Bahamas
Economic Permanent Residence Certificate
The Economic Permanent Residence Certificate is The Bahamas' primary residence-by-investment program, granting lifetime permanent residency to foreign nationals who make a qualifying economic investment. Established by the Immigration (Amendment) Act, 2021, and amended by the Immigration (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2024, the program is administered by the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of National Security.
Applicants must invest a minimum of BSD 1,000,000 (increased from BSD 750,000 as of January 2025) through one or more of the following:
- Purchase of residential real estate in The Bahamas
- Purchase of Zero Coupon Bonds issued by the Central Bank of The Bahamas
- A combination of both
All qualifying investments must be maintained for a minimum of 10 years. Deeds of gift cannot be used to qualify. Investments of BSD 1,500,000 or more in residential real estate qualify for accelerated processing with a guaranteed response within 21 days.
- Must be at least 18 years old and not already hold a Bahamian permanent residence certificate
- Must demonstrate good character with police clearance covering 5 years
- Must provide a financial reference from a reputable bank verifying economic worth
- No specific educational or professional qualifications required
- Medical certificate dated within 30 days of submission
Holders who pay the BSD 25,000 certificate fee receive the right to engage in gainful occupation in their own business only. Those who pay the BSD 20,000 fee are not permitted to work in The Bahamas. Neither option allows employment by another employer.
| Item | Cost | |---|---| | Processing fee (non-refundable) | BSD 200 | | Certificate fee (with employment rights) | BSD 25,000 | | Certificate fee (without employment rights) | BSD 20,000 | | Dependant endorsement (each) | BSD 300 | | Expedited processing (optional, 14 business days) | BSD 400 |
Standard processing takes 6 to 18 months. Investments of BSD 1,500,000 or more in residential real estate receive a guaranteed response within 21 days of submitting a complete application.
Holders must reside in The Bahamas for a cumulative minimum of 90 days per year. Failure to meet this requirement may result in revocation of the certificate.
After holding permanent residence for at least 10 years (including the 12 months immediately preceding the application) and having resided in The Bahamas for a minimum of 6 of those years, holders may apply for Bahamian citizenship by naturalization.
The Bahamas has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax. Value Added Tax (VAT) applies at 10% on goods and services. Property owners are subject to Real Property Tax.
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Other Digital Nomad Visas in North America
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇮 Anguilla | Residence by Investment | — | — | ||||
🇦🇮 Anguilla | Work from Anguilla Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | Investor/Shareholder Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | One Happy Workation | — | — | ||||
🇦🇼 Aruba | Retiree / Interest Rate Earner Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Economic Permanent Residence Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇧🇸 Bahamas | Permit to Reside (Independent Economic Resident) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 1: High Net Worth Investor) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 2: Retired Property Owner) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇧 Barbados | Welcome Stamp | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Long Stay Visitor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program | — | — | ||||
🇧🇿 Belize | Temporary Residence Permit (Investment) | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Economic Investment Residential Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Global Entrepreneur Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇧🇲 Bermuda | Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis | — | — | ||||
🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands | Right to Reside Permit | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Digital Nomad Policy | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Quebec Immigrant Investor Program | — | — | ||||
🇨🇦 Canada | Self-Employed Persons Program | — | — | — | |||
🇨🇦 Canada | Start-Up Visa Program | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Certificate of Direct Investment | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Certificate of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means | — | — | ||||
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands | Zone Employment Certificate | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Inversionista | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇨🇷 Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇨🇺 Cuba | Real Estate Resident Visa | — | — | ||||
🇩🇲 Dominica | Work In Nature Extended Stay Visa | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Inversionista | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Jubilado o Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Definitive Residency for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Freedom Visa | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇸🇻 El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Rentistas | — | — | ||||
🇬🇩 Grenada | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇬🇩 Grenada | Remote Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Permanent Residence for Rentistas or Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Intellectuals, Researchers, and Scientists | — | — | — | |||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Self-Employed Workers | — | — | ||||
🇬🇹 Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Workers with Foreign Employer | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Investor Residency | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Pensionado Residency | — | — | ||||
🇭🇳 Honduras | Rentista Residency | — | — | ||||
🇯🇲 Jamaica | Permanent Residence (Retirement) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇶 Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet — Business Creation | — | — | ||||
🇲🇶 Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet — Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa) | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Permanent Resident Visa for Retirees and Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa by Economic Solvency | — | — | ||||
🇲🇽 Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa for Investors | — | — | ||||
🇲🇸 Montserrat | Permit of Economic Residence | — | — | ||||
🇲🇸 Montserrat | Remote Employment Stamp | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | @Home in Curacao | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | Investor Permit | — | — | ||||
🇨🇼 Netherlands Antilles | Rentier or Retired Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Investor Permanent Residence | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | — | — | ||||
🇳🇮 Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Rentista | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Permanent Residence Permit for Retirees and Pensioners | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Professional Foreign Residence Permit | — | — | — | |||
🇵🇦 Panama | Qualified Investor Permanent Residence | — | — | ||||
🇵🇦 Panama | Short Stay Visa for Remote Workers | — | — | ||||
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis | Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Citizenship by Investment Programme | — | — | ||||
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Live It Extended Stay Program | — | — | ||||
🇵🇲 Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visitor Temporary Residence Card | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Independent Means Residence Permit | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Permanent Residence Certificate (Investment) | — | — | ||||
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands | Self-Employed Work Permit | — | — | ||||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-1A Extraordinary Ability | — | — | — | |||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-2 National Interest Waiver | — | — | — | |||
🇺🇸 United States | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program | — | — | ||||
🇺🇸 United States | International Entrepreneur Parole | — | — |