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Permanent Residence (by Investment)

Ideal for high-net-worth individuals investing in Bahamian property

$750,000+ real estate Cost

Permanent Duration

6–12 months Processing

None (investment required) Income required

At a glance

The Permanent Residence (by Investment) is a Bahamas visa with a Permanent term, costing approximately $750,000+ real estate. Processing takes 6–12 months. Holders can work for local Bahamas clients. Dependents may be included.

Who Is This Visa For?

Ideal for high-net-worth individuals investing in Bahamian property.

high-net-worth individuals investing in Bahamian property
Working with Bahamas clients
Families relocating together
Long-term relocations (1+ year)

Eligibility Requirements

Nationality

Open to most nationalities. Confirm specific country exclusions on the official source.

Minimum income

None (investment required)

Background check

Clean criminal record from your country of citizenship and any country you have resided in over the past 5 years.

Health insurance

International health insurance with coverage in Bahamas is typically required at application.

Passport

Valid passport with at least 12 months remaining and 2+ blank pages.

Minimum stay

No minimum to maintain visa validity (and to establish tax residency where applicable).

Dependents

Spouse and children may be included as dependents on the same application.

Work permitted

You may work for both Bahamas and foreign clients/employers.

Application Checklist (7 Steps)

Verify your eligibility

Read the official Bahamas portal carefully. Confirm you meet the income threshold (None (investment required)), have a clean criminal record, and that your nationality isn't on any exclusion list. If your situation is borderline (e.g., income from multiple sources, partial-year residency), book a 30-minute call with a Bahamas immigration lawyer before applying.

1 day

Gather supporting documents

The standard document package: valid passport (12+ months validity), recent passport photos (per Bahamas specs), proof of income (last 3-6 months bank statements, employment contract, tax returns), police clearance from your home country (and any country you've lived in past 5 years), proof of international health insurance, and proof of accommodation in Bahamas if required. Get certified translations into the destination's official language where applicable.

2-4 weeks

Open international banking

Don't wait until arrival. Open a multi-currency account like Wise from your home country. You'll need it to receive your last home-country paycheques, hold reserves while applying, and transition smoothly once you land. See our full international banking guide for expats.

1-2 weeks

Submit your application

Submit through the official Bahamas portal. Pay the application fee (approximately $750,000+ real estate). Save your reference number — you'll need it for status checks and any follow-up. Most Bahamas visa portals require uploads of clearly-scanned PDFs; blurred or low-resolution scans are a common rejection reason.

6–12 months

Wait for processing (6–12 months)

Processing varies. During this period, hold off on signing leases, quitting your job, or making non-refundable bookings. The official Bahamas portal typically allows status checks via your application reference number. If processing exceeds the published time by 50%+, contact the immigration office in writing.

6–12 months

Travel and complete arrival formalities

Once approved, book travel. On arrival: collect your residence card or visa stamp, register your address with the local immigration office, get a local SIM, and open a domestic bank account. Make sure your health insurance is active from day one — most Bahamas hospitals require proof before treating non-residents.

1-2 weeks

Establish tax residency + ongoing compliance

Tax residency typically requires meeting the No minimum threshold. Keep boarding passes, passport stamps, and accommodation records as proof. Coordinate with a tax adviser in both your origin country (for exit/departure tax) and Bahamas (for entry compliance). If you hold crypto, set up crypto tax software before the residency change so cost basis carries cleanly across jurisdictions.

Year-round

Tools You'll Need (Affiliate Picks)

Every expat moving to Bahamas ends up needing the same three pieces of infrastructure. We've vetted these and earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you.

Banking Wise Multi-currency account. Receive Bahamas salary or foreign income at the real exchange rate. Open before you arrive. Open Wise account → Health Insurance SafetyWing Visa-compliant international health insurance from $45/mo. Required by most Bahamas immigration applications. Get SafetyWing → Crypto Tax Koinly If you hold crypto, lock in your cost basis before residency change. Reports for 20+ countries including Bahamas. Try Koinly →

Tax Implications of Moving to Bahamas

Holding the Permanent Residence (by Investment) with No minimum typically establishes Bahamas tax residency. That changes your global tax position — usually for the better, but the mechanics vary by your origin country and your worldwide income mix.

Read our full Bahamas tax + cost-of-living breakdown for the complete picture, or run your own numbers in the calculator to compare Bahamas against your home country.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Permanent Residence (by Investment) cost?

The Permanent Residence (by Investment) costs approximately $750,000+ real estate as of the most recent published rates. This is the application fee; budget separately for legal fees if you use a lawyer (typically $1,000-$5,000), document translations, police clearances, and the cost of moving to Bahamas.

How long does the Permanent Residence (by Investment) take to process?

Processing typically takes 6–12 months. Submission errors (incomplete documents, unclear scans, missing translations) are the most common cause of delays. Plan to apply at least 2-3 months before your intended move date.

Can I work for local Bahamas clients on the Permanent Residence (by Investment)?

Yes. The Permanent Residence (by Investment) permits work for both Bahamas and foreign clients/employers.

Can I bring my family on the Permanent Residence (by Investment)?

Yes. Spouse and dependent children may be included on the same application, though additional fees and document requirements apply per dependent. Education-ready children typically also need school enrollment documentation.

Does the Permanent Residence (by Investment) make me a tax resident of Bahamas?

Holding the visa does not automatically make you tax-resident; the days-of-presence test does. Bahamas typically requires No minimum for tax residency. Crucially, becoming tax-resident in Bahamas does NOT automatically end your tax residency in your home country — you usually need to actively break that, which can trigger exit/departure tax. Read our blog for origin-specific guides.

Where is the official source for the Permanent Residence (by Investment)?

The official source is https://www.immigration.gov.bs/. We recommend treating this Tax Exodus guide as a starting point, then confirming all specifics — fees, document requirements, processing times — at the official source before applying. Visa rules change with little notice.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up via these links, Tax Exodus may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend tools we have personally used or thoroughly evaluated.

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Visa rules and tax laws change frequently. The definitive source is the official Bahamas government portal. Always consult a qualified immigration lawyer and tax professional before making relocation decisions.