Guide on Applying for a Bahamas Long Stay Visa

Are you looking forward to obtaining a Bahamas Long Stay Visa? If we are right about this, reading this blog post will let you know what to expect during the application process.

The Bahamas is an Island country located within the Bahama Archipelago of the Atlantic’s West Indies. The country is a well-known winter resort. Therefore, irrespective of where you are coming from, staying in The Bahamas would be comfortable for you, as the country is usually warm because its climate has no characteristics of wintery conditions.

Supposing that your motive is to enter the Bahamas for a remote job, there are several job opportunities for eligible workers. Moreover, Bahamian schools offer top-notch programs.

In this blog post, we will go over so many different things about getting a long stay visa for the Bahamas. These include its requirements, associated fees, processing time, duration, application procedures, and more.

What is The Bahamas Long Stay Visa?

Also known as the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS), a Bahamian long-stay visa authorizes foreign nationals to explore, study and work remotely (online) in the Bahamas for up to one year.

The visa is renewable and applicable to international students and foreign workers who intend to stay in the Bahamas for an extended period.

You do not need to meet any monthly income requirement to qualify for this visa.

Who can Travel to The Bahamas without Visa?

Supposing that you intend to enter the Bahamas from one of the following countries, you are not required to obtain a visa since your intended period of stay is limited. However, note that you may need to hold a valid passport, travel document, or PR card to enter some of these countries.

List of Visa-Free Countries for the Bahamas

South Africa
Russia
Guadeloupe
Colombia
France
Venezuela
Tanzania
Anguilla
Greenland
Papua New Guinea
The Netherlands
French Southern Territories
Cape Verde
Aruba
The Azores
Italy
Hungary
Brazil
Jamaica
Bulgaria
Germany
Kuwait
Croatia
Suriname
The Czech Republic
Hong Kong
Denmark
The Commonwealth of Dominica
Kiribati
El Salvador
Belize
Poland
Austria
Fiji
Scotland
Finland
Nauru
Azerbaijan
French Guiana
Vanuatu
Switzerland
Galapagos Island
Puerto Rico
American Samoa
The Republic of Georgia
Netherlands Antilles
Singapore
Saint Lucia
Barbados
Grenada
Armenia
Ecuador
Mexico
Kenya
Guyana
Wallis and Futuna
Chile (Service, official, and diplomatic passport holders)
Honduras
Saint Barthélemy
India (applicable only to Indians with a valid Schengen Area Country, UK, US, or Canadian visa or permanent residence permit, as well as holders of official and diplomatic passports)
Argentina
Bermuda
Macedonia
Israel
Trinidad & Tobago
Canada
Brunei
Japan
South Georgia and South Sandwich
Bangladesh
Northern Mariana
Australia
Saint Martin
Latvia
Belgium
The Cayman Islands
Gibraltar
Andorra
Mali
Curacao
French Polynesia
Guam
Swaziland
Mauritius
The British Virgin Islands
Moldova
Gambia
The Falkland Islands
Monaco
Reunion
Zimbabwe
New Caledonia
The Maldives
Saint Helena
Holy See
Turks & Caicos
Nicaragua
Lesotho
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Malaysia
Oman
Panama
Sri Lanka
Slovakia
Estonia
Iceland
Costa Rica
Peru
The Pitcairn Islands
Lithuania
Guatemala
South Korea
Qatar
Bahrain
Luxembourg
China
Liechtenstein
Antigua and Barbuda
The Marshall Islands
Ireland
Saint Maarten
Malta
San Marino, Most Serene
Norway
Tonga
Martinique
Greece
Uruguay
Sierra Leone
Portugal
New Zealand
The Solomon Islands
Cyprus
The Cook Islands
Spain
Namibia
Romania
Tahiti
Malawi
Turkey
Sao Tome & Principe
Uganda
Sweden
Botswana
Umm Al Quwain
Paraguay
United Kingdom
The United States of America
Slovenia
Vatican City State
US Virgin Islands
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Western Samoa
Tuvalu
Zambia
Seychelles
Montserrat
The United Arab Emirates
Saint Vincent & Grenadines
Tokelau

Bahamas Long Stay Visa Fee

While applying for the Bahamas extended-stay visa, you must pay specific fees via the internet. These include an application fee and a permit fee. This costs BSD 1,025 for foreign workers and BSD 525 for international students.

The time required to pay the fee is when submitting your supporting documents to the diplomatic mission.

Processing Time of Bahamas Long Stay Visa

Application processing for the Bahamas Long Stay Visa often takes five working days. Bahamas Immigration reviews all online applications for the visa.

You can surely apply for Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay through the internet. Moreover, the application process is as easy as ABC.

Bahamas Long Stay Visa Requirements

You must ensure that the documents listed below are ready before applying for the Bahamas long-term visa.

A valid passport or travel document, along with a copy of its bio-data page
Valid Health Insurance ID card
Proof of employment such as a letter or recent paystubs for your current employment (if you intend to take a job in The Bahamas). Supposing that you work for yourself, you must provide proof of self-employment.
Evidence of enrollment in a recognized school (if you wish to study in The Bahamas)

How to Get a Bahamas Long Stay Visa

If you want to become a remote worker or student in The Bahamas, you need to obtain a long stay visa, the same as The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS).

Here are the easy steps for applicants for the Bahamas Long Stay Visa.

Make ready the required documents
Fill out the application form online and pay the necessary fee
Wait for a decision regarding your application
Initiate the permit fee payment
Travel to The Bahamas

Step 1: Make ready the required documents

To obtain a Bahamas long-term stay visa, the first thing to do is to prepare all documents required by the immigration officer to decide on your application.

This article has already provided a list of the required documents. Check above.

Step 2: Complete the online application form and pay the required fee

The second step in getting the Bahamas long-term visa involves completing and submitting an online application. After completing the form, you must pay an application fee of $25, whether you are a worker or a student applicant.

Step 3: Wait for a decision regarding your application

Next, you have to expect a decision (approval or refusal) on your application from the immigration officer. This takes a maximum of five working days.

Step 4: Initiate the permit fee payment

The fourth step in getting a Bahamas Long Stay Visa requires you to initiate the permit fee payment.

Once your application is approved, you will receive an email with the payment details. The permit fee is BSD 1,000 per foreign worker and BSD 500 for each international student applicant.

Step 5: Travel to The Bahamas

As soon as the immigration officer acknowledges your permit fee payment, you will receive a confirmation QR code.

Afterward, you can pack your things and set for your trip to the Bahamas. But, first, remember that you will have to tender the confirmation QR code at the port of entry in the Bahamas.

Duration of Bahamas Long Stay Visa

A Bahamian long-term stay visa is valid for not more than one year and allows its holder to study, work, and explore the country. Without a doubt, a Bahamian long-stay visa offers absolute freedom of movement to its holder regardless of nationality.

However, you can renew your long-term Bahamian visa yearly for no longer than three years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who needs to apply for a Bahamas Long Term Stay Visa?

A Bahamas Long Term Stay Visa is required by foreign nationals who wish to enter the country to commence online studies in a Bahamian educational institution or to take a remote job within the country.

How do I apply for a visa for the Bahamas?

To get a visa for legal entry into The Bahamas, you must apply through the embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

How long does it take to get a Bahamas Long Stay Visa?

It takes five working days for the immigration office to process an application for a Bahamas Long Stay Visa.

How much is a Bahamas visa for a long stay?

The cost of getting a Bahamas long-term visa as a foreign worker is BSD 1,025, while international students need to pay BSD 525 for the entire application process.

What is the maximum visa-free entry period in the Bahamas?

Foreign nationals who are visa-free from applying for the Bahamas Long Stay Visa can stay in the country for three months.

Do US permanent residents need a visa to visit the Bahamas?

No, permanent United States residents do not need a visa to enter The Bahamas for a limited period of time.

How long can US citizens stay in The Bahamas?

Citizens of the United States of America can enter the Bahamas visa-free and stay in the country for

Is it easy to get a Bahamas long-term visa?

Yes, getting a Bahamas long-term visa for entry into the country for a maximum period of one year is very easy.

Conclusion

In summary, working or studying online in the Bahamas is possible with a valid Bahamian long-stay visa. With this guide, we believe that you will find it extremely easy to obtain your visa without seeking further assistance.

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Thanks for reading!