Can the holder work locally, run a business or perform other economic activity? What is the family position?
The Home Owner Resident Permit is an annual permit. Under the replacement section 11 effective 1 July 2026, the Director may issue the principal permit to a qualifying non-Bahamian property certificate holder, a separate permit to the spouse, and a separate permit to each minor dependant child. Each permits entry and stay for its own duration, subject to the Immigration Act entry prohibitions. The 2026 Schedule lists annual fees of $1,000 for the principal and $500 each for a spouse and minor dependant child. Section 11 does not itself grant work or business rights. Immigration Act section 29 generally requires a citizen status, qualifying permanent residence certificate, work permit or specified ministerial category before gainful occupation; a Home Owner Resident Permit is not itself one of those express categories.
See recorded sources
Limits of the record- Whether a particular holder or family member also has a separate work permit or is within a ministerial exempt category is case-specific. This source set does not establish a distinct study entitlement or unlimited renewals.
- https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMENDING/2026/2026-0027A/2026-0027A.pdf
(1) This Act, which amends the International Persons Landholding Act
(Ch.140), may be cited as the International Persons Landholding
(Amendment) Act, 2026.
(2) This Act shall come into force on the 1* day of July, 2026.
- https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMENDING/2026/2026-0027A/2026-0027A.pdf
“11. Home Owner Resident Permit.
(1) A non-Bahamian to whom a certificate has been issued may apply
to the Director for an annual Home Owner Resident Permit in
respect of the purchase or acquisition of —
(a) an interest in a condominium;
(b) residence to be used as a foreign owner-occupied property; or
(c) vacant land to be used for the construction of a residence to
be used as a foreign owner-occupied property.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Immigration Act
(Ch.191), the Director upon being satisfied that the applicant —
(a) _ is the owner of the property and is the person to whom the
certificate was issued;
Page - 2
(3)
(b) is not a member of a prohibited class of persons within the
meaning of the Immigration Act;
(c) is not otherwise undesirable within the meaning of the
Immigration Act; and
(d) is able to maintain himself and his dependants in The
Bahamas,
may issue a Home Owner Resident Permit to the applicant upon
payment of the applicable fee specified in the Schedule.
- https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMENDING/2026/2026-0027A/2026-0027A.pdf
Where a Home Owner Resident Permit is issued to an applicant
under subsection (2), the Director of Immigration may, in addition
issue —
(a) a separate permit to the spouse of the applicant, who shall be
the secondary permit holder; and
(b) a separate permit to each minor dependant child of the
applicant, if any,
and the applicant, the spouse and each minor dependant child shall
be entitled to enter and remain in The Bahamas for the duration of
the relevant permit, unless any of them is otherwise prohibited
under the provisions of the Immigration Act from entry into The
Bahamas.”.
- https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMENDING/2026/2026-0027A/2026-0027A.pdf
Part B of the Schedule to the principal Act is amended by the deletion of the
words and figures “Fee for home owner’s annual resident card 250” and the
substitution of the following —
“Annual Home Owner Resident Permit issued to a $1,000.00
primary permit holder
Annual Home Owner Resident Permit issued to a $500.00
secondary permit holder
Annual Home Owner Resident Permit issued to a $500.00”.
minor dependant child of a primary permit holder
- https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1967/1967-0025/1967-0025.pdf
29. (1) No person shall engage in any gainful
occupation in The Bahamas unless —
(a) he is a citizen of The Bahamas;
(b) he is a permanent resident whose certificate of
permanent residence permits him to engage in
gainful occupation;
(c) he is within either of the categories specified in
paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (1) of section
20;
(d) he is in possession of a valid permit issued in
accordance with the provisions of section 30
permitting him to engage in such occupation;
(e) he is a person or within a category of persons
whom the Minister has by order specified as
entitled to engage in gainful occupation.
