The Bahamas is a group of 700 islands and is present near the coast of Florida. Its admirable climate and employment opportunities attract foreigners to go to the Bahamas and work here, either on a work permit for the Bahamas or by investment. The Bahamas government allows investors to get an investment visa for the Bahamas through real estate purchases in the country.

Moreover, foreign investors who want residence in the Bahamas can apply for a residence permit granted by the department of immigration. Foreigners nationals who have a Bahamian investment visa have opportunities to;

• Have a residence permit and can live in the Bahamas without the need for permit renewal
• Enjoy all the rights and privileges that Bahamian citizens can have
• Have a right to buy a property in the Bahamas
• Enjoy the liberal tax regime
• Have the eligibility to apply for citizenship after fulfilling the requirements to get a residency 
• Travel to commonwealth countries, members of the Caribbean community, and the members of the Organization of the American State 

Note: A foreign national living in the Bahamas can enjoy all the privileges of Bahamian citizens but doesn't have the “right to vote”.

There are specific investment requirements for a Bahamas investment visa that leads to residence and investors are offered multiple investment offers in the Bahamas:

• You should have an investment of 1.5 million BSD for speedy consideration.
• As an applicant, you should meet all the health requirements 
• You must have a clean criminal record 
• You should have enough proof to show your economic value to be an investor

For being an investor in the Bahamas, there is a complete list of documents that you will require to get the Bahamas investment visa;

• Copy of the original passport
• Police clearance certificate - certificate should not be dated before six months
• Original birth certificate 
• Character references from Bahamian residents (at least 2)
• Birth certificates and marriage certificates of the parents of the investor visa applicant
• Depending upon the requirements, marriage, divorce, and death certificate of the spouse of the applicant
• Original heath certificate as evidence of medical fitness
• Evidence to show the economic value of the applicant 
• A financial statement issued by the financial institution of the visa applicant to verify the economic value of the applicant mentioning the figure range of the applicant’s financial position

When to Apply 
To be on the safe side, always apply for the visa at least 3 to 4 months before you have to enter the Bahamas.

How to Apply
As the Bahamas investment permit is directly linked with residence in Bahama, so all the processing and details are in coordination with the residence permit for investors;

• For the Bahamas investment visa application, you have to contact the Bahamas embassy in your country. If there is not, contact the nearest Bahama embassy serving your region and book an appointment.
• Get the application form and fill it in block letters. The application form should be completely filled
• Gather and submit all the documents according to the requirements 
• As a Bahamas investment permit leads to permanent residence in the Bahamas, the application for permanent residence should be submitted to the department of immigration.
• Once the permit is granted, the applicant can get a Home Owner Resident Card to be eligible to buy property in the Bahamas. 

Visa Processing Time 
Visa processing time can be 3 to 4 months after you submit a duly filled application with complete documents. There can be delays if documents are wrong, incomplete, or lost.

Duration 
The permit is valid till the death of the applicant and is also applicable to dependents.

Fees

•  The non-refundable processing fee is 100 BSD
• The residence permit fee ( with or without the right to work) is 10,000 BSD
• The endorsement fee for spouses and children is 25 BSD

Generally, a visa needs renewal after the original visa expires and the applicant has to apply at least one or two months before the expiry of the original visa. The Visa expiry date is mentioned clearly on your visa. But an investment visa for the Bahamas is a different scenario. As a residence by investment visa for the Bahamas is valid till the death of the applicant, there is no need to extend it.

Are dependents allowed on Bahamas investment visas?
Yes, dependents are allowed to live with the visa holder as long as the visa is applicable.

Does the Bahama offer citizenship by investment?
Yes, under the Immigration Act of the Bahamas, a foreign individual can get residence on the basis of a residential property of at least 500,000 BSD. 

Does Bahama allow dual citizenship?
No, dual citizenship isn't endorsed in the Bahamas.