Applying for Permanent Residence

Non-Bahamian nationals who are desirous of living and working in the Bahamas must seek authorization from the Department of Immigration to do so.This comes in the form of a Residence Permit. Permanent residence is a status issued to an individual for the duration of his/her life, unless revoked, and gives him/her the right to live and or work, but not the right to vote in The Bahamas.

Eligibility

The following categories of persons may apply for permanent residence:

Spouse of a Bahamian after 5 years of marriage, and whose marriage is subsisting and the couple cohabiting as husband and wife
Persons born legitimately outside of The Bahamas to a married woman, who is a citizen of The Bahamas, and whose husband is not a citizen of The Bahamas.
Financially independent individuals or investors who are legitimate owners of a residence in The BahamasÂ please note that persons purchasing a residence for BS$1.5 million or more will get speedy consideration
Police and Prison Officers employed in the Government Service for a minimum of 10 years
Teachers employed in the Government Service or by charitable or religious institutions for a minimum of 10 years
Nurses employed in the Government Service or with private hospitals and healthcare facilities for a minimum of 10 years
Ministers of Religion / Priests after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years
Doctors / Medical professionals after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years
Haitian nationals who are able to provide documentary proof, exclusive of Haitian passports, that the department accepts as evidence under cover of an affidavit from a notary public, of their continuous residence in The Bahamas prior to January 1985
Persons who have held legal status (work or resident permit) for more than 20 consecutive years

Process

Fill out appropriate form.
Attach completed application form to supporting documents.
Submit to the Department of Immigration, along with fee payment.

Application Form(s)

Form IV regulation 2, regulation 8, also available at the offices of the Department of Immigration

Supporting Documents

A copy of the bio-data page of the applicantâ€™s passport
2 passport-sized identical colour photographs of the applicant, with the applicant’s name printed on the reverse side (photographs must not be more than 6 months old)
An original police certificate of character (issued not more than six months prior to the submission of the application
Original birth certificate (In the case of certificates that are written in languages other than English, an English translation should be submitted, sealed by the appropriate Consular Office where applicable, with a BS$10 Bahamian postage stamp affixed to it
An original medical certificate dated not more than 30 days prior to the submission of the application
2 original character references, written by Bahamian citizens known to the applicant for at least 5 years
Parents birth certificate
ParentsÂ marriage certificate
Marriage certificate (married persons)
Spouse’s death certificate (widowed persons)
Divorce decree (divorcees)
Financial statements from applicant’s financial institution citing a figure range, and verifying economic worth

Turn-around time

Once the actual application has been accurately and completely submitted, applicant should contact the inquiries unit @ 502-0550 within a 3 to 4 week period for an update of the process of the application.

Deadline

There are no deadlines for this service.

Related Fee(s)

There is a non-refundable processing fee of BS$100.00, payable via cash or bank managerâ€™s cheque to the Public Treasury.

For more information please contact

New Providence

Department of Immigration

Hawkins Hill

P. O. Box N-831

Nassau

New Providence

The Bahamas

Tel. (242) 322-7530/9

Fax.(242) 326-0977

Applying for Permanent Residence

Applying for Permanent Residence

Eligibility

Process

Application Form(s)

Supporting Documents

Turn-around time

Deadline

Related Fee(s)

For more information please contact

New Providence

Abaco

Andros

Bimini

Berry Island

Eleuthera

Exuma

Grand Bahama

Inagua

San Salvador

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