The Bahamas · Spouse visas
The Bahamas Spouse of a citizen
Resident Spouse Permit (spouse of a Bahamian)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for The Bahamas. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Government fees
- BSD 200 ≈ $200
Cost, time and long term
Government feesBSD 200 ≈ $200
- BSD 200 (≈ $200)Non-refundable processing fee for the application, and again for a renewal.
RenewalRenewable
The Resident Spouse Permit can be renewed with a renewal application; after 5 years of marriage the spouse may instead apply for citizenship or permanent residence.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of marriage
A spouse can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of marriage, if the marriage is subsisting and the couple live together as husband and wife.
CitizenshipGeneral rule: 5 years of marriage
After 5 years of marriage the spouse may apply for citizenship; the general naturalisation rule needs 10 years as a permanent resident.
Where to applyFrom abroad
First-time applicants should not be in The Bahamas while the application is processed.
Presence rulesMinimum stay
The non-Bahamian spouse must live with the Bahamian spouse.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside The Bahamas, not after arriving
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Married to a Bahamian national and living with the Bahamian spouse.
- Married for less than five years at the time of application.
What you must show1
- Processing fee of BSD 200, (≈ $200) non-refundable.
Documents4
- Certified copy of the marriage certificate and copy of the Bahamian spouse's passport and birth certificate.
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days.
- Original police certificate covering 5 years of residence, issued within 6 months (age 14 and over).
- Two recent passport photos, passport copy and the applicant's original authenticated birth certificate.
Steps1
- Send a letter of request to the Director of Immigration with the notarised First Schedule Form 1A.
After you arrive3
- Renewal needs the letter, fee, form, medical, police certificate, photos and a valid passport copy.
- After five years of marriage the spouse may seek an extension of the permit, citizenship or permanent residence.
- Permanent residence for a spouse needs five years of marriage that is subsisting with the couple living together.
When you become tax resident
How The Bahamas decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
No income tax residence test applies because no personal income tax is levied; National Insurance applies to employees, employers and the self-employed.
- Foreign-source income
No personal income tax
All tax rules for The Bahamas Tax records checked
Full official text
For a non-Bahamian married to a Bahamian who lives with the spouse and has been married under five years. It allows living and working in The Bahamas. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of BSD 200 (≈ $200) · Non-refundable processing fee for the application, and again for a renewal. 1 2
Requirements
- Married to a Bahamian national and living with the Bahamian spouse. 1
- Married for less than five years at the time of application. 1
- Processing fee of BSD 200, (≈ $200) non-refundable. 1 2
- Certified copy of the marriage certificate and copy of the Bahamian spouse's passport and birth certificate. 1
- Original medical certificate dated within 30 days. 1
- Original police certificate covering 5 years of residence, issued within 6 months (age 14 and over). 1
- Two recent passport photos, passport copy and the applicant's original authenticated birth certificate. 1
- Send a letter of request to the Director of Immigration with the notarised First Schedule Form 1A. 1
- Renewal needs the letter, fee, form, medical, police certificate, photos and a valid passport copy. 2
- After five years of marriage the spouse may seek an extension of the permit, citizenship or permanent residence. 1
- Permanent residence for a spouse needs five years of marriage that is subsisting with the couple living together. 3
Stay
- Resident Spouse Permit for marriages under five years, renewable; permanent residence and citizenship routes open after five years of marriage.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
The permit allows the spouse to live and work in The Bahamas.
Family
Accompanying dependants must apply for a Permit to Reside.
Official sources
- Resident Spouse Permit · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Resident Spouse Permit (Renewal) · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residence · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a citizen | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a citizen Mexico | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Partner of a citizen Colombia | – | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen Costa Rica | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Spouse of a resident Brazil | – | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?
A fee of BSD 200 (≈ $200). Non-refundable processing fee for the application, and again for a renewal.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?
Resident Spouse Permit for marriages under five years, renewable; permanent residence and citizenship routes open after five years of marriage.
Can I work on the Spouse of a citizen?
The permit allows the spouse to live and work in The Bahamas.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?
Accompanying dependants must apply for a Permit to Reside.
Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in The Bahamas?
Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in The Bahamas, which the rules allow after 5 years of marriage. The general rule for citizenship is 5 years of marriage.
How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in The Bahamas?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: The Bahamas Government investment guidance lists personal income, capital gains, inheritance, withholding, dividend and payroll taxes as absent; residents pay VAT and National Insurance contributions instead.
More in The Bahamas
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Resident Spouse Permit · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Resident Spouse Permit (Renewal) · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Permanent Residence · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship · Bahamas Department of Immigration · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.