BahamasLong-term residence
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
The route leads to a Certificate of Permanent Residence, a document of legal status issued for the duration of the holder's life unless revoked, giving the right to reside and/or work.
A Certificate of Permanent Residence is a document of legal status, which is issued to an individual for the duration of his/her life, unless revoked, and gives him/her the right to reside and/or work.
The qualifying periods stated are: 10 years for police and prison officers in the Government Service, teachers in the Government Service or in charitable or religious institutions, and nurses in the Government Service or in private hospitals and healthcare facilities; 20 years for ministers of religion or priests and for doctors or medical professionals; more than 20 consecutive years of legal work permit status; and at least 10 and less than 20 years of residence while holding a work permit in scales 5 to 8. The official source does not state when each qualifying period begins.
The following categories of persons may apply for permanent residence:
Police and Prison Officers employed in the Government Service for a minimum of 10 years
Teachers employed in the Government Service or by charitable or religious institutions for a minimum of 10 years Nurses employed in the Government Service or with private hospitals and healthcare facilities for a minimum of 10 years
Ministers of Religion / Priests after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years Doctors / Medical professionals after having been employed for a minimum of 20 years
Persons who have held legal work permit status for more than twenty (20) consecutive years
Persons who resided in the country for at least 10 and less than 20 years and who held a work permit in any of the scales 5 to 8
What counts is employment in the listed services (police and prison officers, teachers, nurses, ministers of religion or priests, doctors and medical professionals), or legal work permit status, or residence in the country while holding a work permit in any of the scales 5 to 8.
Police and Prison Officers employed in the Government Service for a minimum of 10 years
Teachers employed in the Government Service or by charitable or religious institutions for a minimum of 10 years Nurses employed in the Government Service or with private hospitals and healthcare facilities for a minimum of 10 years
Persons who have held legal work permit status for more than twenty (20) consecutive years
Persons who resided in the country for at least 10 and less than 20 years and who held a work permit in any of the scales 5 to 8
After the grant, the Board may revoke a permanent residence certificate if the holder 'subsequent to the grant of the certificate, has been ordinarily resident outside The Bahamas for a continuous period of three years' (Immigration Act, section 18(1)(e)), after informing the holder in writing of the grounds and giving an opportunity to be heard. The Act sets no rule on absences during the qualifying employment or residence period: the 10- and 20-year categories are Departmental criteria, and the Department's page does not define 'consecutive' or state any permitted time abroad.
18. (1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, the Board may revoke a permanent residence certificate on the ground that the person to whom it was granted —
(e) subsequent to the grant of the certificate, has been ordinarily resident outside The Bahamas for a continuous period of three years; or
of the grounds on which it is proposed to revoke the certificate or endorsement, as the case may be, and shall give any person so informed an opportunity to be heard.
Persons who have held legal work permit status for more than twenty (20) consecutive years
Persons who resided in the country for at least 10 and less than 20 years and who held a work permit in any of the scales 5 to 8
The status is obtained by applying to the Director of Immigration with a $200.00 non-refundable processing fee, a letter of request, the completed application form with a $10.00 Bahamian postage stamp, an original medical certificate dated no earlier than 30 days before submission and an original police certificate issued no earlier than six months covering five years of residence. Once granted, the certificate lasts for the duration of the holder's life unless revoked.
$200.00 non-refundable processing fee (payable by credit/debit card, postal/money orders, or bank certified cheque)
Letter of request addressed to the Director of Immigration Duly completed application form with Bahamian $10.00 postage stamp affixed thereon (legible & notarized)
Applicant’s original medical certificate (dated not earlier than 30 days before submission of the application. Required for every applicant) Applicant’s original police certificate (issued not earlier than six (6) months and must cover five years of residence; required of applicants 14 years old and older)
A Certificate of Permanent Residence is a document of legal status, which is issued to an individual for the duration of his/her life, unless revoked, and gives him/her the right to reside and/or work.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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