PERMANENT RESIDENCY

The Bahamas, an internationally renowned tax haven with no capital gains or inheritance taxes, and with easy access to international destinations, is a wonderful place to call home. Holowesko Realty, and their associate law firm Holowesko Pyfrom Fletcher, can assist you with obtaining Permanent Residency in The Bahamas.

The Bahamas has a liberal process for granting Economic Permanent Residency (EPR) that makes it easier for individuals to “follow their money” with respect to where they live and work.

Persons with permanent residence are for all intents and purposes treated like Bahamians, except for the right to vote. Acceleration of the permanent residence application is available for persons who spend a minimum of $500,000 on a residence. For more substantive investments of $1.5 million or greater, applications will be reviewed within 21 days. Permanent Residence allows the holder to pass freely through Immigration. There is no requirement to be in the Bahamas a minimum or maximum number of days. Spouses and children are endorsed on the permit for a one-time government fee of $10,000.

Additional categories include “annual residence” which may be renewed each year, and the “homeowner’s resident card” which does not confer permanent residency privileges, but does permit the holder to move freely through Immigration at any port of entry.

Individuals can also bring in their own personal assistants or household staff subject to the clearance of the Director of Immigration and the issuance of work permits.

Non-Bahamian nationals who wish to live and work in The Bahamas must seek authorization from the Department of Immigration to do so. This comes in the form of a Residence Permit. Permanent residence is a status issued to an individual for the duration of his/her life, unless revoked, and gives him/her the right to live and or work, but not the right to vote in The Bahamas.

Eligibility


The following categories of persons may apply for permanent residence:

  • Spouse of a Bahamian after 5 years of marriage, and whose marriage is subsisting and the couple cohabiting as husband and wife.
  • Persons born legitimately outside of The Bahamas to a married woman, who is a citizen of The Bahamas, and whose husband is not a citizen of The Bahamas.
  • Financially independent individuals or investors who are legitimate owners of a residence in The Bahamas – please note that persons purchasing a residence for BS$1.5 million or more will get speedy consideration
  • Police and Prison Officers employed in the Government Service for a minimum of 10 years
  • Teachers employed in the Government Service or by charitable or religious institutions for a minimum of 10 years
  • Nurses employed in the Government Service or with private hospitals and healthcare facilities for a minimum of 10 years
  • Ministers of Religion / Priests after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years
  • Doctors / Medical professionals after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years
  • Haitian nationals who are able to provide documentary proof, exclusive of Haitian passports, that the department accepts as evidence under cover of an affidavit from a notary public, of their continuous residence in The Bahamas prior to January 1985
  • Persons who have held legal status (work or resident permit) for more than 20 consecutive years

Process


  1. Fill out appropriate form.
  2. Attach completed application form to supporting documents.
  3. Submit to the Department of Immigration, along with fee payment.
  4. Submit to the Department of Immigration, along with fee payment.

Application Form(s)


Form IV regulation 2, regulation 8, also available at the offices of the Department of Immigration

Supporting Documents


  • A copy of the bio-data page of the applicant's passport
  • 2 passport-sized identical colour photographs of the applicant, with the applicant’s name printed on the reverse side (photographs must not be more than 6 months old)
  • An original police certificate of character (issued not more than six months prior to the submission of the application
  • Original birth certificate (In the case of certificates that are written in languages other than English, an English translation should be submitted, sealed by the appropriate Consular Office where applicable, with a BS$10 Bahamian postage stamp affixed to it
  • An original medical certificate dated not more than 30 days prior to the submission of the application
  • 2 original character references, written by Bahamian citizens known to the applicant for at least 5 years
  • Parents’ birth certificate
  • Parents’ marriage certificate
  • Marriage certificate (married persons)
  • Spouse’s death certificate (widowed persons)
  • Divorce decree (divorcees)
  • Financial statements from applicant’s financial institution citing a figure range, and verifying economic worth

Turn-around time


Once the actual application has been accurately and completely submitted, applicant should contact teh inquiries unit @ 502-0550 within a 3 to 4 week period for an update of the process of the application.

Deadline


There are no deadlines for this service.

Related Fee(s)


There is a non-refundable processing fee of BS$100.00, payable via cash or bank manager's cheque to the Public Treasury.

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