Residency

Applying for Permanent Residence

Non-Bahamian nationals who are desirous of living and working 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.

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.

For more information please contact

New Providence

Department of Immigration, Hawkins Hill, P. O. Box N-831, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 322-7530/9 
Fax. (242) 326-0977 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Abaco

Department of Immigration, Marsh Harbour Airport, Abaco, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 361-5000, 367-2536 / 2675, or 365-8604 
Fax. (242) 367-4955 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Walkers Cay, Abaco, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 352-5252 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Andros

Department of Immigration, Fresh Creek, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 368-2031 
Vibe. (242) 225-9382 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, North Andros, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 329-4466 
Vibe. (242) 225-9208 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Bimini

Department of Immigration, Alice Town Office, Alice Town, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 347-3446 
Vibe. (242) 225-2406 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Berry Island

Department of Immigration, Great Harbour Cay, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 367-8112 or (242) 368-2031 
Fax. (242) 367-8567 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Eleuthera

Department of Immigration, Rock Sound, Eleuthera, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 334-2055 
Fax. (242) 335-1858 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Government Harbour, Eleuthera, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 332-2576 
Vibe. (242) 225-9788 
Fax. (242) 332-3771 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Airport, Eleuthera, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 332-2604 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, North Eleuthera, Eleuthera, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 335-1124 
Vibe. (242) 225-2408 / 9162 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Exuma

Department of Immigration, Exuma, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 336-2569 
Vibe. (242) 225-1349 
Fax. (242) 336-3569 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Airport, Exuma, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 345-0073 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Grand Bahama

Department of Immigration, Main Office, Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas 
Tel. (954) 654-7137 
Vibe. (242) 225-8768 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Airport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas 
Tel. (954) 654-7052 
Vibe. (242) 225-8660 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Inagua

Department of Immigration, Airport, Inagua, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 336-1602 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Office, Inagua, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 339-1234 
Vibe. (242) 225-9701 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Department of Immigration, Customs, Inagua, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 339-1254 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

San Salvador

Department of Immigration, Office, San Salvador, The Bahamas 
Tel. (242) 331-2100 
Fax. (242) 339-2431 or 331-2431 
Email: immigration@bahamas.gov.bs 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays