Bahamas digital nomad visa (2026)

Who can apply

Nationals who need a travel permit or visa for The Bahamas must obtain it in addition to the BEATS permit.

• Remote professional with a current employer or own business abroad
• Health insurance for the applicant and all dependents
• Valid passport

Income requirement

You need to show at least No minimum income set. Professionals provide a job letter or proof of self-employment; no income threshold is published.

Documents you need

• Valid passport
• Proof of medical insurance for all applicants
• Job letter from the current employer or proof of self-employment

How to apply, step by step

1. Apply online through the Bahamas immigration portal
2. Pay the US$25 application fee
3. After approval, pay the permit fee

Where and how to apply

BEATS applications are made online through the Bahamas Department of Immigration's portal; there is no consulate stage, and Immigration reviews every application. Approved applicants receive an email explaining how to pay, and once the payment clears a QR code is issued that you show on arrival. The programme's status should be checked before applying: the official BEATS site still describes the scheme without any suspension notice, but parts of it still refer to COVID-19, the Department of Immigration's own homepage does not mention BEATS, and its online services have moved to a new e-permits portal. Email immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs to confirm that applications are open and which portal to use.

Timeline

1. Confirm the programme is open Before applying
   No official notice of suspension or reopening was found, so ask Immigration directly.
2. Apply online Day 0
   Pay the application fee for yourself and for each dependant at submission.
3. Immigration review About 5 days (estimate on the BEATS site)
   Immigration may ask for further documents during this stage.
4. Pay the permit fee After the approval email
   Follow the payment instructions in the approval email; the permit fee is charged per applicant and per dependant.
5. Receive the QR code Once payment clears
   Show the QR code to immigration officers when you arrive.
6. Renew or leave 12 months after issue; renewals may be considered up to 3 years in total
   The site does not describe how to request a renewal, so contact Immigration well before expiry.

Proving your income

BEATS does not set a minimum income. Remote professionals provide a job letter from their current employer or, if self-employed, proof of self-employment. Students studying remotely must instead show enrolment at an accredited institution and enough funds for living costs and a return trip, and may rely on their parents' financial records. The BEATS pages do not say how recent the job letter must be, whether bank statements are needed, or whether documents need an apostille or translation. For reference, the Department of Immigration's general annual residence permit asks for certified English translations of foreign documents, each carrying a BS$10 stamp, but that rule is published for a different permit and has not been confirmed for BEATS.

Bringing your family

Dependants must be listed in the main application, and each one pays its own application fee and a reduced permit fee. Each dependant needs a valid passport and proof of medical insurance. Where both spouses will work remotely from The Bahamas, each of them must file a separate BEATS application, and one of them applies for the couple's shared dependants. There is no income threshold for the main applicant and therefore no extra amount per dependant. The BEATS site does not say whether dependants may work or attend local schools, and it does not define which relatives count as dependants. For comparison, the Department of Immigration's annual Permit to Reside covers dependants such as a spouse or a child under 18 of someone authorised to live in the country, and requires proof of school enrolment for children.

Health insurance

Proof of medical insurance is required for the main applicant and every dependant before the permit is granted. The BEATS site does not set a minimum level of cover, list approved insurers or say when the policy must start. Because Immigration checks the policy at the application stage, have it in force for your planned arrival date and for the full 12 months of the permit, and renew it with the permit if you extend.

Cost and processing time

The fee is uS$25 application and US$1,000 permit per applicant; US$25 and US$500 per dependent. Processing takes about 5 days. Budget extra for translations, certified copies and health insurance.

After you arrive

• Present your BEATS QR code to immigration on arrival.
• You may live on and travel between the 16 islands open to visitors; there is no minimum length of stay.
• If your nationality needs a visa or travel permit for The Bahamas, carry it as well; US, Canadian, EU and UK citizens do not need a separate travel permit.
• Do not take local jobs: BEATS is for people working remotely for an employer or business abroad, and local employment requires a work permit.
• Track the expiry date, which is 12 months after issue, and contact Immigration about renewal in good time.
• Expect VAT on goods and services and real property tax if you buy a home; these are the main taxes administered by the Department of Inland Revenue.

Tax

The BEATS site does not address tax. The Bahamas Department of Inland Revenue lists the taxes it administers as value added tax, real property tax, business licence fees, the One Tax (including the domestic minimum top-up tax for large companies) and the condo-hotel tax; personal income tax is not among them. A BEATS holder therefore pays local taxes mainly through VAT on spending. Your remote income may still be taxable in your home country or in any country where you remain tax resident, so check those rules before relocating.

Does it lead to permanent residence?

BEATS is an annual permit with renewals considered for a maximum stay of three years, and no official page says it leads to permanent residence. The Department of Immigration's permanent residence categories are tied to specific circumstances: five years of marriage to a Bahamian; economic residency with an investment of at least US$1 million held for at least 10 years; 10 to 20 years of service in certain professions; or 10 to 20 years on a work permit. Time spent on BEATS is not listed as qualifying for any of these categories. Anyone planning to settle should look at the economic residency route or ask Immigration directly.

Why applications get refused

• Applying while the programme is paused or through an outdated portal; confirm status with Immigration first.
• Missing proof of medical insurance for the main applicant or any dependant.
• No job letter from a current employer, or no proof of self-employment.
• Both spouses intending to work remotely but filing only one application between them.
• Missing visa or travel permit for nationalities that need one to enter The Bahamas.
• Expired or soon-to-expire passports for the applicant or dependants.

Cost of living in Nassau

1-bedroom rent

US$1,210-2,700 per month in the centre; about US$1,800-2,200 outside (Numbeo, Nov 2026)

Coworking desk

No dated price data found

Numbeo's Nassau figures come from 11 contributors; broadband was listed at about US$100-120 a month.

Good to know

• There is no minimum length of stay
• A reduced fee applies to students studying remotely

Visiting first? Entry rules for popular passports

122 passports can enter the Bahamas visa-free for a short stay, a common way to try the country before applying. Check Bahamas visa requirements for your passport.

Official source

The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS)

Not yet confirmed on an official source: whether the programme is still open, tax. Check these with the consulate before you apply.