Bahamas - Establishing an Office Bahamas - Establishing an Office
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Eligibility: International Companies seeking to establish a physical presence in The Bahamas must incorporate within the jurisdiction or register as a foreign company with the Office of the Registrar General under the Companies Act. Foreign Investors must meet a minimum capital investment of BS$500,000 and the proposed investment must not be in an area reserved for Bahamian participation. The use of a local attorney is required.
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Process: All foreign investors seeking to do business in The Bahamas are required to submit a project proposal and application to the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA). After receipt, the BIA reviews the application, provides guidance to the investor, and forwards the completed application to the National Economic Council (NEC) for a determination. Depending on the nature or type of business, the BIA may request that additional ministries or governmental departments also review the application. Once the NEC is satisfied that all requirements have been met, the BIA will communicate with the investor in writing. The turn-around time for a decision on an investment proposal can vary with determination on some proposals taking as long as 12 months or more.
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Additional Information: Information is available on the BIA website at:
www.bahamas.gov.bs/bia. The BIA can be contacted at:
Director, Bahamas Investment Authority
2nd Floor Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre
West Bay Street
P.O. Box CB-10980
Nassau, The Bahamas
Tel: (242) 327-5826/9
Fax: (242) 702-5500/3
Email: bia@bahamas.gov.bs