The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is not just a country with beautiful beaches and resort communities. The small state attracts many expats with its tax policy. People call the Bahamas a tax haven as the country has no income, inheritance, or capital gains taxes. In addition, the Bahamian passport ranks 23rd on the Henley Passport Index opening up a wide range of opportunities for its holders to move around in the world. In terms of culture, the Bahamas are very close to Western countries: the official language here is English, and the islands are located near the USA, just one straight away from the coast of Florida and Miami. Citizenship of the Bahamas grants its holders many opportunities. Here is our take on how to get a Bahamian passport.
Who Gets Citizenship Automatically
The following groups of people automatically become citizens of the Bahamas:
- children born in the Bahamas to families where one of the parents is a citizen of the country,
- children born to an unmarried woman who is a citizen of the Bahamas (not necessarily born within the country),
- children born outside the Bahamas in a family where the father is a citizen of the country and was born in the Bahamas,
- children adopted by married citizens of the Bahamas,
- children adopted by unmarried female citizens of the Bahamas.
In all other cases, citizenship is not granted automatically. However, you can apply for a Bahamian passport in some cases.
Who Is Eligible for Citizenship
Certain categories of individuals are eligible for Bahamian citizenship. They include:
- Residents of the Bahamas who have had the legal permanent residence status for ten or more years. To qualify for citizenship, this status must be valid for 12 months prior to the application. Moreover, the holder of a permanent residence card must have spent at least six years in the country in the period preceding these 12 months.
- Spouse of a citizen of the Bahamas.
- Children born in the Bahamas after 9 July 1973 to foreign parents.
- Children born in a family where one of the parents is a citizen of the Bahamas.
The government website specifically highlights that the spouses of citizens of the Bahamas can obtain a passport through naturalisation.
Photo: Alix Greenman (Unsplash)
Citizenship Acquisition Procedure
Acquiring Permanent Residency
You cannot become a citizen of the Bahamas "from scratch". You can become a citizen either through marriage (which is an option only for women), or through naturalisation, after first obtaining permanent residency status. A permanent resident visa is available to the following categories of people:
- The spouse of a citizen of the Bahamas provided that their marriage has lasted for at least five years. The couple must also be living together as husband and wife.
- Children born outside the country to a married woman who is a citizen of the Bahamas and whose husband is not a citizen of the country.
- Financially independent individuals or investors who are the legal owners of property in the Bahamas.
- Police and penitentiary institution officers who have worked in public service for at least 10 years.
- Teachers who have worked in public service, for charitable or religious institutions for at least 10 years.
- Nurses working in public service, in private hospitals and medical institutions for at least 10 years.
- Ministers of religious organisations / priests who have worked in the country for at least 20 years.
- Doctors and healthcare professionals who have worked in the country for at least 20 years.
- Individuals who have had a legal work permit for more than 20 consecutive years.
Documents required to obtain permanent residency (originals):
- Non-refundable processing fee of BSD 200 (paid in cash, by credit/debit card, postal/money order, or notarised bank cheque).
- Letter of request addressed to the Director of Immigration.
- A completed application form with a BSD postage stamp attached.
- The original of the medical certificate of the applicant issued not earlier than 30 days prior to the application.
- Certificate of good conduct from the police, issued not earlier than six months prior to the date of application (in the case of all applicants aged 14 and over).
- Two photographs against a white background with the name printed on the back of the photograph (the photos must have been taken not more than six months prior to the application, photo size 2x2 inches).
- A copy of the biographical data page of the applicant's passport (valid for at least two more months).
- A copy of the biographical data page of the passport of the applicant's spouse (valid for at least two more months), if required.
- A copy of the biographical data page of the applicant's children’s passport (valid for at least two more months), if required.
- The birth certificate of the applicant, certified by the Consulate and the Department of Foreign Affairs and affixed with a BSD 10 postage stamp (in English or with English translation attached).
- Two references from individuals who are respected or of good standing in the applicant's community (to be accompanied by telephone numbers, email addresses, and copies of passport biographical pages).
- Birth certificate of the applicant's spouse.
- Birth certificates of the applicant's children (where applicable).
- A certified copy of the marriage certificate in English or with an attached translation and BSD postage stamp affixed (if required).
- A copy of any naturalisation document of the spouse (if required).
- Proof of current immigration status (work permit/residence permit, etc.).
- Documentary evidence of payment of real estate tax (if required).
- Copy of power of attorney for residential Bahamian property owned by the applicant in the Bahamas (if required).
- Documentary confirmation of adoption, registered with the General Directorate of the registry office (if required).
As well as the documents, you will need to submit a completed questionnaire. There are two types of questionnaire: one for applicants obtaining permanent residency through marriage, and one for applicants obtaining permanent residency in other ways. It usually takes about three to four weeks to process the application.
If the application for permanent residency is successful, you need to maintain this status for 10 years, whereupon you can already apply for citizenship.
Naturalisation and Application for Citizenship
After 10 years of permanent residency, foreigners may apply for Bahamian citizenship. To do so, you will need to complete a questionnaire, and provide a new set of documents.
Documents required for obtaining citizenship (originals):
- Two identical passport size colour photographs of the applicant.
- The birth certificate of the applicant.
- The birth certificates of the applicant’s parents (not required for spouses).
- The marriage certificate of the parents (in the case of applicants born outside the Bahamas to a Bahamian mother and a foreign father).
- The passport of the mother (in the case of applicants born outside the Bahamas to a Bahamian mother and a foreign father).
- BSD 10 postage stamp.
- A police certificate of good conduct issued no earlier than six months prior to the date of application (in the case of all applicants aged 14 and over).
- The birth certificate of the spouse (in the case of spouses of citizens of the Bahamas).
- Marriage certificate (in the case of spouses of citizens of the Bahamas).
- A medical certificate issued not earlier than 30 days prior to the application (in the case of spouses of citizens of the Bahamas).
- Biographical page (pages) from the applicant's passport (valid for at least another six months).
- Work visa (if required).
- Residence permit (if required).
- Permanent resident visa (permanent residence permit) (if required).
If the application is approved (it takes up to one month), then the applicant becomes a fully-fledged citizen of the Bahamas.
Glass Window Bridge, Royal Highway, Bahamas. Photo: Miguel Davis (Unsplash)
Acquiring Citizenship through Investment
For a long time, it was impossible to become a citizen of the Bahamas through investment. However, on 1 July 2021 a provision was added to the legislation on immigration, which allows foreign investors to obtain permanent residency status.
Only applicants without a criminal record are eligible for permanent resident visa. There are two ways to invest:
- Buy real estate in the Bahamas.
- Invest in key sectors of the economy of the Bahamas (tourism, shipbuilding, medicine, information technologies).
Or you can invest in both. The minimum amount of the investment is USD 500,000 – however, according to some sources, the minimum threshold is USD 1,500,000. The following clause is stated in Bahamian law: if an investor who wants to obtain permanent residence buys real estate worth USD 750,000 or more, their application will be fast-tracked.
Is Dual Citizenship Allowed in the Bahamas?
Dual citizenship is not recognised in the Bahamas. Before applying for a Bahamian passport, you will have to renounce your previous citizenship.
In a Nutshell
It is hard to access the Bahamian tax haven: the state has set stringent rules on the acquisition of citizenship. Even a potential investor will have to spend 10 years as a permanent resident before they are eligible for a Bahamian passport. Some foreigners, however, are not put off by these difficulties when it comes to living in a tropical country in the Caribbean with a high standard of living and no income tax. Nevertheless, expats who want to become citizens through investments should probably consider other island countries. Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Dominica offer not just permanent residency, but also a completely legitimate passport for one-third of the investments mentioned here. Moreover, as these countries recognise dual citizenship, you will not have to renounce your current passport.
Cover photo: Berry Islands, Bahamas, Alix Greenman (Unsplash)
