Patty, thank you for providing these very descriptive examples of what I am trying to convince the travelling public. Birth certificates are a very tricky issue, and under today's conditions, who is able to distinguish a true and genuine original birth certificate from a fake one? Copies of birth certificates need to have the raised seal, otherwise they do raise questions, and might lead to events as you described.

[Abacoparrott]

Folks, this issue is very simple. A RAISED-SEAL birth certificate means RAISED -SEAL. When some ask this question..."can I travel to the Bahamas with a birth certificate and Government issued ID"? the answer is yes if you are a NATURAL BORN US citizen and you have a raised seal birth certificate. Now I guess there are those who might have a little trouble with details.....such as raised seal. None of us can control that. A little more info......for some reason there is a big backlog of Passport applications right now. A friend of mine ordered one almost 3 months ago and still doesn't have his at this time. The government tells him it has been taking 3 times longer than normal to process all of the applications. It's also costing more now.....when I ordered mine I believe it was 85.00.....now it's over 100.00......and that's normal delivery....not expedited. So if a new traveler plans to go to Abaco in the next couple of months and doesn't presently have a passport, then I would advise a RAISED SEAL Birth Certificate be used. Ken

[rumrunner]

Why don't we just post the rules at the intro page and then the link to the Bahamas Tourism site.

http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/about/entryrequirements.aspx?sectionid=60521&level=2&toplevel=59196

[mdbee]

Well, not to "beat a dead horse" but that web site says a "raised or ink" seal. Does that mean it does not necessarly have to be raised, as has been mentioned before?

Mike

[Abacoparrott]

Well, this is a good time to be conservative and go with what we KNOW works.....raised seal. all ya have to do is go see, or call the county office where you were born. This is where you get the "official" birth certificate......not the hospital where you were born. Ken

[airfloridagreg]

A notory public can in fact acknowledge the identity of an individual with their birth certificate and photo id. We have two on staff and have used their services before. Their seals are (1) raised and (1) not raised. Both have been utilized and there has not been a problem. If you are traveling on a birth certificate and are a US born citizen with a photo id then it would be my pleasure to have you aboard my plane!

[PatW]

Wow, I just got my passport and it took only 3 weeks and it was NOT expedited. It was $55.00 for the passport and $30.00 for the Clerk of the Court fee in Orange Park, Fl.





Folks, this issue is very simple. A RAISED-SEAL birth certificate means RAISED -SEAL. When some ask this question..."can I travel to the Bahamas with a birth certificate and Government issued ID"? the answer is yes if you are a NATURAL BORN US citizen and you have a raised seal birth certificate. Now I guess there are those who might have a little trouble with details.....such as raised seal. None of us can control that. A little more info......for some reason there is a big backlog of Passport applications right now. A friend of mine ordered one almost 3 months ago and still doesn't have his at this time. The government tells him it has been taking 3 times longer than normal to process all of the applications. It's also costing more now.....when I ordered mine I believe it was 85.00.....now it's over 100.00......and that's normal delivery....not expedited. So if a new traveler plans to go to Abaco in the next couple of months and doesn't presently have a passport, then I would advise a RAISED SEAL Birth Certificate be used. Ken

[Abacoparrott]

Pat, this must mean that you have been traveling to Abaco all of these years with a birth certificate? How did it work? Ken

[bocaboater]

While I know a birth certificate (raised seal) is allowed, I still do not understand how it proves anything. No address, no photo, basically just a name and location.

If my wife were to use her birth certificate, it would have a last name that she no longer uses or has any other ID that references her maiden name. Does she need to bring marrage certificate too!

[PattyB]

I don't know about other states, but Floida uses a maiden name as the middle name on the photo ID. I've found that very useful countless times! Not just for traveling. I've used it to prove that I am, indeed, my parent's daughter and brother's sister.

[PatW]

Worked great Ken! I have had to purchase several over the years because I wore them out with all the trips to the Abacos!!! The only reason I got a passport is because I need one to get a Bahamian Spousal Permit.




Pat, this must mean that you have been traveling to Abaco all of these years with a birth certificate? How did it work? Ken

[BA]

Yes, I would think you do need to have the official copy of your marriage certificate as well as your drivers license with your new name. I actually have a passport, but it's got my maiden name (yes, I know, I need to have it updated) and I have to have my marriage certificate to verify.
They may give you a perturbed look if they're real busy, but they'll let you in! :)

[mdbee]

I promise, my final post on this subject. I picked up a new birth certificate today, at my home town in Texas. The city clerk explained to me that 8 years ago they switched to a "banknote security paper" with special inks, engraved borders with seals made onto the paper. Since the change to the new paper they no longer are allowed to use the city seal.

She also said that some people will use a "notary seal" to give the look of a raised seal but that would actually, invalidate the birth certificate. A birth certificate is suppose to be "certified" no "notarized". (she said some people barely stamp it. so as not to actually make the "notarized" legable - sneaky, huh?) The supporting documentation with the birth certificate also says that if you laminate the certificate, it will also void it.

Although the new certificate has a raised state and city seals along with a textured border, I will probably use my 50 year old birth certificate, since it has the traditional looking seal. Next time I will probably get a passport but this is a spur of the moment trip and I don't want to chance a delay getting a new passport.

Mike

[Abacoparrott]

Mike, Why don't you take the 50 yr old certificate with you but use the new one just to "try it out"? If it doesn't work, whip out the old one. A lot of us would love to know how ya do......ken

[airfloridagreg]

I have washed my passport once again folks and it doesn't seem to scan on the Homeland Security computer- the Inspectors have to enter me in manually.... Time to fall back on my birth certificate/ photo id. Argh...................

[dragos]

Just to let you know that if you are a naturalised US citizen, you can use your Naturilisation Certificate instead of your birth certificate (together with a photo ID of course) when entering the Bahamas. Personally, I still think a passport is a 'solve all' solution with no possibility of falling short of required paperwork

[Tai Tai]

In this day and age anyone traveling out of the states without a passport is...well...asking for trouble. Just say "yes" and get a passport!

[Roamin' Off]

I agree! I traveled many years on my BC and I can tell you, since I got my Passport, it has been such a pleasure going through Immigration in the US especially after 9/11. As long as you have nothing to hide, why opt for potential problems? I have had officials look at me sideways sometimes and also ask plenty of unnessisary questions and even sometimes make me feel like I did something wrong when I didn't.

There really is no reason other than lazyness as to why someone doesn't get and use a passport when they travel. The Bahamas does US citizens a COURTOUSY by allowing them to visit their country on an archaic document. Bahamians and any other nationality HAS to not only possess a passport but a VISA as well when they travel to the US. I would love to see a Bahamian travel to the US with only a BC and argue with Immigration "Hey mon, it's a raise seal like ya said I need to enter and hea's my driva licence too. I Is who I is on dis paper mon! Whatcha mean I gat a go back home?"

American's have no idea how EASY they have it and should not abuse the priveledges they have at home or abroad. Pay a little extra next time if you are in a rush, and if you aren't it isn't that expensive. Yea I needed mine right away and it cost me over $100, but it got to me quick and I have no worrys now.

Get updated Ken! We are in the 21st centrury now! Get your little blue book to travel and stop trying to get away with stuff and encourage others to follow suit. At some point, The US gov't will stop allowing citizens to travel on BCs and guarunteed they will not let you know until that one day you happen to be returning with a belly full of kalik and in no mood to deal with:" When did this happen? I ALWAYS travel this way!"

All things will come to an end, don't get caught off guard.

[Abacoparrott]

In another thread you stated that you were "a Bahamian living in Marsh". However, in this thread you stated that you had traveled using only a birth certificate. I thought only americans could do that? BTW, I HAVE a passport. I just answer folks questions straight up. A RAISED SEAL birth certificate IS legal. All of the other mumbo jumbo is merely opinion. Another thing...Bahamian officials CHOOSE to accept BC's in order to ENCOURAGE tourism. If BC's are ever not allowed, if will come from the US side NOT Bahamian.....ken

[Roamin' Off]

I have dual status as do many people.

[Abacoparrott]

and of course you don't have to answer....were you US or Bahamian born? ken

[Roamin' Off]

US.... and before you go any further about what I believe you are going to say, flip to the back of your passport and read about DUAL NATIONALLITY.

[Abacoparrott]

was just curious about your birth country. When you responded to "Chef" in "High Rocks" thread, it appeared that you were natural born Bahamian. Thanks for clearing that up....ken

[Cynthia]

Canadians have always been able to travel to the Caribbean and Bahamas on a birth certificate, especially to the British islands. It has only been since 9/11 that I have used a passport, unless going to South America or Europe.

Cynthia

[MyWayNC]

I have been using my B.C. or an old expired passport for years. Last trip was in April '04. I think the passort has to be no more than 10 years expired to be good. but... I am going to apply for a new passport. Not afraid of getting into the Bahamas, more afraid of not getting back into the USA easily.

[Rag Top]

Here is a link to dowload the application form for a US passport. Hope this helps.
Dave

http://travel.state.gov/passport/download_applications.html