THE BAHAMAS

General: Based on the 1973 Constitution of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Bahamas Nationality Act, and the Immigration Act.

• By Birth: Birth in Bahamian territory alone does not automatically confer citizenship. A child born in the Bahamas acquires citizenship at birth only if at least one parent is Bahamian. Children born to non-Bahamian parents may apply for registration at age 18 (must apply before turning 19) if they resided in The Bahamas throughout childhood.

• By Descent: A child born abroad to a Bahamian father (regardless of date) is a citizen by descent. A child born abroad to a Bahamian mother is a citizen by descent only if born on/after July 9, 1973 (in wedlock); if born before that date, the child may apply for registration rather than automatic descent — an asymmetry that has drawn criticism, with reform signaled by government in 2022 but not yet fully enacted.

• By Registration: Available to a foreign woman marrying a Bahamian man; persons born in the Bahamas to non-citizen parents (at 18, per above); persons born abroad in wedlock to a Bahamian mother before July 9, 1973; adopted children of Bahamian citizens. (Foreign husbands of Bahamian women do not have an equivalent registration right — they must naturalize.)

• By Naturalization: Requires roughly 6–10 years of residence depending on route (commonly cited as 6–9 years, or a minimum 10 years of permanent residency under some guidance), with 12 months' continuous residence immediately preceding application, good character, and intent to reside permanently.

• Dual Citizenship: Generally not permitted past age 21. A person who is Bahamian and also holds a foreign nationality by birth abroad may retain both until age 21, then has 12 months to renounce the foreign citizenship, or Bahamian citizenship is revoked. Most adult naturalization applicants must renounce prior nationality.

• Loss of Citizenship – Voluntary: Renunciation permitted through Parliament/government process (via application to relevant Minister).

• Loss of Citizenship – Involuntary: Parliament may revoke citizenship of naturalized citizens (e.g., for fraud); native-born citizens can lose citizenship by voluntarily acquiring foreign citizenship and failing to renounce it by age 22 (the dual-citizenship cutoff above).