Bahamas (BS)

Required for all immigration, banking, rental, driving and medical processes. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended stay. Keep certified copies separate from the original; some permit applications retain the original temporarily.

Required for dependant permit applications, school enrolment, citizenship applications, estate matters and some residence applications. The Bahamas is a Hague Apostille member; foreign birth certificates from Hague member countries require apostille. English is the official language; non-English documents require certified translation.

Required for spousal and dependant permit applications, joint banking, insurance beneficiary registration and estate planning. The Bahamas is a Hague Apostille member; foreign certificates from Hague member countries require apostille. Non-English documents require certified translation.

Required for most work permit, residence and permanent residence applications. Must be recent — typically issued within 6 months of the application date. Obtain from every country of previous residence if required. The Bahamas is a Hague Apostille member; foreign clearances from Hague member countries require apostille.

May be required for certain work permit categories, school enrolment and long-stay residence applications. For employment in healthcare, hospitality or childcare, a health clearance or fitness certificate from a registered physician is typically needed. Keep vaccination records (yellow fever certificate required if arriving from endemic countries).

Core document for work permit applications and for the BEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay) digital nomad programme. Employment contracts should detail role, salary, duration and sponsoring employer. BEATS applicants must demonstrate remote employment or self-employment income from outside the Bahamas.

Required for residence permit applications, property purchase due diligence, school enrolment and bank KYC/source-of-funds checks. Typically 3–6 months of statements from your home-country bank. BEATS applicants must demonstrate a minimum income threshold as published by the Bahamas Investment Authority.

Employees must register with the National Insurance Board (NIB) for social insurance contributions (covering sickness, maternity, industrial injury and retirement benefits). Your employer registers you; the NIB card and contribution record serve as evidence of enrolment. Keep home-country pension records for any bilateral agreement claims.

Required before legally operating a business in the Bahamas. A Business Licence is issued by the Department of Inland Revenue. A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is required for VAT registration (where applicable) and corporate tax compliance. Non-Bahamians also need investment approval from the Bahamas Investment Authority for most business categories.

Visitors may drive on a valid home-country licence or International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 90 days. Long-term residents should convert their foreign licence to a Bahamas licence through the Road Traffic Authority. The Bahamas drives on the left; non-English licences should be accompanied by an official translation or IDP.

Required for property buyers, owners, permanent residence applicants (the Homeowners Residence card programme) and compliance with real property tax obligations administered by the Department of Inland Revenue. Keep the Certificate of Title, real property tax assessment number and closing statement (conveyance documents) accessible after purchase.

Cats and dogs entering the Bahamas require an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, a current rabies vaccination certificate, a microchip record and a veterinary health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 10 days of travel. No quarantine is required for pets from approved low-risk countries meeting all documentation requirements.