Bahamas BEATS Extended Access Travel Stay

The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) is a 12-month residence permit for professionals and students who work or study remotely for an employer, clients or a school outside the country. There is no salary threshold. Workers attach a job letter from a current employer or proof of self-employment, and students attach proof of enrollment and of funds for living costs and the return trip. Every applicant and dependent needs proof of medical insurance. The rules are set out in the BEATS program FAQ.

An individual professional pays $1,025 in total, made up of a $25 application fee and a $1,000 permit fee. Students pay $525, and each dependent adds $525. The estimated decision time is five days, and both fees are paid after approval.

The permit expires 12 months after issue. Annual renewals are considered for a maximum of three years, and there is no route to permanent residency or citizenship. Holders cannot take local jobs, and no minimum number of days in the country is required.

The Bahamas levies no personal income tax or capital gains tax, so foreign salary and investment income go untaxed locally. US citizens still file US returns on worldwide income. With no US treaty and no Bahamian income tax to credit, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion of $132,900 for 2026 does most of the work.

Bahamian tax on your income

The Bahamas does not impose personal income tax, capital gains tax or wealth tax. Revenue comes mainly from value-added tax, customs and import duties, real property tax and business licence fees. VAT is charged at a standard 10% on many goods and services, so everyday spending is where residents meet the tax system. Foreign salary, freelance income, dividends and investment gains are not taxed by the Bahamas.

The Bahamas has no income tax treaty with the United States and no totalization agreement. It has signed tax information exchange agreements and applies FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard, so financial account information reaches foreign tax authorities.

US citizens and green card holders

US citizens and green card holders file US returns on worldwide income. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, claimed on Form 2555, lets you exclude up to $132,900 of foreign earned income for 2026. It covers salary, freelance income and active business profit. It does not cover dividends, capital gains, rental income, pensions or Social Security. Most remote workers qualify through the physical presence test, which requires 330 full days outside the United States in any 12 consecutive months.

The Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1116 offers little here because the Bahamas collects no income tax to credit. A remote worker earning $150,000 can exclude $132,900 and owes US tax on the remaining $17,100, plus US tax on all dividends, interest and capital gains.

Account reporting

An FBAR on FinCEN Form 114 is due when foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any point in the year. A non-willful failure to file carries a penalty of up to $16,536 per report for 2026. Willful failures reach the greater of $165,353 or 50% of the account balance. FATCA Form 8938 has separate thresholds and is filed with the US return. A Bahamian bank account is not required for BEATS, but opening one brings these filings into play.