How much does the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit cost and how long does it take?

The fee is about $1,025 (US$25 application fee plus US$1,000 permit fee for a remote worker (US$1,025 total); US$25 plus US$500 per dependant; US$25 plus US$500 for a student); The BEATS site quotes the fees in US dollars on its FAQ and in Bahamian dollars on its how-it-works page; the Bahamian dollar is held at par with the US dollar, so the amounts are the same. The US$25 application fee is paid with the online form and the permit fee only after approval. Students who use University of The Bahamas services pay separate fees (for example US$300 technology fee and US$125 library fee for the year). Processing time: 1 days to 7 days. The Department of Immigration estimates five business days to approve or deny a BEATS application. After approval you receive a payment email, and the QR-code permit is issued once the permit fee is paid.

Is there a minimum income for the Bahamas BEATS permit?

No. The government asks remote workers for a job letter or proof of self-employment and medical insurance, not for a salary figure. Students must show enough funds for living costs and return travel. Budget realistically, though: The Bahamas is one of the most expensive places to live in the Caribbean.

Can I apply for BEATS while I am already in The Bahamas as a visitor?

The application is online and the BEATS pages describe showing your QR code on arrival, so the programme is designed to be arranged before you travel. Visitors are admitted for a limited period and cannot work; if you are already in the islands, apply online early and ask immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs how to transition before your visitor stay expires.

Does BEATS lead to permanent residence or citizenship in The Bahamas?

No. It is an annual permit renewable to a maximum of three years. Permanent residence has its own routes, chiefly a US$1 million investment held for ten years or 20 years of permit status, and BEATS time is not listed as counting toward them.

Digital nomad visa · Latin America

Bahamas BEATS remote-work permit 2026: requirements and cost

The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is a one-year permit for remote workers employed by or running a business outside The Bahamas, and for remote students. Apply online, get a decision in about five business days and pay US$25 plus a US$1,000 permit fee (US$500 per dependant); renewals run up to three years. No income threshold is published and there is no income tax.

Official name: Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit. Facts updated 2026-10-13 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.

Who can apply: Any nationality; Any nationality. Remote professionals must show a job letter from their current employer or proof of self-employment; remote students must show enrolment at an accredited institution and funds for living costs and return travel. Everyone needs a valid passport and medical insurance. Citizens of the USA, Canada, the EU and the UK need no additional travel permit; nationals on the Bahamas visa list should expect to obtain a Bahamian visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well.
Minimum income: no fixed minimum
Fee: about $1,025; US$25 application fee plus US$1,000 permit fee for a remote worker (US$1,025 total); US$25 plus US$500 per dependant; US$25 plus US$500 for a student
Processing time: 1 days to 7 days
Initial stay: 1 year, renewable up to 3 years
Where to apply: Online; Online through the Department of Immigration portal (portal.immigration.gov.bs), linked from the government-run BEATS site bahamasbeats.com; questions go to immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs.

Not yet reviewed by a person

Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-13. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.

Applied for this visa? Tell us what you found →

Who can apply

Any nationality. Remote professionals must show a job letter from their current employer or proof of self-employment; remote students must show enrolment at an accredited institution and funds for living costs and return travel. Everyone needs a valid passport and medical insurance. Citizens of the USA, Canada, the EU and the UK need no additional travel permit; nationals on the Bahamas visa list should expect to obtain a Bahamian visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well.

What you need

Valid passport (data page) for the applicant and every dependant; the Department of Immigration asks visitors for at least six months' validity on entry
Proof of medical insurance for the applicant and all dependants
Remote workers: a job letter from your current employer, or proof of self-employment
Remote students: evidence of enrolment in an accredited learning institution, a student ID, and proof of sufficient funds for living expenses and return travel (parents' financial documents are accepted)
Payment of the US$25 application fee per person, and of the permit fee once approved
Bahamian visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if your nationality is on the visa-required list

Income proof: The government publishes no minimum income for BEATS. Remote workers prove their employment or self-employment rather than a salary level; remote students must show sufficient funds to cover living expenses and return travel, which may include their parents' finances. Immigration officers can still ask visitors for evidence of means at the border.

Family: Dependants can be included on one application: each pays a US$25 application fee and a US$500 permit fee and needs a valid passport and medical insurance. Married couples who both intend to work remotely must each submit their own application, but only one of them lists the shared dependants.

Cost and timeline

Minimum income	no fixed minimum
Fee	about $1,025The BEATS site quotes the fees in US dollars on its FAQ and in Bahamian dollars on its how-it-works page; the Bahamian dollar is held at par with the US dollar, so the amounts are the same. The US$25 application fee is paid with the online form and the permit fee only after approval. Students who use University of The Bahamas services pay separate fees (for example US$300 technology fee and US$125 library fee for the year).
Processing time	1 days to 7 daysThe Department of Immigration estimates five business days to approve or deny a BEATS application. After approval you receive a payment email, and the QR-code permit is issued once the permit fee is paid.
Stay	1 year, renewable up to 3 years

How to apply

Online. Online through the Department of Immigration portal (portal.immigration.gov.bs), linked from the government-run BEATS site bahamasbeats.com; questions go to immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs.

Prepare scans of your passport data page, your medical insurance card or policy, and either a job letter from your employer or proof of self-employment (students: proof of enrolment, student ID and proof of funds).
Complete the BEATS application form on the Department of Immigration portal and pay the US$25 application fee per applicant; a spouse who will also work remotely files a separate application, but only one of you lists the shared dependants.
Wait for the Department of Immigration to review the file, which takes about five business days; if approved you receive a confirmation email with payment instructions.
Pay the permit fee (US$1,000 per working applicant, US$500 per dependant or student) and receive a confirmation QR code by email.
Travel to The Bahamas and show the QR code on arrival; the 12-month permit runs from the date of issue, and renewals are requested the same way for up to three years.

After you arrive

Renewal: The BEATS permit is an annual residence permit that expires 12 months from the date of issue. Applications for annual renewal are considered for a maximum period of up to three years. There is no minimum length of stay. The student version covers one academic year (fall, spring and summer semesters).

Residence: BEATS is a temporary stay permit and the government gives it no path to permanent residence. Permanent residence in The Bahamas is reserved for categories such as spouses of Bahamians, economic applicants investing at least US$1 million held for ten years, and people who have held work or residence permits for 20 consecutive years.

Taxes

The Bahamas levies no personal income tax: the government's official list of taxes and duties contains only VAT, customs, excise and harbour duties, stamp duty, real property tax and departure and ticket taxes, so remote earnings are not taxed locally. The BEATS site says nothing about tax, so your home-country liability continues to depend on your own tax residence rules, and a 12-month stay may not end that residence.

In practice

BEATS is marketed by the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation but decided by the Department of Immigration; the permit covers remote work for an overseas employer or business only, and any job with a Bahamian employer needs a separate work permit.
You cannot stay beyond eight months as an ordinary visitor, and an extension of stay now costs a non-refundable US$200 processing fee, so BEATS is the only paperwork-light way to spend a full year in the islands.
Accommodation is not arranged by the programme; the BEATS site points to extended-stay hotels, home rentals and short-term rentals on all 16 visited islands, and Nassau is the hub for inter-island flights.
Students on BEATS keep studying at their home university online; access to University of The Bahamas counsellors, library and courses is optional and billed separately.
Living costs are high because most goods are imported and carry customs duty plus VAT; budget for US-level or higher prices on food, utilities and rent.

For your passport

Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.

US:No visa and no additional travel permit: US citizens enter as bona fide visitors for up to eight months, so BEATS mainly buys you the right to work remotely and to stay a full year.
CA, GB:No Bahamian visa is required for visits of up to eight months, and the BEATS FAQ says no additional travel permit is needed on top of the BEATS approval.
EU:EU citizens are on the visa-waiver list (three or eight months depending on the bilateral agreement) and need no additional travel permit for BEATS; carry a return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
AR, BR, CL, CO, MX, PE, UY, CR, PA, EC, BO, PY, VE, GT, HN, SV, NI:Visa-free for visits of up to three months; a BEATS permit lets you stay the full year, but you must still show a return or onward ticket, accommodation and funds on arrival.
AU, NZ, JP, KR, SG, CN, ZA, TR, RU:On the Department of Immigration's visa-waiver list for stays of three or eight months as each agreement dictates; no Bahamian visa is needed before applying for BEATS.
IN, PH, TH, VN, ID, PK, NG, EG, MA, UA, DO, HT, CU, SA:On the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa-required list: obtain a Bahamian visa through MOFA's eVisa service or a Bahamian mission before travelling, in addition to the BEATS approval. Indian nationals holding a valid US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visa or residence are visa-exempt for 90 days (30 days with a US or Canadian permanent-resident card).
All other passports:Check the Department of Immigration's visa-waiver and visa-required lists; BEATS is open to any nationality, but a Bahamian visa from MOFA is a separate requirement for the countries it lists.

Cities in Bahamas on Nostos

Nassau
Balanced score 70 · no data/month

Have you applied for this visa?

Does this guide match what you found?

Tell other nomads how it went.

Outcome, how long it took, what it cost and what the guide did not tell you. Your account appears here once a person has read it; your email never does.

Frequently asked

Who can apply for the Bahamas BEATS remote-work permit?: Any nationality. Remote professionals must show a job letter from their current employer or proof of self-employment; remote students must show enrolment at an accredited institution and funds for living costs and return travel. Everyone needs a valid passport and medical insurance. Citizens of the USA, Canada, the EU and the UK need no additional travel permit; nationals on the Bahamas visa list should expect to obtain a Bahamian visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well. The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is a one-year permit for remote workers employed by or running a business outside The Bahamas, and for remote students. Apply online, get a decision in about five business days and pay US$25 plus a US$1,000 permit fee (US$500 per dependant); renewals run up to three years. No income threshold is published and there is no income tax.
How much income do you need for the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit?: The government publishes no minimum income for BEATS. Remote workers prove their employment or self-employment rather than a salary level; remote students must show sufficient funds to cover living expenses and return travel, which may include their parents' finances. Immigration officers can still ask visitors for evidence of means at the border.
How much does the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit cost and how long does it take?: The fee is about $1,025 (US$25 application fee plus US$1,000 permit fee for a remote worker (US$1,025 total); US$25 plus US$500 per dependant; US$25 plus US$500 for a student); The BEATS site quotes the fees in US dollars on its FAQ and in Bahamian dollars on its how-it-works page; the Bahamian dollar is held at par with the US dollar, so the amounts are the same. The US$25 application fee is paid with the online form and the permit fee only after approval. Students who use University of The Bahamas services pay separate fees (for example US$300 technology fee and US$125 library fee for the year). Processing time: 1 days to 7 days. The Department of Immigration estimates five business days to approve or deny a BEATS application. After approval you receive a payment email, and the QR-code permit is issued once the permit fee is paid.
How long can you stay in Bahamas on the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit, and can it be renewed?: 1 year, renewable up to 3 years. The BEATS permit is an annual residence permit that expires 12 months from the date of issue. Applications for annual renewal are considered for a maximum period of up to three years. There is no minimum length of stay. The student version covers one academic year (fall, spring and summer semesters).
Does the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit lead to permanent residence in Bahamas?: Not by itself. BEATS is a temporary stay permit and the government gives it no path to permanent residence. Permanent residence in The Bahamas is reserved for categories such as spouses of Bahamians, economic applicants investing at least US$1 million held for ten years, and people who have held work or residence permits for 20 consecutive years.
Can family members come with you on the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit?: Dependants can be included on one application: each pays a US$25 application fee and a US$500 permit fee and needs a valid passport and medical insurance. Married couples who both intend to work remotely must each submit their own application, but only one of them lists the shared dependants.
Do you pay tax in Bahamas on the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit?: The Bahamas levies no personal income tax: the government's official list of taxes and duties contains only VAT, customs, excise and harbour duties, stamp duty, real property tax and departure and ticket taxes, so remote earnings are not taxed locally. The BEATS site says nothing about tax, so your home-country liability continues to depend on your own tax residence rules, and a 12-month stay may not end that residence.
Where do you apply for the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) permit?: Online: Online through the Department of Immigration portal (portal.immigration.gov.bs), linked from the government-run BEATS site bahamasbeats.com; questions go to immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs.
Is there a minimum income for the Bahamas BEATS permit?: No. The government asks remote workers for a job letter or proof of self-employment and medical insurance, not for a salary figure. Students must show enough funds for living costs and return travel. Budget realistically, though: The Bahamas is one of the most expensive places to live in the Caribbean.
Can I apply for BEATS while I am already in The Bahamas as a visitor?: The application is online and the BEATS pages describe showing your QR code on arrival, so the programme is designed to be arranged before you travel. Visitors are admitted for a limited period and cannot work; if you are already in the islands, apply online early and ask immigrationbeats@bahamas.gov.bs how to transition before your visitor stay expires.
Does BEATS lead to permanent residence or citizenship in The Bahamas?: No. It is an annual permit renewable to a maximum of three years. Permanent residence has its own routes, chiefly a US$1 million investment held for ten years or 20 years of permit status, and BEATS time is not listed as counting toward them.

Sources

Bahamas BEATS: Frequently Asked Questions, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamasbeats.com) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · One-year permit renewable up to three years; US$25 application and US$1,000/US$500 permit fees; documents; five-day processing; online application via the immigration portal; no additional travel permit for US, Canadian, EU and UK citizens
Bahamas BEATS: How it Works, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamasbeats.com) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Application steps, five business days processing, fees quoted in Bahamian currency, QR-code permit
Bahamas BEATS: Work Remotely, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamasbeats.com) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Programme description for remote workers; ordinary visits require proof of departure while BEATS allows up to a year
Entry Requirements, Bahamas Department of Immigration · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Visitors may remain up to eight months, must hold a return ticket and funds, and may not work; visa exemptions for US, UK, Canadian, Commonwealth and listed South American citizens
Before Your Arrival, Bahamas Department of Immigration · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Six-month passport validity, visa-waiver list (three or eight months), visa-required list, visas issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Extension of Stay, Bahamas Department of Immigration · retrieved 2026-10-13 · US$200 non-refundable processing fee for visitor extensions since 18 September 2024
Permanent Residence, Bahamas Department of Immigration · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Permanent residence categories: US$1 million economic investment held ten years, 20 consecutive years of permit status, spouses of Bahamians
Who needs visas to enter The Bahamas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas · retrieved 2026-10-13 · List of designated visa-required countries and the waiver for Indian nationals with US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visas or residence
Taxes and Duties, Government of The Bahamas (bahamas.gov.bs) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Official list of taxes and duties (stamp, excise, customs and harbour duties, departure and ticket taxes, real property tax); no income tax is levied
Visa & Immigration FAQ, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (bahamas.com) · retrieved 2026-10-13 · Canadian citizens need a visa only beyond eight months; Latin American citizens visa-free under three months; BEATS summary

Not yet reviewed by a person. Applied for this visa? Tell us what you found →