Bahamas proposes visa-free travel treaty With United States

The Bahamas Government is proposing that the United States consider a formal visa-free travel treaty between the two countries, citing intensified US immigration enforcement and recent comments by US President Donald Trump about banning migration from “third world countries.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told Parliament that visa-free access has long been a desire of Bahamian citizens and that the issue has taken on greater urgency as Washington increases pressure on illegal migrants.

“Bahamians have always wanted to travel freely to the United States,” Mitchell said. He noted that in previous discussions with US officials—and in private talks with the prime minister—he had suggested a formal treaty to guarantee visa-free entry for Bahamian nationals.

Mitchell argued that lawful movement should be facilitated, especially in an era of climate change when climate-related emergencies could drive cross-border displacement. “If 400,000 of us moved to the states, it wouldn’t make a difference in terms of impact on the population,” he said. “But the fact is that you have to behave lawfully, and this ought to be lawful entry into another country.”

Bahamians may currently travel to the United States without a visa only when entering directly from The Bahamas and with a clean police record. A visa is required if entering from any third country.

Mitchell’s comments came during debate on the Smuggling of Migrants Bill, 2025, which he said is necessary to bring Bahamian law in line with international standards.

“You can’t go into another man’s country unlawfully, and neither can a government, The Bahamas Government, be seen to be condoning the unlawful entry of people into another country,” he said.

The proposal for a visa-free treaty has not yet been formally presented to the United States, and the US Government has not publicly responded to the suggestion.