“Foreigners can buy here” is a useful starting point. It does not tell you which documents your particular purchase needs. Before you fall in love with a home, ask your Bahamian attorney to identify the acquisition route in writing.
The official published consolidation of the International Persons Landholding Act distinguishes purchases registered with the Investments Board from acquisitions requiring a permit. Its provisions address owner-occupied property, condominiums, undeveloped land and other circumstances. Permanent residents and inheritance have specific provisions too. A listing description cannot decide which route applies.
Five details to settle before the offer
- Who is buying? Give your attorney the proposed individual or entity ownership and relevant immigration status. Avoid choosing a company simply because a friend used one.
- What will you do there? Describe personal use, rental plans, any business activity and intended construction. “A second home” can conceal very different plans.
- Exactly what land is included? Obtain the legal description and survey. The Act specifically addresses undeveloped holdings reaching two or more contiguous acres; do not evaluate one advertised lot in isolation.
- Which approval or registration documents belong in this transaction? Have counsel identify the correct application, supporting evidence and responsible person.
- How does the contract handle the process? Ask your attorney to explain relevant conditions, deadlines and what happens if an essential approval is unavailable.
Make the answer usable
Request a short transaction roadmap with four columns: document, person responsible, dependency and target date. Keep it with your offer correspondence. A verbal assurance is difficult to work from when the seller, bank and attorney each need something different.
For example, if your plan evolves from occasional personal stays to regular vacation rentals, tell counsel before proceeding. You need a review of the actual proposed use, not an assumption that an earlier answer still fits. The same applies if you add the neighbouring parcel during negotiations.
Your checklist should cover the permit or registration route, how acquisition documents will be recorded, and what evidence you receive after completion. Registration is part of the legal file; it is not a substitute for investigating title, access or physical condition.
Before you move forward
- Send counsel the full property particulars and ownership proposal.
- Write down every intended use, including possible rental activity.
- Ask which issue must be resolved before money becomes committed.
- Keep the final certificate or permit with the recorded conveyance.
Two questions buyers ask
Does buying a condominium mean there is no paperwork?
No. Have your attorney identify the applicable registration and conveyancing steps, alongside the condominium documents.
Can an agent confirm that my permit will be approved?
An agent can coordinate information. The relevant authority decides an application, and your attorney should advise on the legal route and contractual protection.
Make your next step clearer
Bring your intended use, budget and timing to a Bahamas discovery meeting with Matt. We can shape the property search and identify the questions to take to your attorney, lender or insurer. Explore the international buyer journey and compare the islands.
Sources and scope
Sources checked 4 October 2026. Practical planning guidance. The legislation linked below is an official LRO 1/2017 consolidation; ask your attorney to confirm later amendments and current procedures for your transaction.
