Bahamas: immigration

How many work permits does the Bahamas issue?

The Bahamas issued 17,058 long-term work permits in 2023, plus 23,075 short-term permits for up to 30 days and 2,526 for 31 to 90 days, according to the Department of Immigration's Annual Report 2023. Across all 16 permit types, 50,225 permits were issued, up from 50,130 in 2022.

A permit count is not a count of foreign workers, because one person can hold several short permits in a year. The 2023 report is the latest posted on the department's statistics page.

Official sources: Department of Immigration: Annual Report 2023 (PDF) · Department of Immigration: statistics

How many migrants does the Bahamas repatriate?

The Bahamas repatriated 4,594 people in 2023, down from 4,748 in 2022, according to the Department of Immigration's Annual Report 2023. Officers in New Providence apprehended 3,702 foreign nationals in 2023, compared with 4,949 in 2022.

Repatriations rise and fall with migrant flows and enforcement. The police mid-year 2026 report also lists 55 immigration offences recorded by police in early 2026,. Police figures count offences charged by police, while repatriations are carried out by the Department of Immigration's Deportation Unit.

Official sources: Department of Immigration: Annual Report 2023 (PDF) · Royal Bahamas Police Force: mid-year 2026 crime report (PDF)

What share of the Bahamas' population are immigrants?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 16.8%. It was 15.4% in 2015. Latin America & Caribbean median: 4.8%; the Bahamas is 3rd highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 36th of 193.

Are more people leaving the Bahamas than arriving?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is 935. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 1,898; its low point was 2020, at 0. Latin America & Caribbean median: -967; the Bahamas is 7th highest of 33. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 63rd highest.

How many refugees does the Bahamas host?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees in the country in the Bahamas was 10 in 2025. Its high point since 2010 was 2012, at 36; its low point was 2023, at 0. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 1,306, and the Bahamas placed 23rd highest of 28. Worldwide: 155th of 169.

How many people from the Bahamas are refugees?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 1,598. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 710, and the Bahamas placed 15th highest of 33. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 96th highest.

How much are remittances to the Bahamas?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 0.4% of GDP. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 3.3% of GDP, and the Bahamas placed 26th highest of 30. Worldwide: 123rd of 156.