Bahamas
Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS): health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS), launched in 2020, lets professionals and students live in the Bahamas for up to 12 months while working or studying online for entities outside the islands. It costs US$1,025 total for a professional (US$25 application plus a US$1,000 permit), is renewable annually up to three years, and sets no published income threshold. Every applicant and dependent must submit proof of medical insurance that covers the Bahamas. Note that BEATS is a pandemic-era programme not listed among the standard permits on the Department of Immigration's own site, so confirm it is still being issued before relying on it.
The requirements at a glance
| Repatriation required | Not required |
|---|---|
| Minimum policy duration | Full duration of stay |
| Local-licensed insurer required | No: compliant international IPMI is accepted |
| Accepted proof | Proof of medical insurance covering the applicant and all dependents in the Bahamas, uploaded with the online application via the immigration portal; no minimum coverage amount is specified. |
Applicants submit a passport, an employer job letter or proof of self-employment (students show enrollment and proof of funds), and evidence they can support themselves. The permit does not allow gainful local employment in the Bahamas. Fees: US$25 application plus US$1,000 permit for a professional (US$1,025), US$525 for a student, and US$25 plus US$500 per dependent. Processing is roughly five days. The Bahamas levies no personal income or capital gains tax.
Our take
BEATS only says you must hold medical insurance that covers the Bahamas, with no minimum sum, so the meaningful decision is what the policy actually does in an emergency rather than ticking the application box. On a 700-island archipelago that means medical evacuation: out-island clinics handle only basic care and serious cases are flown to Nassau or on to Miami, where an air ambulance can run into five figures.
Confirm the permit is still being issued before you commit, since it is a pandemic-era programme not listed among the standard permits on the immigration site and its status has been reported inconsistently. Either way, line up a policy with strong evacuation and repatriation cover that names the Bahamas, because private clinics commonly want prepayment and may not bill a foreign insurer directly.
What happens if you get it wrong
A cheap policy that ticks the insurance box but caps or excludes medical evacuation. If you are on a Family Island and need an air ambulance to Miami, a five-figure flight against a thin evacuation limit leaves you covering the gap yourself.
Assuming the insurer pays the hospital directly. Bahamian private facilities commonly expect a deposit or upfront payment, so without enough liquidity to pay and claim back, a serious admission can stall on billing.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in Bahamas without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$3,000–$10,000
A serious private admission or common surgery.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
Yes, the Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS), launched in 2020 for people working or studying remotely for organisations outside the islands. It runs 12 months, renewable annually up to three years, and costs US$1,025 total for a professional. It is a pandemic-era programme not listed among the standard permits on the immigration site, so confirm it is still being issued before relying on it.
Yes. Every applicant and dependent must submit proof of medical insurance that covers the Bahamas. No minimum coverage amount is published, so prioritise a policy with strong medical evacuation, since serious cases are flown off-island.
There is no published income threshold. You provide an employer or self-employment letter and show you can support yourself and any dependents during the stay.
A professional pays US$25 application plus a US$1,000 permit (US$1,025 total); dependents are US$25 plus US$500 each, and students US$525. The permit is valid 12 months and can be renewed annually up to three years total.
No. The Bahamas levies no personal income tax and no capital gains tax. You will still pay VAT on many goods and services, and the cost of living is high because most things are imported.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: bahamasbeats.comLast verified
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