Residency and visas in the Bahamas

Running a business in the Bahamas and living there are two different applications. Setting up a company does not give you the right to reside or work in the country. A founder who wants to move, or to spend long periods on the islands, needs a separate permit, and the right one depends on whether you plan to work in your own business, invest in property or simply live there.

Ask a firm which permits it handles directly and which it refers to others, what documents it will need from your home country, and whether it can coordinate the permit with the company’s set-up. If you are also making a project proposal to the Bahamas Investment Authority for a business you will run locally, ask whether the same team can manage both files.

Six firms on Accountanty advise on residency and visas in the Bahamas: three law firms and three corporate services providers, spread across large networks, medium-sized and small firms. Four focus on clients from abroad, and foreign investors, entrepreneurs and high net worth families are among the clients they name. Every one of them also forms companies; see company formation or the country guide.

Firms offering residency and visa support in the Bahamas

Frequently asked questions

Does owning a Bahamas company give me residency?

No. Forming a company and obtaining permission to live or work in the Bahamas are separate processes. A firm that advises on residency can tell you which permit fits your plans and what the application involves.

Can a law firm handle both my company and my permit?

Often. Three of the six residency firms on Accountanty in the Bahamas are law firms, and all six also offer company formation. Ask whether one team will run both files so the documents match.

Do I need residency to own an IBC?

No permit is needed simply to own shares in an IBC run through a licensed registered agent. Residency becomes relevant when you plan to live in the Bahamas or work there in person.

Other services in the Bahamas

Accountants by city in the Bahamas

Setting up a company in the Bahamas: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.