SoloOutpost
Americas · BSD

The Bahamas For Solopreneurs - Tax, Immigration, Lifestyle

Reviewed 2026-06-21
Top income tax
0%
Self-employed SS
Yes
VAT
10%
Capital gains
0%
Exit tax
No
Nomad visa
Yes
81
/ 100
Tax efficiency86
Ease to enter79
Ease to exit93
Cost of living57
Internet19
English100
How is this scored?
The Bahamas levies no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no general corporate income tax, and no wealth or inheritance tax, making it a pure zero-direct-tax jurisdiction funded mainly by a 10% VAT, customs duties, and property and licensing fees. Solopreneurs pay no tax on worldwide income or business profits, though National Insurance contributions are mandatory and a 15% domestic minimum top-up tax applies only to very large multinational groups. Remote workers can use the BEATS permit for up to a year (renewable), while a USD 1 million property or bond investment unlocks economic permanent residence.

Personal income tax

Income tax structureNone
Top income tax rate0%
Entry income tax rate0%
Taxation basisTerritorial
Local/state income taxNo

Social security

Self-employed social securityYes
Employee SS rate4.65%
Employer SS rate6.65%

Indirect & other taxes

VAT standard rate10%
Capital gains rate0%
Long-hold CGT exemptionNo
Wealth taxNo
Inheritance/gift taxNo
Property taxNo

Exit & residency

Exit taxNo
EU/EEA deferralNo
Days to trigger residency183 days

Corporate

Corporate income tax rate0%
WHT on dividends0%
CFC rulesNo

Incentives & special regimes

Special expat regimeNo

Immigration & setup

Digital nomad visaYes
Entrepreneur visaYes
Ease of setup3 / 5

Lifestyle

Cost of living index75
Internet speed90 Mbps
English proficiencyHigh
Civil liberties87

Digital nomad visa

The Bahamas runs the BEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay), which lets you live here legally while earning from clients or an employer abroad.

ProgramBEATS (Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay)
Income requirementNo fixed minimum income requirement. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to support themselves via verified letter of employment or proof of self-employment.
Duration1 year
Renewablerenewable
Application fee$1,025 (USD 25 application fee + USD 1,000 permit fee per applicant. Dependents: USD 25 application + USD 500 permit each.)
Processing time~5 business days
FamilySpouse and dependent children allowed; additional fees apply per dependent.

How it is taxed

The Bahamas does not impose personal income tax, capital gains tax, or corporate tax on foreign-sourced income. BEATS holders retain 100% of foreign employment and freelance earnings.

What you need to qualify

  • Remote worker, freelancer, or remote student
  • Verified employment letter or proof of self-employment
  • Sufficient financial capacity to support self in Bahamas
  • Clean background
Official sourceCompare every nomad visa

Verified 2026-07-17 · high confidence

Golden visa

The Bahamas offers residency by investment from $1M. Unlike the nomad route, this buys residency through capital rather than proven income.

Economic Permanent Residence (real estate)

RouteFromNotes
Real estate$1MBSD 1M, 10-yr hold
Fast-track real estate$1.5Maccelerated 3-6 mo
Residency grantedLifetime permanent residence
Physical presence~90 days/yr expected
Path to citizenshipnot direct
Official sourceCompare with other programs

Verified 2026-07-08 · high confidence

Sources

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Informational only. Nothing here is tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules change often and vary by personal circumstance. Verify every figure against an official source and a qualified adviser before acting. Figures are re-expressed from public sources and cited per country.