The Bahamas is a dream come true for most people. This prosperous group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean is not only a tropical paradise but a haven home to a community of hospitable and generous people– no wonder so many have gone to make the Bahamas more than just vacationer’s escape. If the next stage of your life involves moving to the Bahamas, here are a few key information you need to know.
The Bahamas in a nutshell
The archipelagic state of the Bahamas lies in the Lucayan Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It counts Cuba, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Florida Keys are some of its nearest neighbors. All in all, the Bahamas is composed of over 700 islands, as well as cays and islets, but the state capital Nassau is located in New Providence Island.
The Bahamas is home to diverse population, majority of Afro-Caribbean descent. Europeans and other mixed cultures have also come to settle in this island paradise. With this mélange of ethnicities, the Bahamas enjoys a colorful arts and culture scene always worth exploring.
A former British Crown colony, the Bahamas gained its status as an independent Commonwealth realm in 1973. Today, the Bahamas draws most of its profit from their successful tourism and finance industries, making the state one of the richest in the Americas.
The Bahamas enjoys a tropical savannah climate, characterized by warm weather throughout the year. Seasonal rainfall showers the islands, with tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally passing by the archipelago.
Residency in the Bahamas
There are a couple of ways you can live in the Bahamas. You can reside as a permanent resident, an independent economic resident, a resident home owner, or a seasonal resident home owner, depending on your plans.
- A permanent residency is highly recommended if you’re planning on making the Bahamas your permanent home for the long-term.
- If you’re coming to the Bahamas on work-related terms with a sponsored work permit, being an independent economic resident can work to your advantage.
- Resident home owners are as the name implies– basically you own a home in the Bahamas. An alternative to this would be living as a seasonal resident home owner, which means you own a second or vacation residence in the Bahamas and will only stay in the country for short periods of time.
For more information about immigrating to the Bahamas, the Department of Immigration’s official website offers more details.
Where to live in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas is composed of over 700 islands, islets, and cays, of which only 30 to 40 islands are inhabited. Most of the Bahamas’ population are based in several main islands, which includes the following:
- New Providence – Majority of the Bahamas’ island population is based in New Providence, which is also the location of the country’s capital: Nassau. Aside from being the center of commerce, New Providence is also the seat of government.
- Grand Bahama – Grand Bahama is the home of Freeport, the second largest city in the Bahamas. Grand Bahama is also well-regarded as one of the best places in the world to go diving.
- The Family Islands – Home to roughly 15 percent of the Bahamas’ total population, the Family Islands are composed of Abacos, Andros, Inagua, and Eleuthera, among other islands. Secluded, with a slower pace of life, the Family Islands are considered “off the beaten track” among tourists and travelers– the perfect escape.
Learn more about relocating to the Bahamas
For more information, get in touch with Darville-Wong Realty today at (242) 327-5122 or [email protected].