Bahamas

Visa Bahamas

Amériques · Caraïbes

In the Bahamas, entry and stay fall under the Bahamas Department of Immigration. Its website publishes an online permits portal ("Online Portal"), an appointment booking function, forms to download and a fee scale. The categories named relate mainly to residence and work. The pages read state that every visitor must hold a return or onward ticket and a valid travel document.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority: The Bahamas Department of Immigration
Submission channel: Online permits portal ("Online Portal") and appointment booking, as named on the site
Electronic visa: Not stated on the portal consulted; the site names an electronic permanent residence application form
Portal language: English

Do you need a visa?

Your nationality

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

Permit To Reside: Residence permit named by the department; duration not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Resident Spouse Permit: Permit intended for the resident spouse, as named by the department; duration not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Permanent Residence: Permanent residence; the site names an "Electronic Permanent Residence Card Application Form". Duration not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Work Permit (Work Visa): Work permit, named "Work Permit (Work Visa)"; the fee scale distinguishes bands of fees according to the employment. Official page (new tab)
Short Term Work Permit: Short-term work permit, as named by the department; duration not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
Home Owner Resident Permit: Home owner resident permit, as named by the department; duration not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The Bahamas Department of Immigration highlights an online permits portal at https://epermits.immigration.gov.bs/ as well as an appointment booking function ("Book An Appointment") from its home page.

The "Entry Requirements" page states that every visitor must hold a return or onward ticket and a valid travel document allowing entry into another country where that applies. It also publishes lists of exemptions by nationality, which are not reproduced here: the applicable rule is shown with the nationality selector on this page.

Steps in the procedure

Identify the permit matching the situation among the categories published by the department.
Download the corresponding form in the "Download Forms" section or use the online permits portal.
Book an appointment through the "Book An Appointment" function offered on the site.
Pay the fees set by the "Immigration Fee Scale" published by the department.

Documents mentioned by the authority

Not stated on the portal consulted: the pages read refer to forms to download without a consolidated list of documents. The "Entry Requirements" page cites, for visitors, a return or onward ticket and a valid travel document.

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the department publishes a detailed scale ("Immigration Fee Scale") covering in particular permanent residence certificates, annual residence permits and work permits split into bands. The amounts there are expressed in dollars; the page states neither the currency explicitly nor any payment method.

Still according to that page, expedited processing is provided for certain bands, described as processing "within 14 business days of receipt". No ordinary processing time is stated.

After the decision

Not stated on the portal consulted: the pages read describe neither the issuing of the permit nor the avenues of appeal. The site names an "Extension of Stay" section and a "Re-Entry Permit", whose content was not consulted. The authority decides whether to grant or refuse.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for Bahamas to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa required for the Bahamas?

It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

The department highlights an online permits portal and an appointment booking function from its official site.

What general conditions does the site state for visitors?

The "Entry Requirements" page states that every visitor must hold a return or onward ticket and a valid travel document.

Are the fees published?

Yes: the department publishes a scale ("Immigration Fee Scale") detailing the fees by permit category, in dollars.

Official sources

Bahamas Department of Immigration (new tab) Authority

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

Bahamas Immigration - Bahamas Department of Immigration (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
Entry Requirements - Bahamas Immigration (new tab) read on 17 September 2026
Immigration Fee Scale - Bahamas Immigration Department (new tab) read on 17 September 2026

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

The online permits portal (epermits.immigration.gov.bs) is cited on the site but was not opened: its exact scope (which permits may be filed there) remains to be confirmed.
The pages read do not describe the short-stay visa procedure as such, nor the role of Bahamian diplomatic missions: to be documented by a reviewer.
The currency of the fee scale is not written out in full on the page; it must be confirmed before publication.
No ordinary processing time is published on the pages read.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

Describe your situation

Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.
Check at the source

Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.
Track what is left to do

Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.

Check my route Open my case