Brief Summary
The Government of The Bahamas has amended the Immigration (Fee) Regulations, effective 01 July 2023. Some noteworthy changes [1] are the addition of a 5% Levy on some work permit fees and the further categorization and increase of fees for Economic Permanent Residence Certificates.
The following table reflects only those fees that have been increased.
| Description | Current (end 30 June 2023) | New (start 01 July 2023) | |
1 | Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) for a spouse previously endorsed under their spouse’s certificate and now widowed. | $2,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
2 | PRC for a person residing in the country for a period of 10- 20 years [2] and holding a work permit in Scales 4 to 7. Nurses, policeman, and prison officers employed by the Government of The Bahamas are excluded. Teachers are also excluded. | $7,500.00 | $10,000.00 |
3 | PRC for a person residing in the country for 10-19 years [3] who has or previously held a work permit as
| $2,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
4 | PRC for a person residing in the country for at least 20 years [5] who has or previously held a work permit in Scale 5 to 8 | $2,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
5 | Economic Permanent Residence certificate with the right to engage in gainful occupation in own business | $15,000.00 and / or$100.00 | $25,000.00 |
6 | Economic Permanent Residence certificate without the right to engage in gainful occupation | $15,000.00 | $20,000.00 |
7 | Endorsement of wife and/or dependent(s) who are ordinarily resident with the permanent resident | $100.00 | $300.00 |
8 | Duplicate of any certificate | $100.00 | $300.00 |
9 | Duplicate of a permit | $100.00 | $300.00 |
10 | For processing application for permits and certificates | $100.00 | $200.00 |
11 | Expedited processing fee for residence permits and work permits (14 day wait) | NA | $400.00 |
12 | For a residence permit for any person for each year or any part thereof | $2,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
13 | Residence permit for a dependent for each year or any part thereof | $100.00 | $300.00 |
14 | Residence permit for a spouse of a Bahamian citizen for each year or any part thereof | $100.00 | $300.00 |
15 | Residence permit for a child of the spouse of a Bahamian citizen for each year or any part thereof | $100.00 | $300.00 |
16 | Residence permit for a student resident for each year or any part thereof. Applicable to full time students or trainees who are attending an institution of higher learning in The Bahamas. | $100.00 | $300.00 |
17 | Spousal Permit – | ||
| (a) one year | $100.00 | $300.00 | |
| (b) five years | $500.00 | $1,500.00 | |
18 | General worker permit for a person previously married to a Bahamian citizen and has children of the marriage | $100.00 | $300.00 |
19 | Resident Belonger Permit — | ||
| (a) a person born in The Bahamas to non-Bahamian parents who is entitled to apply for citizenship and residing permanently in The Bahamas at the time of application | $100.00 | $300.00 | |
| (b) a person born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian mother who is married to a non-Bahamian father | $100.00 | $300.00 | |
| (c) a person born outside The Bahamas to a Bahamian father (by virtue of birth or independence) and who is married to a non-Bahamian | $100.00 | $300.00 | |
| Work Permit – | |||
20 | 5% Levy on work permit fees for a person holding an occupation in Scales 1, 2, and 3 | NA | 5% (Scales 1, 2, 3) |
21 | BH-1B Work Visa [6] | $2,000.00 | $3,000.00 |
22 | Scale 1 Work Permit | $15,500.00 | $16,275.00 |
23 | Scale 2 Work Permit | $12,500.00 | $13,125.00 |
24 | Scale 3 Work Permit | $9,000.00 | $9,450.00 |
[1] Unless specified current fees apply.
[2] Current fees apply if less than 10 years.
[3] Current fees apply if less than 10 years.
[4] Scales 10 & 11 no longer apply.
[5] Current fees apply if less than 20 years.
[6] See Commercial Enterprises Act, 2017.