Bahamas Digital Nomad Visa | An Incomplete Guide

What is digital nomad visa?

“Digital nomads” represent a lifestyle trend that has gained prominence in the 21st century. With the advancement of information technology, an increasing number of professionals—such as IT workers, media personnel, language teachers, and freelancers—have broken free from traditional office settings. They now have the ability to work remotely from any location worldwide with internet access. This concept of remote work gained significant traction, especially before and during the pandemic.

Once liberated from office constraints, some remote workers choose to embrace a unique lifestyle: they carry their bags and travel to various destinations while continuing to work remotely. These individuals, known as “digital nomads,” experience a blend of exploring new cultures and working from different corners of the world.

To attract digital nomads and promote tourism and emerging industries, governments in at least 65 countries and regions worldwide have introduced specialized digital nomad visas. These visas typically have the following characteristics:

1. Applicants must be remote workers with stable monthly income and cannot be employed locally.

2. Digital nomad visas are essentially extended travel visas, often valid for one year and allowing residence for up to two to four years in the destination country without the option for permanent immigration.

However, in some Latin American and Southern European countries—such as Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, and Ecuador—digital nomads can eventually obtain local permanent residency or even naturalization after accumulating a certain length of stay.

For more information on digital nomad visa programs, explore the details in this post: “Global Digital Nomad Visas | An Incomplete Handbook”.

The Bahamas BEATS:

Since October 2020, the Bahamian government has launched the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) program, which offers a digital nomad visa for remote workers and students participating in fully online courses. Applicants must be financially self-sufficient and willing to work or study remotely in The Bahamas. Notably, there are no specific income requirements for BEATS, and visa approvals are subjectively assessed by the authorities.

Application Process:

The Bahamas Digital Nomad Visa Can Be Applied for Completely Online. The Application Process Is Generally Divided into the Following Steps:

1. Submit Visa Application Online: First, you need to fill out the application form on the BEATS official website, upload the required documents, submit the visa application online, and pay an application fee of $25 per person for both the primary and secondary applicants.

Required Documents include:

• Identity Documents: This includes a passport valid for more than 6 months, a passport-sized photo, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and other documents proving the relationship between the primary and secondary applicants.

• Completed Application Form: Ensure all fields are accurately filled.

• Proof of Remote Work: Provide documentation of self-employment or employment that supports remote work. Students can provide a student ID.

• Proof of Income: Submit income proof, including bank statements, to demonstrate your ability to support yourself while living in the Bahamas.

• Health Insurance: Purchase valid health insurance for the Bahamas that includes COVID-19 coverage for each primary and secondary applicant.

• No Criminal Record: All adult primary and secondary applicants must provide a certificate of no criminal record issued by local law enforcement.

2. Wait for Visa Approval: You will be notified via email about the approval status. The approval process typically takes no more than 5 business days.

3. Receive Electronic Resident Card: Once approved, pay a visa fee of $1000 for the primary applicant and $500 per person for secondary applicants. After payment, you will receive an electronic residence card.

4. Enter the Bahamas: Upon entry, you must present your electronic residence card.

Dependents:

The Bahamas digital nomad visa permits the spouse and financilly independent children of the primary applicant to acquire visas as dependents.

Visa Validity:

The Bahamas digital nomad visa is valid for one year and can be renewed up to two times under the original conditions. In other words, you can use BEATS to reside in the Bahamas for a maximum of three years.

Similar to other Caribbean programs, the Bahamas digital nomad visa does not lead to local permanent residency or citizenship.

Official Website:

The Bahamas BEATS: https://www.bahamasbeats.com/