BahamasStudy and training

Bahamas student visa (Permit to Reside)

Permit to Reside for students

In short

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. The file includes the standard medical and police certificates, two character references, a bank reference or accountant's statement, the questionnaire and, for children, a letter confirming school enrolment. The processing fee is BSD 200, and the residence permit for a full-time student at an institution of higher learning is BSD 300 a year.

Apply on Bahamas Department of Immigration – Permit to Reside checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Validity: Annual
Fee: BSD 300Residence permit per year for full-time higher-education students; plus BSD 200 processing.
Processing time: Contact the Consultation Unit after 8 to 12 weeks
Work: No, the permit is for purposes other than work
Where to apply: Department of Immigration, from outside The Bahamas for a first application

Who needs a Permit to Reside

The Permit to Reside is for non-Bahamians who want to live in The Bahamas for any purpose other than working: those attending a school, college or university, and dependants (spouses or children under 18) of someone legally authorised to reside there. First-time applicants should not be in the country while the application is processed.

Standard documents

Most Department of Immigration applications share a core: a letter of request to the Director of Immigration; the BSD 200 non-refundable processing fee, paid by card, postal money order or certified cheque; the notarised application form with a BSD 10 Bahamian postage stamp; an original medical certificate dated no more than 30 days before submission; an original police certificate issued within six months covering five years of residence (from age 14); two 2 x 2 inch photos taken within six months; and a copy of the passport bio-data page with at least two months' validity.

Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalised and authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and certified English translations must carry a BSD 10 postage stamp. People applying for status for the first time should not be in The Bahamas while the application is processed.

Required documents

Identity

Two 2 x 2 inch photos and passport bio-data page copy

Money

Bank reference or CPA statement
BSD 200 non-refundable processing fee

Study

Letter confirming enrolment at a school, college or university

Other

Two character references and the Annual Permit questionnaire
Letter of request to the Director of Immigration and notarised application form with BSD 10 stamp
Original medical certificate (30 days) and police certificate covering five years

Fees and timing

The processing fee is BSD 200. Under the Immigration Fee Scale, the residence permit for a person attending an institution of higher learning full time, certified by the Minister of Education, is BSD 300 for each year, and a dependant's permit is BSD 300 a year. Applicants are asked to contact the Consultation Unit on 604-0241 after 8 to 12 weeks for an update.

Additional documents

Add the sponsor's passport bio-data page, certified marriage and birth certificates where relevant, two character references from reputable people with their contact details, a reference from your financial institution stating a figure range or a statement prepared by a Certified Public Accountant for adults, a conveyance for any residential property owned in The Bahamas, and the completed Annual Permit questionnaire.

For children, add a letter confirming enrolment in a school in The Bahamas, court documents granting custody or guardianship to the sponsor if parents are not accompanying, and the parents' birth certificates. Home-schooled children must be registered with the Ministry of Education.

Obtain the enrolment letter from your school or university.
Collect medical and police certificates and character references.
Submit Form I with BSD 200 while outside The Bahamas.
Pay the BSD 300 annual permit fee on approval.

Forms

Permit to Reside Application – Form I

Frequently asked questions

What permit do students need in The Bahamas?

A Permit to Reside, the annual permit for people living in The Bahamas for purposes other than work, including study.

How much does it cost?

BSD 200 to process plus BSD 300 a year for full-time higher-education students.

Can I apply while visiting?

The Department states that first-time applicants should not be in the country while their application is processed.

Official sources

Bahamas Department of Immigration – Permit to reside · checked 24 October 2026
Bahamas Department of Immigration – Immigration fee scale · checked 24 October 2026

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.