Permits and Licences

All dogs (three months and over) in The Bahamas should have a dog licence. This licence can be issued annually or on a periodic basis. There is a penalty of BS$40.00 for any unlicensed dog.

Persons learning to drive any vehicle must carry a learner’s permit. In addition, permit holders when driving any vehicle which he/she has not qualified by test to drive, must carry the prescribed "L" plates at the front and back of the vehicle.

Adoption is the permanent legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities for a child from the natural birth parents to another adult known as the adopter.

The law requires that a birth should be registered within 21 days from its occurrence at the Births and Deaths Section of the Registrar General’s Department.

Bahamians can register their deeds and other legal documents at the Deeds and Documents Registry at the Registrar General’s Department.

Anyone wishing to be married in The Bahamas must first request a licence from the Registrar General’s Department. The legal age of marriage in The Bahamas is 18 years. A marriage licence is valid for three months.

The Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar, Family Island Administrators or Commissioners, and Supreme Court Magistrates are Marriage Officers by virtue of their appointment.

Anyone interested in selling on areas known as Government Property, requires a Vendor’s Permit.

Every license issued is valid for the year in which it is issued and expires on the 31st day of December of that year. Licensing fees vary according to the health profession. Failure to renew your license on time will result in payment of a late

In The Bahamas, persons must first register with the Health Professions Council before they can work in the following fields:

Persons seeking to build a hospital or healthcare facility must first obtain a licence from the Board. In order to be eligible for a licence, you must first submit an application along with the following requirements to the Facilities Board

9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Persons seeking to establish a nursing agency, or an agency where the services of nurses, midwives and clinical nurses are sought, must first obtain a license from the Nursing Council.

The Registrar keeps a current record of all medical practitioners and their qualifications in the Medical Register. In order to register, you must submit a written application to the Council that proves the following

Any person, Car Mechanics, Auto Body Repairmen, Auto Body Painters or Wrecker’s Yard Operators, seeking to use a site for one or more of the following purposes must secure a Garage Licence.

A non-Bahamian or a Permanent Resident, who acquires an interest in a condominium or property to be used by him/her as owner-occupied, or for construction of such a dwelling, must apply to the Secretary to the Investments Board to register the purchase.

Persons, both Bahamians and Non-Bahamians, who have acquired an interest in a time share in The Bahamas must register the interest with the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA). The interest is to be registered by the Developing Owner of

A patent for an invention is a grant by the government to an inventor for certain rights. A patent is granted by the Bahamian Government through the Intellectual Properties Section of the Registrar General’s Department.

A trademark is a work, symbol or picture or the combination used to distinguish the goods of a person or organisation from the goods of others in the market place. A registered trademark gives a proprietor exclusive rights to use the mark for

Justices of the Peace are those persons appointed at the local levels as lay persons who are charged with the responsibility of keeping the peace. They, therefore, have the same powers as Magistrates to sign warrants to assist the police with search

An Occupancy Certificate is required for all new construction, additions, alterations and sheds where the owner desires to occupy any building.

A Permit to Acquire Property is required by all non-Bahamians acquiring an interest in land if the property is undeveloped land with two or more adjoining acres. A Permit is also required if the intended use is not as an owner-occupied property.

Persons, including Bahamians and Non-Bahamians, who are interested in constructing a new building, effecting any improvement in or repairs or alterations to an existing building or use or change the use of an existing building,

A Container Rebuilding Licence authorises the holder to rebuild LPG containers. Persons interested in becoming a Container Rebuilder must apply to the Control Division of the Ministry of Works & Urban Development for a container Rebuilding Licence.

All businesses are required to be licenced under the Business Licence bill 2010.This includes all businesses registered before the bill became law. Any person who wishes to incorporate a company in the Bahamas is required by law to register the business

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas welcomes International Investors who wish to establish a business in The Bahamas.

A Sport Fishing Tournament Licence is granted to authorize the hosting of a sport fishing event or tournament within the waters of The Bahamas.

Any premises to be used for the public performance of plays and showing of films must be granted a licence by The Bahamas Plays and Films Control Board.

All licences granted for the use of premises for the public performance of plays and showing of films remain in force for one year or such shorter period as specified in the licence

The Plays and Cinemas Control Board may transfer any licence granted to any person to another person on the application of that person or the holder of the licence.

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas welcomes International Inventors who wish to establish a business in The Bahamas. From time to time, the Government of The Bahamas offers targeted investment incentives for particular types of projects.