Hi everyone, merry christmas

I've lived in Canada 4 years , I'm a permanent resident. And only been to the US and UK since.
Just thinking has anyone been to The Bahamas as a British Citizen, and if so, do I need a visa?

Thanks in advance

Joe

Consular Information

Visas

The Bahamas is a major tourist destination and for this reason every effort is made to keep visitor immigration formalities to a minimum. Citizens of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, most other Commonwealth countries, the European Union, and many other countries do not require visas for The Bahamas.

(You will need proof of sufficient funds for your stay, a passport, hotel confirmation and return ticket)

Make sure your PR card is up-to-date. After March 15, it will become very difficult to return to Canada as British PR, if you don't have a valid PR card.

Thank you,

thats great information

Joe

The Bahamas has a rule that you can only stay 3 weeks, however it's pretty easy to stay permanently if you want, you just need to own property there. You get a permit that you can renew annually.

In fact it's not terribly difficult to become a permanent resident.

Thanks,

thats good info.....

Joe

Are you thinking about moving there to take up residence - even work, or was it just a holiday?

What do you think my chances are?

Hi,

I was just going on vacation....

Joe

Are you seriously thinking about this?

OK, so looking at the properties for sale (sun & sand) you could get something half decent below $200k,

http://www.bahamasrealty.bs/search.p...axprice=200000

you'd then apply for the annual 'home owners resident card'

Home Owners Resident Card, Applying for a - Government - Services

just for Bristol, all in $US, a fourplex income property

ARCHER'S HILL - 6 Bed 5 Bath Fourplex - Abaco Islands - Bahamas Realty Bahamas Real Estate

or, in the $100k range

BAILLOU HILL ROAD - 3 Bed 1 Bath Single Family Home - Nassau/New Providence - Bahamas Realty Bahamas Real Estate

.

No, it was just the suggestion that it would be easy. I took a look and it looks like a minimum level resources/income would be an obstacle.

But now I'm on my way.

And there's nothing to stop it being renewed indefinitely?

Okay, it might not be the same as Permanent Residency with all those other conditions. What does PR get that home owners residency doesn't?

Spending $15k on something in Florida and being a snowbird might be fore feasible.

fill in the blanks on this one Bristol, when you say "$15k in Florida" - exactly what is it, would be buying something for that amount [excluding property taxes, upkeep, fees, utilities], or is that the yearly snowbird rental option with the medical coverage & travel expenses exra?

I don't remember where I came across it - it might even have been this site - but someone posted a link to a mobile home for sale on a site where people snowbird.

Supposedly well situated, attractive and well run site etc.

It sounded more like one of those UK prefab communities where they're all nicely kept with hanging baskets and stuff and where the residents are all 70 or even a sedate caravan site and nothing like what might be considered Trailer Park Boys territory.

It was $15k. Don't remember what site fees and other costs were.

But the other ideas floated like moving to somewhere East of Toronto (Cobourg appeals thanks to Bats) or perhaps around to Hamilton would involve using a hefty chunk of money from the sale of the duplex on top of the proceeds from selling the house.

Given all the advantages of where we are, something that involved much less than a hefty chunk and just going away for a month or so might have advantages over leaving it completely.

Of course, associated and repeated expenses might make it impractical.

It's a shame we can't do what many folk used to do (still do?) in the UK and bugger off to Spain for 10 weeks for barely more than a fortnight in season.

I wouldn't do the USA for the reason of any capital cost outlay, safety, running costs, medical coverage etc, although, a 6 mth rental in the US may be the way to go

If its just you, what about downsizing [cut the costs]to a trailer home in NB or PEI, then the low cost [snowbird] getaway to Algarve Portugal (all in cost) from November - April for less than $1000/mth Cdn. I believe British citizens have health coverage while on holiday in the EU (pick up a health card in the UK first)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-portugal

The folks on the Portugal forum would likely help with details