Bahamas Economic PR

Summary

The Economic Certificate of Permanent Residence is The Bahamas' investor-residency program — a direct route to indefinite residency in exchange for a qualifying real estate or government bond investment. It's administered by the Department of Immigration in consultation with the Bahamas Investment Authority.

Two things make this program unusual in the Caribbean. First, it is a Permanent Residence program, not a Citizenship by Investment program — the Bahamas has no CBI option, so the investor route stops at PR. Second, the minimum investment doubled on January 1, 2025: from BSD 750,000 to BSD 1,000,000 (BSD 1M, since the Bahamian dollar is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar). Higher-value investments may receive priority attention, but the Immigration Board controls the review.

Eligibility

You qualify if all of the following are true:

• You make a qualifying investment of at least BSD 1,000,000 in either:
  • Bahamian real estate (a home, condominium, or qualifying development), or
  • Zero-coupon bonds issued by the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
• You hold that investment for at least 10 years (the 2025 rule — violations can trigger revocation).
• You are of good character — clean police record from every country you've lived in during the last ten years.
• You are in good health (recent medical certificate).
• You can demonstrate lawful source of funds.

Higher-value applications

Applicants who invest BSD 1,500,000 or more in real estate may receive priority consideration by the Immigration Board. Treat this as a review priority, not as a promised approval date.

What Permanent Residence gets you

• Indefinite right to live in The Bahamas — no renewal calendar, no expiration.
• Multiple-entry access for you and your immediate family (spouse and minor children can be endorsed on your certificate).
• No local tax on worldwide income — The Bahamas has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax. Americans still owe US federal tax on worldwide income regardless.
• A base for Caribbean and Latin American travel — 90 minutes from Miami, well-connected to the region.

What Permanent Residence does not get you

• The right to work in The Bahamas. PR holders who want to take local employment or operate a Bahamian business still need a work permit endorsement. An "economic permit" applied for at the same time can solve this.
• A Bahamian passport. PR is permanent residence, not citizenship. Converting to citizenship requires 10 years of PR, meeting the naturalization residence test, and renouncing US citizenship — the Bahamas does not allow dual citizenship for naturalized adults.
• A guarantee of approval. The Immigration Board has discretion. Applications can be refused or deferred.

Real estate as the most common anchor

The vast majority of Economic PR applicants buy a home or condominium in New Providence (Nassau area), Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, or one of the Out Islands (Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma). The 2025 increase to BSD 1M tracks rising property prices in the premium Nassau and Paradise Island markets, where qualifying properties had historically cleared the old BSD 750K minimum with room to spare. Foreigners can own Bahamian real estate freely; Government Stamp Duty on purchases ranges from 2.5% up to 10% depending on value.

The 10-year hold requirement

The 2025 rule change added a 10-year minimum hold: if you sell your qualifying property (or cash out the bonds) before 10 years, the Immigration Board may revoke your residence status. Plan the investment as illiquid.

Can this lead to citizenship?

Technically yes, practically seldom. After 10 years of PR with the right physical-presence pattern (at least 7 of the last 8 years on-island), you can apply for naturalization — but that requires renouncing US citizenship. Most Americans on Economic PR treat the PR itself as the endpoint and keep their US passport.

Duration, Renewal, and Long-Term Path

• Duration: Permanent residence, tied to maintaining the qualifying investment.
• Renewal: The investment must generally be held for at least 10 years.

What This Route Allows

This route can allow you to live in the Bahamas through the qualifying investment, business, or self-employment basis described above. The proof package should be concrete before filing: accepted investment or business activity, lawful source-of-funds records, corporate, property, or bank documents where relevant, background checks, and the government forms for this pathway.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a guaranteed approval just because money is available. Investment routes usually require due diligence, source-of-funds proof, and careful review of the exact investment rules.

Next Steps

1. Budget for the full investment plus costs. The BSD 1M purchase plus Stamp Duty (typically 10% on high-value property), legal fees (~2.5% of purchase price), and real estate agent commission (typically split or seller-paid) can put the all-in cost closer to BSD 1.1–1.2M.
2. Engage a Bahamian attorney. Real estate closings require a local attorney, and the PR application itself benefits from experienced immigration counsel.
3. Identify the property or bond instrument. For real estate, consider whether a higher-value investment makes sense for your lifestyle, tax, and liquidity goals.
4. Obtain police certificates and a medical. Police certificates from every country you've lived in during the last ten years; a Bahamian-licensed physician medical dated within 30 days.
5. File the application. Submit to the Department of Immigration with proof of funds, property title or bond certificate, character references, and the application fee. Confirm the current fee schedule with counsel before filing; permanent-residence certificate fees are set by the Department of Immigration and can change.
6. Wait for the Immigration Board. Keep your investment and supporting documents current while the Board reviews the file.

Sources

• Permanent Residence — Bahamas Department of Immigration — category page with requirements.
• Apply for Permanent Residence — bahamas.gov.bs — application portal.
• Immigration Fees — Bahamas Department of Immigration — official fee schedule.
• Immigration (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2024 — 2025 investment increase and 10-year hold requirement.
• Bahamas Investment Authority — investor guidance and incentives.
• The Bahamas: Increased Investment Amount for Economic Certificate — Fragomen — confirms the January 1, 2025 increase to BSD 1M and the 10-year hold rule.