Bahamas

Caribbean

Caribbean

A low-tax Caribbean nation with English as a main language, residence by investment and a digital-nomad visa, but a long 10-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

57
Overall score
Moderate · Penalty applied · 89% data coverage
Language
English
Currency
BSD
Citizenship
10 years
Personal tax
No personal income tax
Cost of living
$2,000 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
56
Access
17%
67Residence12%
28Citizenship and passport5%
63
Earning power
25%
64Salary and work12%
62Buying power13%
66
Business and wealth
20%
86Taxes7%
61Business8%
46Investment5%
55
Daily life
25%
55Quality of life18%
55Education7%
79
Rights and institutions
13%
90Freedom6%
70Rule of law7%

Severe safety risk (36) cut the overall score from 62 to 57.

Pros

  • English as a main language
  • Residence by investment
  • A digital-nomad visa

Cons

  • A long 10-year naturalisation wait
  • No dual citizenship

Best for

Remote workersLow-tax relocatorsInvestors

Score profile

Access
Residence
67
Citizenship
18
Passport
81
Earning power
Salary & work
64
Buying power
62
Cost of living
18
Economy
77
Business and wealth
Taxes
86
Personal tax
100
Corporate tax
100
Business
61
Investment
46
Wealth building
57
Daily life
Safety
36
Healthcare
65
Environment
99
Infrastructure
67
Education
55
HDI
82
Rights and institutions
Freedom
90
Rule of law
70
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Good
67
Migrant stock16.8% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.11 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Low
18
Years required10 years
Dual allowedNo
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 10 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Excellent
81
161 / 198
Mobility
#25
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free113
  • On arrival42
  • eTA6
  • Visa required37

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
64
Output per worker$65,604 PPP (2024)
Unemployment9.2% (2025)
Participation73.8% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$1,667 · $1,469 PPP (2023)
Tech (IT & comms)$1,681 · $1,481 PPP (2023)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Moderate
62
GNI / person$39,610 PPP (2024)
Consumption / person$22,823 PPP (2024)
Price level111 (US = 100) (2024)
Inflation0.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Low
18
Price level111 (US = 100) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$2,000 / mo (single)
CitiesNassau, Freeport
Economy
Economic strength
Good
77
Output & income
GDP$15.8B (2024)
GDP / person$39,455 (2024)
GNI / person$39,610 PPP (2024)
GDP growth3.4% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation0.4% / yr (2024)
Unemployment9.2% (2025)
Output per worker$65,604 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture0.5% of GDP (2024)
Industry9.6% of GDP (2024)
Services77.2% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
TourismFinancial servicesShipping registryReal estate
Top exports
Tourism servicesFinancial servicesSeafood
TypeHigh-income, tourism- and finance-led
Key sectorsTourism (the economic mainstay), Offshore finance, Maritime registry
SummaryA high-income island economy built on tourism and offshore financial services, with no income tax.
CurrencyBahamian dollar (pegged 1:1 to the US dollar)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Excellent
86
PersonalNo personal income tax
CorporateGenerally no corporate income tax; business licence tax applies
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Excellent
100
PersonalNo personal income tax
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Excellent
100
CorporateGenerally no corporate income tax; business licence tax applies
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
61
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.11 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.71 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
46
Private credit52% of GDP (2016)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Moderate
57
Salary & work
Moderate
64
Business
Moderate
61
Investment
Moderate
46
Tax friendliness
Excellent
86
Cost of living
Low
18

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Limited
36
Personal safety
Homicide rate32.2 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption1.23 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability1.05 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Good
65
Outcomes
Life expectancy74.7 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality12.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians1.90 per 1,000 (2017)
Hospital beds2.17 per 1,000 (2023)
Health spending$2,316 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
99
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure5.3 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Good
67
Digital infrastructure
Internet use92.5% (2024)
Internet resilience49 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed72 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed58 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.50 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity103,791 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Moderate
55
Attainment
Expected schooling11.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment15% gross (1995)
Education spending2.7% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$5,000–15,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesEnglish
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
82
HDI0.820 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy74.6 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling11.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling12.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$30,975 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Excellent
90
Freedom in the World90 / 100 (Free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Good
70
Rule of Law percentile70 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Bahamas visa & immigrationgoogle.comBahamas tax residency rulesgoogle.comBahamas citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Bahamasgoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.