Bahamas

Student Permit to Reside. The Bahamas lists students among eligible applicants for its non-working Permit to Reside.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Student Permit to Reside

Non-working residence for the approved study stay.

Who qualifies

Show admission or enrolment as a student and the supporting identity, character and financial documents requested by Immigration.
Bahamas Department of Immigration: Permit to Reside
A first-time applicant should remain outside The Bahamas while the application is processed; the permit does not authorize work.
Bahamas Department of Immigration: Permit to Reside

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

It could fit.

Student Permit to Reside needs admission to a qualifying course; the course and your passport then decide it.

What would settle itYour admission and the course’s eligibility under the destination’s rules.

Every option that fits your family

Not legal advice.

What it takes.

Time: Processing starts after the authority accepts a complete application; work or study begins only after the required permission issues.
Cost: The authority assesses its filing charge under the fee schedule in force on submission, plus document costs.
The hard part: Documenting school status and funds while coordinating an application from outside the country.

Citizens by 2035.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

2027
First residence permit
1 year, renewable for 1 year at a time.
2028
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2029
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2030
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2031
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2032
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2033
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2034
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2034
Apply for citizenship
With a language test and a civics test.
2035
Citizenship

Language: Adequate knowledge of English.
Civics: Knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of a citizen of The Bahamas.
Time away: The final 12 months must be continuous residence, preceded by at least six years of residence or government service in aggregate during the previous nine years.
Two passports: It depends on the rules at the time and on your home country.

The non-working permit covers the approved study stay and lawful residence can satisfy the nationality schedule, but no fixed student-to-permanent conversion is published.
How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
Whether you can keep your current citizenship depends on the rules at the time and your home country.

The law behind these dates

Living there.

Time you must spend there: The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax: Where you become tax resident follows the days you spend there and where your home is. We map it for your family before you move.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

Start today.

Use Immigration’s Permit to Reside application.Open immigration.gov.bs ↗
Gather these documents.
- The degree or admission letter, and proof of funds
- Request your FBI Identity History Summary
- Health cover for the move

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →

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