Bahamas
BHSThe Bahamas is one of the world's premier zero-tax jurisdictions, levying no income tax, no capital gains tax, and no inheritance or wealth tax on residents. This English-speaking archipelago of 700-plus islands sits 50 miles off Florida, offering quick US access alongside a stable, US-dollar-pegged economy. Nassau and Paradise Island host a thriving financial sector and luxury real estate market.
A Permanent Residency permit is available to property investors (typically BSD 750,000+), granting indefinite stay with full tax-free status. Naturalisation requires ten years of continuous residence. The cost of living is high by Caribbean standards, and imported goods carry steep customs duties in lieu of income tax — the primary revenue mechanism. Hurricane exposure and crime in parts of Nassau are the main drawbacks for long-term residents.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- No Income Tax
- Currency
- BSD
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Nassau
- Region
- americas
- Population
- 407,906
- Cost-of-living
- 78 /100
Passport Rank
#28
Visa-Free
136
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Bahamas passport has visa-free access to 136 destinations. See the full Bahamas passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Bahamas without a prior visa (121)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Bahamas
Current IRCC processing times for Bahamas nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 27 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 4 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Nassau
- Currency
- BSD
- Languages
- English
- Population
- 407,906
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical oceanic — warm year-round, hurricane season June–November
- English Proficiency Rank
- #1
- GDP per capita
- $39,455
- Life expectancy
- 74.71 yrs
- Population growth
- 0.44%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
78
Safety
44
Healthcare
52
Quality of Life
133
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau | $1,400 | $950 | $420 | $180 | Free |
| Freeport | $1,050 | $750 | $380 | $160 | Free |
| Marsh Harbour | $900 | $650 | $400 | $170 | Free |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Nassau
Rainfall range: 36–175 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Annual Residence
- Permanent Residence (Investor)
- BEATS Digital Nomad
- Work Permit
- Student
- Spouse
- Economic Permanent Residence
- Authority
- Department of Immigration
- Official Portal
- www.immigration.gov.bs
- Phone
- +1-242-322-7513
- info@immigration.gov.bs
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 10
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $250
- Processing
- ~18 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#91
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Jet-ski rental damage scams targeting tourists on Cable Beach and Paradise Island
- ⚠Taxi overcharging and unlicensed driver fraud at Nassau Lynden Pindling Airport
- ⚠Timeshare and vacation club high-pressure sales pitches in tourist zones
Examples of areas to avoid: Over-the-Hill (Bain Town / Grants Town) — elevated gang activity and petty crime after dark, Coconut Grove area of Nassau — higher street crime rates relative to tourist districts
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Bahamas, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
The Bahamas Bar Association
Bahamas BarProfessional body of attorneys in The Bahamas. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; representation is by licensed attorneys.
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Bahamas, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Bahamas Annual Residence Permit
ResidenceIf you want to live in The Bahamas without working there - for example as a retiree or person of means - the annual residence permit lets you reside for a year at a time, renewably.
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
ResidenceIf you can invest substantially in The Bahamas - typically in real estate - economic permanent residence gives you the right to live there permanently, without the right to work.
Bahamas Homeowner Residence Card
ResidenceIf you own a home in The Bahamas, the homeowner residence card gives you and your immediate family a smoother right to come and go and reside while you keep that property.
Work (sponsored)
Bahamas Work Permit
Work (sponsored)If a Bahamian employer wants to hire you, this is the permit that lets you work for them. The employer applies, usually after first advertising the role locally.
Digital nomad
Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS)
Digital nomadIf you work or study remotely, BEATS is the permit that lets you do it from any of the Bahamian islands for up to a year - without taking a local job.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified