The Bahamas Visas, Taxes and Money for Digital Nomads

BEATS is run by the Department of Immigration with the Ministry of Tourism. It is an annual residence permit that lets professionals and students live in the Bahamas while working or studying remotely for employers, clients or institutions outside the country. Holders can live on, and move between, any of the inhabited islands.

This is the big question. The programme’s official website still lists its terms and fees, but much of it dates from the pandemic, and in October 2026 the online immigration portal it sends applicants to was unreachable. Some guides report that BEATS was suspended in 2022; we couldn’t confirm that from an official source, nor any announcement that it is open. Before you plan around BEATS, contact the Department of Immigration and get written confirmation that applications are being accepted.

• Remote professionals employed by a company outside the Bahamas, or self-employed with a business and clients outside the Bahamas.
• Remote students enrolled in an accredited institution and studying online.

You can’t work for Bahamian employers or clients on BEATS. There is no minimum length of stay.

No minimum income is published. Professionals show a job letter from their current employer or proof of self-employment. Students must show proof of enrolment and enough money to cover living costs and the journey home, which can include their parents’ finances. In practice, you need a solid income: a comfortable month in Nassau costs roughly $3,500 to $5,000.

• A valid passport for the applicant and each dependant.
• Proof of health insurance for the applicant and each dependant.
• A job letter from your employer, or proof of self-employment.
• For students, proof of enrolment and of sufficient funds.

The permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Applications for annual renewal are considered for a maximum of three years in total. BEATS doesn’t lead to permanent residence or citizenship.

• $25 application fee per person, including each dependant.
• $1,000 permit fee for a remote professional, plus $500 for each dependant.
• $500 permit fee for a remote student.

So an individual professional pays $1,025 in total. Fees are quoted in US dollars.

1. Complete the BEATS application online through the Department of Immigration and upload your documents.
2. Immigration reviews the application. The published processing time is about five days.
3. If approved, you get an email with instructions to pay the application and permit fees.
4. After payment, you receive a confirmation QR code to show on arrival.

Dependants can be included at $25 plus $500 each. If a married couple both want to work remotely, each must make a separate application, but only one needs to include their children.

The Bahamas has no personal income tax, so BEATS holders pay no Bahamian tax on their remote income. Your home country may still tax you, especially if you are a US citizen.

Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the EU and many other countries don’t need a visa to visit. You need a passport valid for your whole stay, and six months’ validity beyond departure is the safe rule.

• Length of stay: the immigration officer decides how long you can stay. It is often 30 days, sometimes longer, so say how long you plan to stay and have an onward ticket and proof of accommodation.
• Extensions: you can apply to the Department of Immigration to extend, up to a maximum of eight months. There is a non-refundable fee, and approval is not automatic; you may be asked to show you can support yourself.
• No work: visitors can’t work in the Bahamas. Quietly working online for foreign clients while on holiday is common, but it isn’t what a visitor stay is for, which is why BEATS existed.
• Visa nationals: citizens of some countries need a visa in advance; check with a Bahamian embassy or consulate.

• Annual residence permit: for people who want to live in the Bahamas without working there, such as retirees or second-home owners, renewable each year.
• Permanent residence: available to homeowners and investors, usually through a substantial property purchase. It can take a long time to process.
• Work permit: needed for any job with a Bahamian employer, and applied for by the employer.

Overstaying your permitted stay can lead to a fine, detention and deportation, and can make future entry difficult. Apply for any extension well before your stamp runs out.

This is a general guide, not tax advice. The Bahamas has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or wealth tax, for residents or visitors. The government raises money through:

• VAT at a standard rate of 10% on most goods and services, with lower rates on some essentials and many unprepared groceries no longer taxed since April 2026.
• Import duties, which are built into the price of almost everything.
• Property tax on real estate, and National Insurance contributions for people employed in the Bahamas.

Not paying tax in the Bahamas doesn’t mean you owe tax nowhere. Your home country may still treat you as resident, and US citizens are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live. Our taxes for digital nomads guide explains the general principles.

The Bahamian dollar (BSD) is fixed at one to one with the US dollar. US dollars are accepted everywhere, prices are the same in either currency, and you will often get change in a mix of the two. Bahamian dollars are hard to exchange outside the country, so spend them or swap them for US dollars before you leave.

Cards are accepted at hotels, supermarkets and most restaurants in Nassau and Freeport, but carry cash on the Out Islands, where many small businesses and taxis are cash-only. ATMs usually dispense Bahamian dollars, and some also give US dollars; foreign cards pay a fee per withdrawal. Always decline the ATM’s currency conversion.

The main banks include RBC Royal Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Bank of The Bahamas. Opening an account as a foreigner is slow and paperwork-heavy, with reference letters and proof of address and residence, and banks are reluctant to open accounts for people on short stays. Most remote workers keep their home bank, use a card with no foreign transaction fees, and pay rent by international transfer.