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The Bahamas · Relocation guide

Moving to The Bahamas: permits, NIB and island setup

A visitor stay, work permit, annual residence permit and permanent residence have different effects. Build the move around the approved activity and island, and do not assume that property ownership, BEATS history or a permit automatically completes health and social-insurance enrolment.

Content updated 12 September 2026. Individual source-check dates are listed below.

Choose an active permission by purpose

Non-Bahamians working and living for more than 90 days require a valid annual work permit; shorter work uses a separate process. The employer side includes labour certification and local recruitment evidence. Accompanying family use residence permission rather than being silently covered by the employee’s permit.

Annual residence, homeowner cards and economic permanent residence are different statuses. The former BEATS remote-work programme should not be treated as an open route without current Immigration confirmation. Property ownership does not itself grant local work permission.

Choose an active permission by purpose
PlanCatalogue routeDependency
Local employmentBahamas Work PermitEmployer, labour certificate and approved role
Annual non-working residenceBahamas Annual Residence PermitResidence approval and support evidence
Homeowner identificationBahamas Homeowner Residence CardQualifying property and limited card effect
Permanent residence applicationBahamas Economic Permanent ResidenceSeparate Immigration decision

Prepare originals and authenticated records

The work-permit service asks for recent medical and police evidence, employer documents, references and a valid passport. Foreign civil documents may need apostille or legalisation and certified English translations. Use the exact current checklist for the route and profession.

Carry approval, address and dependant documents outside freight. Confirm the island and port of entry, because services and transport vary sharply beyond New Providence. Preserve entry stamps and Immigration receipts for later NIB, banking and driving actions.

Test the island before committing to housing

Choose the island based on employment, school, healthcare, hurricane resilience, transport and flight or ferry access. Inspect water, backup power, shutters, insurance responsibility, internet, inventory and notice terms before transferring funds.

Keep the signed lease, payment trail and meter records. If buying, verify title, approvals, insurance and residency consequences independently; a homeowner residence card is not permanent residence or an employment permit.

Connect NIB, tax and banking

Ask the employer to complete National Insurance Board onboarding and verify the number and first contribution record. An Immigration approval does not create the NIB record. Self-employed movers need the process that matches their activity.

The Bahamas’ tax mix does not erase obligations elsewhere. Keep travel, employer, income, company and asset records and obtain cross-border advice. Banks apply their own status, address, tax-residence and source-of-funds checks; keep a backup payment method during onboarding.

Enrol in healthcare on the actual eligibility basis

NHI Bahamas says citizens and legal residents with an NIB Smart Card can enrol, then select a primary-care provider. Treat NIB registration, NHI enrolment and provider selection as three steps; a work or residence permit alone is not proof that care is active.

Confirm what NHI covers and retain private or employer cover for services, islands or evacuation risks outside that package. Bring medicines, vaccination and clinical summaries, and identify both routine and emergency care on the chosen island.

Secure dependant and school arrangements

Apply for residence permission for accompanying dependants and confirm a partner’s separate work position before accepting employment. Keep birth, marriage, custody and consent documents aligned with the principal’s record.

Ask the local education district or school about space, age placement, address, immigration, vaccination and prior-school records. Availability on one island says little about another, so make school and health access part of the housing decision.

Transfer licences and obtain animal permits

The Road Traffic Department’s transfer service requires a foreign licence, passport, NIB card and approved immigration status from non-Bahamians. Confirm the correct island office and vehicle insurance before relying on the licence.

Dogs and cats need the Department of Agriculture permit and veterinary compliance before arrival. Verify the carrier and port process before booking, then diary permit, NIB, driving and residence renewals.

Your moving checklist

Tick off the tasks that apply to you. The timing is a planning order, not a substitute for the deadlines on your permission or an official instruction.

0 of 13 tasks completed

Before you move
On arrival
Your first month
Later and before renewal

Sources and checks

The linked authorities set the rules. VisaAtlas explains how the steps fit together; planning suggestions are not a decision on your immigration status, tax residence or entitlement to services.

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