Commonwealth of The Bahamas · digital nomad
Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
If you work or study remotely, BEATS is the permit that lets you do it from any of the Bahamian islands for up to a year - without taking a local job.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - applications are typically decided quickly; confirm current timelines on the official BEATS page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - an application fee plus a permit fee apply, with a lower fee for dependants and students; confirm current amounts on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Up to one year, renewable; this is a temporary remote-work permit and does not lead to permanent residence. Confirm current validity and renewal on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 10 July 2026, the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) for Commonwealth of The Bahamas is an unsponsored The Bahamas immigration route. Sources: official Commonwealth of The Bahamas government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/bahamas/beats-nomad#answer
What is the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) in Commonwealth of The Bahamas?
Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is an unsponsored The Bahamas route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - an application fee plus a permit fee apply, with a lower fee for dependants and students; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - applications are typically decided quickly; confirm current timelines on the official BEATS page; typical duration is Up to one year, renewable; this is a temporary remote-work permit and does not lead to permanent residence. Confirm current validity and renewal on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is a remote-work and remote-study permit introduced in 2020 for professionals and students whose work or studies are based outside The Bahamas. It allows a stay of up to a year, renewable, across the country's islands. Good to know: BEATS is a temporary permit and it does not lead to permanent residence or settlement. Its operational status has varied since launch, so check the live position before applying. It is administered by the Department of Immigration.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Work or study is performed remotely for an employer, clients or institution located outside The Bahamas.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ✓A valid passport and proof of the remote work or enrolment are held.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ✓Health or travel cover for the stay is held where required.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ✓The applicant does not intend to take up local Bahamian employment on this permit.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
Common blockers
- !The work is for a Bahamian employer rather than a foreign one.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- !Expecting the stay to count toward permanent residence - it does not under BEATS.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- !Applying without checking the live status of the programme, which has varied since launch.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport for each applicant, including dependants included in the application.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ·Proof of remote employment, self-employment or remote enrolment outside The Bahamas.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ·A recent passport photograph and any health or travel cover required.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
- ·The completed BEATS application and the application and permit fees.Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm on the official BEATS page that the programme is currently open and that your remote work or study is for an institution or employer outside The Bahamas.
Build the evidence pack
Gather passports for everyone included, proof of remote work or enrolment, and a passport photograph.
Submit through the official channel
Apply online through the official BEATS channel and pay the application and permit fees.
After approval
Once approved, live and work remotely across the islands for up to a year; renew if eligible, remembering this does not build toward permanent residence.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS).
Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration · verified
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Related routes
Bahamas Work Permit
If a Bahamian employer wants to hire you, this is the permit that lets you work for them. The employer applies, usually after first advertising the role locally.
Bahamas Annual Residence Permit
If you want to live in The Bahamas without working there - for example as a retiree or person of means - the annual residence permit lets you reside for a year at a time, renewably.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bahamas BEATS permit lead to permanent residence?+
No. BEATS is a temporary remote-work and remote-study permit - valid for up to a year and renewable, but the time does not count toward permanent residence or citizenship. If you want to settle, look at the economic permanent-residence route instead. Confirm the rules on the official page.
Is the Bahamas BEATS programme still open?+
Its operational status has varied since the 2020 launch, with periods where applications were paused. Because that can change, check the live position on the official Department of Immigration BEATS page before you apply or make plans around it.
Can I bring my spouse and children with me on the Bahamas BEATS permit?+
Dependants can be included in a BEATS application - the evidence list refers to a valid passport for each applicant including dependants, and a lower permit fee applies for dependants and students. Confirm exactly who can be included and the current fees on the official BEATS page.
Can I take a local job in The Bahamas while on the BEATS permit?+
No. BEATS is for work or study performed remotely for an employer, clients or institution located outside The Bahamas, and working for a Bahamian employer is a listed blocker. Taking up local employment requires an employer-sponsored work permit instead. Confirm the conditions on the official page.
Can I use BEATS as a remote student enrolled with a university abroad?+
Yes - BEATS covers remote study, not just remote work, for students enrolled remotely with an institution outside The Bahamas, and the evidence includes proof of that remote enrolment. It is a temporary permit of up to a year and does not lead to permanent residence. Confirm the current requirements on the official page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in The BahamasHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Commonwealth of The Bahamas Department of Immigration
Last checked: 1 June 2026