Residency by Investment in Bahamas

People who want to relocate to the Bahamas can apply for ordinary residence permits or can choose the residency by investment scheme enabled by the Government. If you want to apply for residency by investment in the Bahamas, our specialists are at your disposal with complete support in enrolling in this program. We are also at your service if you are interested in exploring other citizenship by investment countries.

The new program for residency by investment in the Bahamas

With effect from January 1^st, 2025, the Bahamas government raised the minimum investment required for the Economic Certificate of Permanent Residence category from BSD 750,000 to BSD 1,000,000 (about USD 1,000,000). In this category, foreign nationals are required to invest the minimum amount in Bahamas real estate or in Central Bank of the Bahamas Zero-Coupon Bonds.

Additionally, certificate holders must maintain their investment for at least 10 years starting on the same date. Failing to meet these conditions may lead to the Immigration Board withdrawing one’s residency status. Feel free to address our local specialists for details on these new requirements.

The golden passport scheme – one of the most appealing ways of moving to the Bahamas in 2026

Out of all golden visa/golden passport schemes around the world, the Bahamas offers only permanent residence by investment (there is no citizenship by investment program), and it addresses people from all over the world who are more than 18 years old and have a clean criminal record. Obtaining permanent residence by investment here is also conditioned by a minimum capital injection of money in the local economy.

The options one can choose from are:

1. real estate acquisition anywhere in The Bahamas, or purchase of Central Bank of The Bahamas zero-coupon bonds (minimum USD 1,000,000);
2. investment in key-focus industries, among which tourism, IT, maritime construction, and the medical sector;
3. a combination of the two options.

If you are a foreign investor interested in applying for a golden visa in the Bahamas, you can invest in a local business while owning a property on the island.

Our local agents can help you obtain permanent residence here or a golden passport in another country of your choosing. For obtaining 2026 Bahamas permanent residenceyou should follow a legal procedure that can be explained by our lawyers.

The minimum amount to be invested under the golden visa

Because the program is new, the government did not forward a minimum investment at the beginning, however, according to data on the websites of the Department of Immigration and of the Bahamas Investment Authority, the following amounts were issued:

• at least 1,000,000 Bahamas dollars (or USD) according to the Department of Immigration;
• at least 1.5 million Bahamas dollars (or USD) according to the Bahamas Investment Authority;
• real estate purchases must also have a minimum value of USD 1,000,000 for obtaining golden visas for the Bahamas.

As things are starting to settle, you can rely on our local advisors for more information on how to apply for Bahamas residency by investment.

You can also rely on us if you are interested in other golden visa countries in Europe or the Caribbean region. We can help you obtain permanent residence in the Bahamas in 2026if you observe the local rules.

Documents to prepare for obtaining residency by investment in the Bahamas

The documents to file with the Department of Immigration for obtaining a golden visa in the Bahamas are:

• a copy of the passport;
• two character references;
• clean criminal record;
• marriage certificate and birth certificates of children when moving here with the family;
• proof of financial worthiness;
• healthcare certificate.

If you want to move here and need guidance in preparing and filing your documents, our golden visa consultants can guide you.

You should also notice that the minimum period for maintaining the investment is 10 years. Here is also an infographic on the Bahamas residency program:

We also have teams in other citizenship by investment countries, if you decide on other states.

Investment in real estate under the Bahamas Golden Visa

Real estate investors must make an investment by purchasing a property to qualify for the permanent residency program in the Bahamas. More specifically, the minimum amount is 1 million USD on the respective property. Apart from these, the investor must also show that they have the means to support themselves during their living here.

The Bahamas’ immigration laws can make it difficult for real estate investors to get permanent residency. This is where our golden visa specialists can assist with this procedure through representation with the local immigration authorities.

Once acquired, you can obtain revenue by renting out the property you bought during the time of year you are not in the country.

An important aspect to consider is that for investments made under this program, a 10-year holding period is required. Also, the permanent residence permit does not require renewal. However, in order to demonstrate that the data on the residency application is still accurate, the permit holder must submit a report to the Bahamas Department of Immigration every 10 years.

If you are interested in buying a property under the Bahamas residency by investment scheme, feel free to get in touch with our specialists for assistance, including for the acquisition procedure.

Bahamas residency by investment through business creation

Another option to obtain residency by investment in this Caribbean state is business registration. Investors are required to make a minimum investment of 500,000 USD in a sector that is not limited to the citizens of this country only.

For this purpose, one must:

1. send a project proposal and any necessary supporting documentation to the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA);
2. the application will be processed and then sent to the National Economic Council for review.

Depending on the proposed commercial activity, one of the following authorities must also sign off on the project:

• the Ministry of Works and Transportation;
• the Ministry of the Environment
• the Family Island Local Government;
• the Ministry of Housing.

The BIA will notify the applicant in writing once a decision has been made. Please expect the procedure to be completed in a few months, no matter the immigration pathway you choose.

Among the sectors in which foreign investors can set up businesses in under the Bahamas residency by investment program, we mention the following:

• infrastructure
• agriculture;
• education;
• tourism;
• technology.

When it comes to the procedure that must be completed with the Immigration Department, the average time, it takes to make a choice is 3 to 4 weeks. Once you have been approved, you can obtain a permit for permanent residence.

Procedure to obtain a residence permit for the Bahamas

No matter the pathway one chooses to enter the program, he or she is required to set up a local bank account for the transfer of money necessary for the purchase of the residency after purchasing real estate worth at least USD 1,000,000 or making a business investment.

The Immigration Department must receive the official application for permanent residency along with the supporting documents listed below:

• a certified copy of the passport and any other visas;
• documentation of the money transfer for the property’s acquisition.

Legal evidence, such as a deed and a payment receipt, must be presented when purchasing real estate in the Bahamas. Here is also our video on this topic:

We are also at your disposal with support if you want to apply for citizenship by investment in other countries.

The main advantages of the Bahamas residency by investment scheme in 2026

There are numerous benefits to relocating to the Bahamas, including a tax-friendly climate and lack of income or capital gains taxes. The weather is also almost ideal. With about 340 days of sunshine a year, beach-ready summers, and slightly chill winters. With direct international flights from the USA, Canada, Europe, and South America, it is simple to travel to the Bahamas. You can move to the Bahamas and live there as a permanent resident, an independent economic resident, a house owner resident or a seasonal homeowner resident with a work permit sponsored by your employer. For stays longer than 3 weeks, valid passports and visas may be required.

The residency by investment scheme in the Bahamas comes with various advantages, although it leads to permanent residence only (the Bahamas has no citizenship by investment program). If you decide to relocate here with family members, no additional investment or fees must be paid, which is one of the most significant benefits of this program.

Based on a golden visa, a permanent resident becomes eligible for citizenship after 10 years if he or she has lived here for 6 uninterrupted years. Also:

• there is no minimum stay requirement;
• the country offers a favorable investment climate with a good choice of financial institutions such as banks, trust companies, insurance companies, corporate service providers, etc.
• it has an excellent geographical location with direct flights to London, Toronto, New York, and other major cities, and only a thirty-minute flight from Miami.

Bahamas citizens have visa-free travel to 142 countries, including China, Japan, Singapore, and others, according to the Nomad Passport Index.

As members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Bahamian nationals can enter the UK for a period of 180 days without a visa and can enter the US through Freeport or Nassau International Airport without a US visa. Furthermore, all that is needed for Bahamas nationals to enter Canada is an electronic permit.

Tax benefits for residents in the Bahamas

The Bahamas is considered a tax haven, as the fiscal code here provides for various exemptions. Some of the most important ones are:

• the lack of a personal income tax and of a general corporate income tax (since 2024 large multinational groups pay a 15% domestic minimum top-up tax);
• the lack of net worth tax.

However, the authorities levy 2% property tax on land and buildings. However, there are also some exemptions that apply to certain types of real estate. The transfer of certain assets is also subject to stamp duties.

When it comes to businesspersons, the creation of an offshore company comes with multiple advantages among which fewer accounting requirements and beneficial ownership confidentiality.

If you want to move to this part of the world and decide on residency by investment in the Bahamas in 2026,  please get in touch with our local specialists for guidance in support in preparing the application file. Obtain Bahamas permanent residence with the help of our experienced lawyers.