Bahamas (BS)
An English-speaking Caribbean archipelago close to Florida, known for high-end tourism, no personal income tax, strong financial services, second-home communities, turquoise water and very high island living costs.
Capital: Nassau
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: BSD ($)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 75)
Emergency: 911
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Bahamas.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Certificate of Permanent Residence
Eligibility
The Bahamas offers permanent residency through several routes. The Economic route requires a minimum qualifying investment of BSD 1,000,000 (raised from BSD 750,000 effective 1 January 2025) held for at least 10 years in Bahamian real estate or Central Bank bonds. Spousal and family routes are available for spouses and dependent children of Bahamian citizens. A retiree category exists for financially self-sufficient individuals.
Duration
Permanent, subject to continued compliance and no grounds for revocation
Requirements
- ✓Economic route: minimum BSD 1,000,000 qualifying investment (real estate or Central Bank bonds) with a 10-year minimum hold period; minimum 90 days/year presence in The Bahamas required — all effective January 2025
- ✓Spousal route: valid marriage to a Bahamian citizen with supporting civil documents
- ✓All routes: clean police certificate from home country (apostilled), medical certificate, proof of source of funds, government application fee, interview where required
- ✓Application submitted to the Department of Immigration, Nassau
The Economic PR investment threshold increased from BSD 750,000 to BSD 1,000,000 on 1 January 2025. The 10-year minimum hold period means the investment cannot be liquidated without risking PR status. Permanent residency does not confer the right to work without a separate work permit unless the investor category grants work rights; confirm with the Department of Immigration.
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Citizenship
Name
Bahamian Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Foreign nationals who have held legal permanent residency in The Bahamas for at least 10 years — including at least 12 months of continuous lawful residence immediately preceding the application — may apply for citizenship by naturalisation. The grant is at the Cabinet's discretion and is not an automatic entitlement on meeting the time threshold.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓10 years of legal permanent residency in The Bahamas
- ✓At least 12 consecutive months of lawful residence immediately before the application
- ✓Good character — clean criminal record
- ✓Adequate knowledge of English and the rights and duties of Bahamian citizenship
- ✓Genuine intention to remain in The Bahamas
- ✓Application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with sworn declarations, police clearances and residence documentation
- ✓Oath of allegiance to The Bahamas
Naturalisation is politically sensitive and discretionary — meeting the statutory requirements does not guarantee approval. Processing times can exceed 12–24 months. Bahamian citizenship does not permit dual citizenship for adults over the age of 21.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)
Eligibility
Persons born to at least one Bahamian citizen parent are entitled to Bahamian citizenship by descent. The constitutional rules are gender-neutral for births after 10 July 1973. Children born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian citizen parent must register their citizenship within a prescribed period.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent from birth or registration
Requirements
- ✓At least one parent must be a Bahamian citizen at the time of birth
- ✓Birth certificate and parent citizenship evidence
- ✓Registration at the nearest Bahamian consulate or the Passport Office for births outside The Bahamas
Children who are born with dual citizenship (one Bahamian parent, one foreign parent) may hold both nationalities until age 21. At 21, they must renounce one citizenship within 12 months or automatically lose their Bahamian citizenship. This 12-month window is strictly enforced.
Spousal Registration Route
Eligibility
Spouses of Bahamian citizens may apply for citizenship by registration. There is no dedicated fast-track that bypasses the effective long-residence requirement, but spousal status strengthens a naturalisation application and may facilitate the initial permanent residency grant.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved by Cabinet
Requirements
- ✓Valid and subsisting marriage to a Bahamian citizen (marriage certificate with apostille)
- ✓Permanent residency as a spousal dependent or qualifying resident
- ✓Good character — clean criminal record
- ✓Genuine matrimonial relationship (no marriage of convenience)
- ✓Cabinet approval
The spousal route provides a basis for permanent residency and strengthens a subsequent naturalisation application, but there is no formal shorter residence period for spouses under current Bahamian law. Seek advice from a Bahamian immigration lawyer before relying on any specific timeframe.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
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Dual citizenship is not allowed — The Bahamas generally prohibits dual citizenship for adults. Persons who naturalise as Bahamian citizens must renounce prior nationalities. Children born with dual citizenship may hold both until age 21, at which point they must choose within a 12-month window — failing to renounce within that window results in automatic loss of Bahamian citizenship. Confirm both Bahamian and home-country rules before any naturalisation decision.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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