Destination · Bahamas 🇧🇸
Bahamas visas, from Pakistan.
Zero income tax and one of the Caribbean's highest-income economies — but every long-stay route runs through a Bahamian employer or a serious investment.
Pathways
Every Bahamas route we handle
Tap any pathway to ask a consultant about it directly on WhatsApp.
Visitor's Visa (eVisa)
The standard entry visa for Pakistani passport holders travelling for tourism, family visits, cruise calls or short business meetings, applied for online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa platform. Single entry, or multiple entry with 3, 6 or 12 months' validity. Leave to land is granted at the officer's discretion, and visitors may remain a maximum of eight months.
- Passport bio page scan, valid at least 6 months, uploaded as PDF
- Completed online eVisa application and recent passport photograph
- Employment letter or business licence, dated within the last 6 months
- Bank reference letter and last 6 months' bank statements
- Police certificate less than 6 months old
- Return flight booking plus hotel confirmation or sponsor's letter with a Bahamian address
Extension of Stay
In-country application to remain beyond the period stamped on landing, within the eight-month visitor maximum. It confers no right to work and requires an in-person interview with an extension officer at an Immigration office.
- Valid passport and the original Immigration Landing Card
- Return ticket or Temporary Cruising Permit
- Local Bahamian address, plus sponsor's passport copy and address
- Written reason for the extension request
- Proof of payment of the B$200 fee (card, bank draft or postal money order)
- Attendance at an in-person interview with an extension officer
Annual Residence Permit (Permit to Reside)
A one-year renewable residence permit for financially self-supporting people who will live in The Bahamas without working — retirees, offshore-income families and long-stay visitors. The Department expects first-time applicants to be outside the country while it is processed.
- Letter of request addressed to the Director of Immigration
- Notarised First Schedule Form 1 with B$10 postage stamp affixed
- Bank or chartered accountant reference confirming sufficient means of support
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days of submission
- Original police certificate issued within 6 months, covering 5 years of residence
- Two character references with full contact details
Home Owner's Residence Card
An annually renewable card under the International Persons Landholding Act for owners of a habitable Bahamian home who keep their main residence abroad. It speeds entry for the holder and immediate family but is not a work permit.
- Registered deed or conveyance for the Bahamian property
- Certificate of Registration under the International Persons Landholding Act
- Proof that current real property tax has been paid
- Evidence of a primary home outside The Bahamas (deed, mortgage or tax certificate)
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days
- Original police certificate issued within 6 months, covering 5 years of residence
Student Permit (Permit to Reside — Student)
Residence permit for full-time study at the University of The Bahamas, BTVI or a licensed private college or school. Issued for each year of the programme; it carries no right to work and The Bahamas has no post-study work visa.
- Letter of acceptance or enrolment from the Bahamian institution
- Notarised First Schedule Form 1 with B$10 postage stamp affixed
- Bank or sponsor letter showing tuition and living funds
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days
- Original police certificate issued within 6 months, covering 5 years of residence
- Apostilled Pakistani academic transcripts and birth certificate with certified English translations
BEATS Remote Study Permit
A twelve-month permit under the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay for students enrolled with an institution outside The Bahamas who want to study online from the islands. Renewable annually up to a three-year maximum.
- Evidence of enrolment at an accredited institution outside The Bahamas
- Passport valid for the full period of stay
- Health insurance valid in The Bahamas for the twelve months
- Bank statements showing sufficient funds for the year
- Bahamian accommodation address and intended arrival date
- Online application and card payment through the BEATS portal
Annual Work Permit (Work Visa)
The main long-term employment route, applied for by the Bahamian employer for engagements longer than 90 days. Annual fees are set by the Immigration Fee Scale, from B$500 for registered farm labour to B$16,275 plus a 5% levy at senior executive level. Applicants applying in the first instance should be outside The Bahamas during processing.
- Employer's letter of request to the Director of Immigration
- Labour Certificate and Notification of Vacancy from the Department of Labour, with the post advertised on three consecutive days (Fee Scale 1 and some Scale 2 posts exempt)
- Notarised First Schedule Form 1 with B$10 postage stamp affixed
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days
- Original police certificate issued within 6 months, covering 5 years of residence
- Approval letter from the relevant Bahamian regulatory body for doctors, nurses, attorneys, accountants, pilots, vets and entertainers
Short-Term Work Permit (1–90 days)
A one-off permit for urgent specialist work such as commissioning engineers, aircraft repairs or a corporate audit, split into 1–30 day and 31–90 day bands. The Department states it is meant for emergencies and should be a one-time application, not a stepping stone to long-term employment.
- Employer's letter to the Director of Immigration explaining the urgency
- Employer's business licence or Certificate of Incorporation and NIB card/certificate
- Passport copy valid at least 2 months and two 2x2 inch photographs on white background
- First Schedule Form 1, notarised with B$10 postage stamp, for the 31–90 day band
- Original police certificate and medical certificate for the 31–90 day band
- Regulatory body approval letter for medical, legal, accounting or entertainment work
BEATS Remote Work Permit (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay)
The Bahamas' digital-nomad permit, letting employees of foreign companies and self-employed freelancers live in the islands for twelve months while working remotely, renewable up to three years. It does not permit taking a job with a Bahamian employer.
- Passport valid for the full period of stay
- Job letter from your current employer, or documentary proof of self-employment and remote income
- Medical insurance valid in The Bahamas for the whole stay
- Bank statements evidencing funds for yourself and any dependants
- Separate application and fee for each accompanying dependant
- Online application and card payment through the BEATS portal
Economic Permanent Residence (Investment)
Permanent residence for investors placing a minimum of B$1 million in Bahamian real estate or Central Bank zero-coupon bonds, held for at least ten years. Certificates are issued with or without the right to engage in gainful occupation — this is residence only, never citizenship.
- Evidence of at least B$1 million invested in Bahamian real estate or Central Bank zero-coupon bonds, held 10 years
- Registered conveyance or bond certificate as proof of the investment
- Original police certificate covering 5 years and medical certificate within 30 days
- Bank references and full documented source of funds
- Apostilled Pakistani birth and marriage certificates with certified English translations
- Notarised application form with B$10 postage stamp and two character references
Permanent Residence (Long-Term Residence Route)
The settlement route for people already inside the system: twenty or more consecutive years of legal work permits, or ten to twenty years for lower fee scales and for teachers, nurses, police and prison officers in government service. Certificate fees fall the longer you have contributed.
- Evidence of 10–20+ years of consecutive work permits or qualifying government service
- Employer confirmation letters and National Insurance Board contribution record
- Original police certificate covering 5 years and medical certificate within 30 days
- Two character references with full contact details
- Residence history evidence such as leases, utility bills and children's school records
Resident Spouse Permit
Permit allowing the non-Bahamian spouse of a Bahamian citizen to live and work in The Bahamas. Available where the couple live together and have been married less than five years at the time of application; first-instance applicants should be outside the country during processing.
- Notarised First Schedule Form 1A with B$10 postage stamp affixed
- Certified Pakistani marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised, with certified English translation
- Bahamian spouse's passport bio page and certified birth certificate
- Original medical certificate within 30 days and police certificate covering 5 years
- Employment letters for both spouses and evidence of living together
- Birth certificates for any children under 18
Permit to Reside — Dependants
Residence permits for the spouse and under-18 children of a work permit holder or other legal resident. Dependants may live and study in The Bahamas but may not work without a permit of their own.
- Sponsor's valid work permit, residence permit or permanent residence certificate
- Certified marriage certificate or child's birth certificate, apostilled with certified English translation
- Sponsor's salary letter and bank statements showing they can maintain the family
- Medical certificate within 30 days for each applicant and police certificates for anyone aged 14+
- School enrolment letter and custody or parental consent documents for children
- Notarised First Schedule Form 1 with B$10 postage stamp affixed
Permanent Residence (Spouse of a Bahamian)
After five years of marriage with the couple still living together, the spouse of a Bahamian citizen may apply for permanent residence, normally endorsed with the right to work. Naturalisation is a separate, later and discretionary application.
- Five years of marriage with continuing cohabitation
- Certified marriage certificate and proof of the spouse's Bahamian citizenship
- Evidence of continuous residence together (leases, utility bills, joint accounts)
- Original police certificate covering 5 years and medical certificate within 30 days
- Two character references with full contact details
Fees and processing times are indicative and change with government policy — we confirm current figures in your free consultation.
Why Bahamas
What makes Bahamas worth it
No income or capital gains tax
The Bahamas levies no personal income, capital gains or inheritance tax. Salaries are paid gross with only National Insurance deducted — though 10% VAT, customs duty and real property tax still apply to daily life.
Employer-driven work permits
Every long-term job route starts with a Bahamian employer. For most posts the employer must advertise the vacancy and obtain a Labour Certificate from the Department of Labour. We build the file alongside your employer so nothing is missing when it reaches the Director of Immigration.
BEATS one-year remote-work permit
The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay lets remote employees, freelancers and online students live in the islands for twelve months, renewable to a three-year maximum, with an estimated five-business-day processing time. It does not permit working for a Bahamian employer.
Investment route to permanent residence
A minimum B$1 million investment in Bahamian real estate or Central Bank zero-coupon bonds, held at least ten years, opens Economic Permanent Residence. There is no citizenship-by-investment programme — we will never pretend otherwise.
How it works
From first message to boarding pass
Free Consultation
Message us on WhatsApp. A senior consultant reviews your goals, background and timeline — no fee, no pressure.
Eligibility & Strategy
We score your profile against every pathway you qualify for and recommend the strongest route, with honest odds.
Document Preparation
Checklists, financials, attestations and translations — we build an embassy-ready file and close every gap.
Application & Interview
We file your application, book biometrics, and coach you through mock interviews until you walk in confident.
Visa & Fly
Passport back with a visa inside. Pre-departure briefing, accommodation tips, and you're on the plane.
FAQ
Bahamas questions, answered
Can Pakistani passport holders enter The Bahamas visa-free?
No. The Department of Immigration expressly excludes Pakistan from the Commonwealth visa waiver (alongside India, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Mozambique), so a visitor visa is required for every trip — including cruise calls and short stopovers. Budget for a separate US, UK or Canadian transit visa as well, because almost every routing from Pakistan to Nassau connects through Miami, London or Toronto and the US has no visa-free airside transit.
There is no Bahamian embassy in Pakistan — where do I apply?
Correct, The Bahamas has no diplomatic mission in Pakistan. Visitor visas are filed online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs eVisa platform and paid by card; paper files, interviews and follow-up questions are handled by the Bahamas High Commission in London or the missions in Washington and New York. We prepare the documents, attestation and translations in Faisalabad and manage the online submission and follow-up.
How realistic is getting a Bahamian work permit?
It is genuinely difficult and entirely employer-driven — you cannot apply for yourself and there is no job-seeker visa. For most posts the employer must advertise the vacancy on three consecutive days and obtain a Labour Certificate with Notification of Vacancy from the Department of Labour (only Fee Scale 1 and certain Scale 2 posts are exempt). Costs are a B$200 processing fee plus an annual permit fee from B$500 for registered farm labour to B$16,275 plus a 5% levy at senior executive level. Expect 8–12 weeks, and note that first-time applicants are expected to remain outside The Bahamas while the file is processed.
Can I buy citizenship or a Bahamian passport?
No. The Bahamas has no citizenship-by-investment scheme, and any agent offering one is misleading you. A minimum B$1 million investment in real estate or Central Bank zero-coupon bonds, held at least ten years, can support an Economic Permanent Residence certificate (B$25,000 with the right to work, B$20,000 without). Naturalisation is a separate, discretionary route generally requiring around ten years of lawful residence.
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