Bahamas Digital Nomad Visa: Your 2025 Guide for Remote Work in the Bahamas

Who hasn't dreamed of running away from it all to an island paradise in the Caribbean? Sometimes, it feels like all we need is bright sun, swaying palm trees, and crystal clear sea to make us happy.

The Bahamas has all that. Even better, it also has a digital nomad visa that makes living in the Bahamas while doing remote work a possibility. The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay, also known as the BEATS program, is designed to help remote workers stay in this beautiful country for up to one year. Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the BEATS program was intended to make the Bahamas an attractive destination for remote workers seeking white sand beaches, constant sunshine, and a true tropical paradise. This one-year visa allows remote workers and students to sample Caribbean living while they work from home.

Even better, the BEATS permit allows annual renewal, so you can live on your Bahamas remote work visa for up to three years.

Is this your ticket to paradise? Maybe. Let's take a look at the BEATS program and the application process for a Bahamas digital nomad visa.

Who can apply for a Bahamas Digital Nomad Visa?

The Bahamas is clearly taking its digital nomad visa program seriously, as it has one of the slickest websites for visa application I've ever seen. The application is handled online, and can be processed in as little as five business days. But who qualifies?

To be allowed to work remotely in the Bahamas, you must:

• Have a valid passport from any country eligible to enter the Bahamas.

• Have a travel permit for the Bahamas (This does not apply to holders of US, Canadian, UK, or EU passports).

• Be employed by a company outside the Bahamas, work as a self-employed freelancer, or be a student studying remotely.

• Have medical insurance to cover you and any dependents for the length of your stay.

  
  

Income and financial requirements

There is no official minimum monthly income to apply for BEATS. Still, the authorities will want to see that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependents while in the country.

Remember that the cost of living in the Bahamas is high - on average, 36% higher than in the United States. The average monthly salary in the Bahamas is around USD $4000 per month, and usually, when it comes to digital nomads, the authorities want to see a higher income than average.

If you start getting into the $5000-$6000 per month territory, you should have no problems.

Application process and fees

If you dream of being able to reside in the Bahamas and spend your days on the beach enjoying the bright sun and turquoise waters, you're in luck. Provided you have the income to support yourself in this expensive country, it's not too difficult to get a digital nomad visa in the Bahamas and make this your new home. 

Whether you want to enjoy the natural beauty of the Andros barrier reef or soak up the lively atmosphere of Nassau,  it's easy to apply for the Bahamas digital nomad visa and enjoy this country for up to a year. 

Let's go through the process and see what it takes to live and work here.

Required documents

The BEATS visa is open to both remote workers and students who can work from anywhere, and the documents you will need depend on what kind of application you intend to make. Before you start your application, it's a good idea to get all the necessary documents together so that you are ready to fill out your online application form.

Here's what you will need:

• A valid passport that expires more than six months from the date of your application.

• Proof of income. For employees working remotely for companies, this can be your job contract. For freelancers, you'll need details of current and past clients and payments received to demonstrate to the immigration authorities that you make enough money to live in the Bahamas. Students do not need proof of income, but they do need to show that they have enough money to support themselves in the country without working. If necessary, you can use your parent's income if they agree to support you.

• A document detailing your medical insurance that should cover you for as long as you plan to stay in the country.

• A criminal record check from your own country.

  
  

You can bring your children to the Bahamas on a BEATS visa too. If you're doing that, you'll need to also provide their passports. If your spouse is planning to work remotely too, they will need to apply separately and also meet the eligibility criteria.

However, only one of you needs to apply to bring your children. The best strategy would be for whoever makes the most money to apply to bring dependents with them.

How to apply

Once you have your documents together, you apply online.The online application will walk you through the process of proving your income or self-employment status, or ask for details of your education program for students enrolled in remote learning courses.

The Bahamas immigration authorities pledge to process your application in only five working days, so you should get an answer quickly. If you're approved, it's time to pay your fees. 

Fees

Remember how I mentioned earlier that the Bahamas is not a cheap country? You'll get a taste of that right away with the application fee.

Work Remotely permits, for freelancers and remote workers, cost $1000 for adult applicants, plus 500 per dependent. If you have a spouse who doesn't intend to work and three kids, for example, you're looking at $3000.

The Study Remotely permit costs $500, and dependents are not allowed.

For either permit, there is an application fee of $25.

FYI: these figures are in Bahamanian dollars, but the Bahamanian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and is worth the same, with only occasional fluctuations of less than a penny on the dollar.

Once you pay the permit fee, you will receive a QR code that allows you to enter the Bahamas and start living and working in the country. 

There is also the possibility of renewal once you have your remote work visa in Bahamas. You can renew your visa twice and stay in this incredible vacation destination for up to three years. 

Tax residency 

The Bahamas does not charge income tax on anyone, including digital nomads. As with most countries, being physically present in the Bahamas for 90 days or more can be enough to make you a resident for tax purposes, though you will have to apply for a Bahamas tax residency certificate.

Becoming a tax resident in the Bahamas does not automatically free you from tax obligations in your home country. Every country has different rules on this, so make sure you understand your tax obligations and seek legal support if you want to apply for tax residency. 

Is the Bahamas your next digital nomad destination?

As the Bahamanian Ministry of Tourism loves to point out, the Bahamas really is an island paradise. If your dream of being a digital nomad involves spending time at a beachfront resort or exploring the abundant sea life of Caribbean coral reefs, the BEATS  visa is ideal for getting a taste of paradise. 

Plus, with no specific minimum income requirement, a fast and easy application process, and eligibility for both workers and students, the BEATS visa is an impressive option for digital workers and students from around the world. Add the fact that the Bahamas does not charge income tax and that English is an official language, and it's easy to think that the Bahamas is the ultimate digital nomad destination.

Maybe. But the cost of renting property is higher here than in most places on earth, and the cost of living in general is extremely high. That can be enough by itself to put off a lot of digital nomads.

It's also true that as a nation of islands, the Bahamas requires you to get on a plane anytime you want to go anywhere else. While there is lots to explore here, it's not a great base to see the rest of the world the way that, for instance, European and Asian countries are.

Ultimately, if you have enough income, the Bahamas is a fantastic place to live and work, for a year or even longer. But if you're looking for a budget option, this isn't it.

For another island nation with the high cost of living but a completely different experience from the Bahamas, check out our guide to the Iceland digital nomad visa.