Moving to Bahamas: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
Bahamas: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax. The cheapest route to residence is annual residence permit (proof of means) or the BEATS remote-work permit: about USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, in about 3 months. Living costs about USD 2,750 a month for one person in Nassau, USD 2,700 in Freeport, and around USD 2,000 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax |
| Foreign income | not taxed |
| Gains · dividends | 0 · 0 |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · none |
| Cheapest residence | annual residence permit (proof of means) or the BEATS remote-work permit |
| Money needed | About USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment |
| Time | about 3 months |
| Doable yourself? | Mostly; a local fixer for one step helps |
| Days you must spend there | no strict day count for permanent residents; tax residence certificates are not standard |
| Citizenship | rare |
| Online business | 0% effective, about USD 1,500 a year to run: business licence; no income tax |
| Living (one person a month) | Nassau ~USD 2,750; bare minimum ~USD 2,000; family of four ~USD 6,150 |
| Good for | no income, gains, inheritance tax; trusts and foundations law; close to Florida |
| Common set-up | a home bought for the accelerated permanent residence + a local bank; investments held through a Bahamas or BVI company |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated permanent residence | USD 765k | 6 | USD 750k home (USD 1.5 M+ for faster processing). |
Questions
- How much does residence in Bahamas cost?
- Annual residence permit (proof of means) or the BEATS remote-work permit: about USD 1,500 in fees doing it yourself, with no investment, about 3 months.
- Does Bahamas tax foreign income?
- Not taxed. In one line: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax.
- What does it cost to live in Bahamas?
- Living costs about USD 2,750 a month for one person in Nassau, USD 2,700 in Freeport, and around USD 2,000 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from Bahamas?
- Effective tax about 0% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 1,500 a year: business licence; no income tax.
- What is the catch in Bahamas?
- Without a tax residence certificate, leaving a high-tax country is harder to prove.
- What residence or citizenship programmes does Bahamas have?
- Accelerated permanent residence: about USD 765k all-in for one person, ~6 months
Compare
- Cayman Islands: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax
- Puerto Rico (Act 60): US citizens: 0% on Puerto Rico dividends, interest and post-move gains · 4% on export-services companies
- Bermuda: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (payroll tax on wages)
- Turks and Caicos: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Anguilla: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- St Kitts and Nevis: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Antigua and Barbuda: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local personal income
- Barbados: 0% on foreign income not brought in · up to 28.5% on local income · no gains tax
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://www.bahamas.gov.bs
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded