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Establishing A Business

In order to establish a business owned by a foreign entity in The Bahamas, The Bahamas Investment Authority has outlined the requirements in this easy to follow form.


  • NAME
  • Provide name of the applicant, whether corporate or personal. For a corporate entity, it could be a proposed or reserved name.

  • ADDRESS
  • Include telephone and/or fax.

  • DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL
  • Provide a comprehensive executive summary of the project.

  • PRINCIPALS
  • List all of the principals in the venture (major beneficial owners), along with identifying particulars such as place and date of birth and passport or social security number for each individual.

  • PROPOSED LOCATION
  • Provide exact location venture will operate from in The Bahamas.

  • LAND REQUIREMENTS
  • If a request is being made for publicly owned land, please state the acreage and location. Applicants who wish to acquire privately held land must also apply for a permit to do so.

  • PROPOSED START-UP DATE
  • Indicate the maximum time for the commencement, and if possible, completion of the project.

  • MANAGEMENT/PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
  • State the number of work permits that may be required for key personnel, for administration and financial management.

  • CAPITAL INVESTMENT
  • Specify the total capital investment to be made in the project, and provide a breakdown of the items involved and an estimate for start-up costs.Note: Minimum capital investment of B$250,000 for foreign investors.

  • EMPLOYMENT PROJECTION
  • Advise on the number of Bahamians to be employed in construction and/or operation of the project in the first year.

  • FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
  • Provide proof of financial capability, minimally, a letter of credit from a financial institution or a net worth statement for each principal or verification of deposit of funds in a Bahamian bank.

  • ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
  • Indicate any possible harmful environmental effects and list the mitigating measures that would be employed to deal with them.

  • ECONOMIC IMPACT and BUSINESS PLAN
  • Signify potential benefit to the national economy, including NIB revenues, utilities, possible entrepreneurial spin-off.

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