Bahamas

Bahamas visa and residence guide

  • 7 visa types
  • checked 24 October 2026

How visas for the Bahamas work

The Bahamas Department of Immigration lists about 150 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most of Europe, whose citizens need no Bahamian visa for visits of up to three or eight months, depending on the applicable agreement. Nationals on the visa-required list obtain a visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before travelling. At the border, visitors need a passport valid for six months, a return ticket, means of support and a completed disembarkation card. Extensions are at the Department's discretion and carry a BSD 200 processing fee.

Longer stays require permits from the Department of Immigration: annual work permits, with fees set by occupation scale and a labour market test; a Permit to Reside for students and dependants; a Resident Spouse Permit for spouses of Bahamians; and certificates of permanent residence, including economic permanent residence for investors of at least BSD 1 million. Most applications share a BSD 200 processing fee, medical and five-year police certificates and notarised forms, and first-time applicants should be outside the country while processing takes place.

Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with certified English translations bearing a BSD 10 stamp. Refugee claims follow the Department's Refugee Status Determination process, in consultation with UNHCR.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday or short visit: no visa if your country is on the visa-waiver list, otherwise a visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; extend at the Department if needed.

Employment for more than 90 days: annual work permit.

Studying at a school, college or university: Permit to Reside.

Married to a Bahamian: Resident Spouse Permit, then permanent residence after five years.

Investing BSD 1 million in property or Central Bank bonds: economic permanent residence.

Long-term residents and workers: certificate of permanent residence.

Fleeing persecution: refugee status determination.

Visa types for the Bahamas

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Visitor entry and extension of stay

    The Bahamas Department of Immigration lists about 150 countries whose citizens do not need a Bahamian visa for visits of up to three or eight months, depending on the applicable agreement; nationals of visa-required countries obtain a visa before travel.

    Maximum stay: Up to three or eight months under the visa waiver, as granted at the border

Business and self-employment

  • Investor visa Economic Permanent Residence

    The Bahamas grants economic permanent residence to people who invest at least BSD 1.0 million, either in real estate or in zero coupon bonds from the Central Bank of The Bahamas, and hold the asset for at least ten years.

    Validity: For life, unless revoked

Study and training

  • Student visa Permit to Reside for students

    Non-Bahamians who want to live in The Bahamas for a purpose other than work, including attending school, college or university, need a Permit to Reside, also called an annual permit, from the Department of Immigration.

    Validity: Annual

Work

  • Work visa Work permit

    Non-Bahamians who want to work and live in The Bahamas for more than 90 days need a work permit from the Department of Immigration; shorter jobs use a short-term work permit.

    Validity: Annual

Family

  • Spouse and partner visa Resident Spouse Permit

    Non-Bahamians married to Bahamian nationals for less than five years can apply for a Resident Spouse Permit, which lets them live and work legally in The Bahamas while living with their spouse.

    Validity: One year or five years

Residence

  • Permanent residence Certificate of Permanent Residence

    A Certificate of Permanent Residence is issued for life, unless revoked, and gives the right to reside and, depending on the certificate, to work.

    Validity: For life, unless revoked

Asylum and international protection

  • Asylum and international protection Refugee status determination

    The Bahamas is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the Department of Immigration is the government agency responsible for refugee administration, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNHCR.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for The Bahamas?

Not if your country is on the Department of Immigration's visa-waiver list, which covers about 150 countries for visits of up to three or eight months. Nationals on the visa-required list must obtain a visa before travel; arriving without one leads to refusal of entry.

What does almost every permit application cost to process?

A non-refundable BSD 200 processing fee, paid by card, postal money order or certified cheque.

Can I apply for residence while visiting?

The Department states that people applying for status for the first time should not be in The Bahamas while their application is processed.

Where are Bahamian visas issued?

Visas are issued before travel by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular division through designated offices, mainly Bahamian missions and consulates in the Americas, Europe and Asia, such as London, Washington, Ottawa, Beijing and New Delhi; the ministry also offers e-visa online services.

Embassies and consulates

Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.