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Moving guides

From Netherlands to Bahamas

What changes in tax when you move from Netherlands to Bahamas: what you pay today, what you would pay there and the rules Netherlands applies when you leave.

What you would save

With €150,000 a year in dividends or foreign income, compared as a genuine resident of each country.

Today in Netherlands€42,025
In Bahamas€0
Yearly difference+€42,025

Full guide: Bahamas →

Leaving Netherlands

  • Facts and circumstances (article 4 AWR). There is no day count. Residence depends on durable personal ties (and to a lesser extent economic ties): where your home, family, work, registration, bank accounts and assets are, and how long you intend to stay.
  • Return within one year. If you leave and come back within one year without having lived in another country, you are treated as having stayed resident the whole time.

Rules that can follow you after leaving

  • Residence fiction on return within 1 year (article 2.2 Wet IB 2001). Leaving and returning within a year without living elsewhere keeps you resident. It does not apply if you prove you were taxed as resident in an EU/EEA state, Switzerland or a designated treaty state.
  • Dutch nationals stay in Dutch inheritance and gift tax for 10 years. Dutch nationals who lived in the Netherlands are treated as resident for inheritance and gift tax for 10 years after emigrating (1 year for gift tax for non-nationals).

Exit tax in Netherlands

Conservatory assessment (conserverende aanslag) on emigration

  • Substantial interest: you (with partner or close relatives) hold at least 5% of the shares, or a class of shares, of a company.
  • Also applies to Dutch pension rights and annuities where premiums were tax-deductible, and some home-related savings products.

On emigration the substantial interest shares are deemed sold; the gain is taxed in box 2 (24.5% up to EUR 68,843, 31% above in 2026) and a conservatory assessment is issued instead of immediate payment.

Exit tax → · Am I still resident? →

Arriving in Bahamas

Personal income: 0% · Company tax: 0%

Permanent residency through a property investment of about USD 750,000 or more.

No strict minimum.

No direct taxes. It is not on the Spanish blacklist (list updated in June 2026).

Living there

Monthly cost for one person, rent included
Nassau€2,100–3,000
Climate
Tropical; 30-32°C summers, mild 21-26°C winters, hurricane season June to November.
Direct flights to
Miami, New York, Atlanta, Toronto, London
Safety
Medium
International schools
Few
Fixed internet
84 Mbps

Steps to residency

  1. 6 weeksBuy qualifying property (from about USD 750k for expedited permanent residence)
  2. 4 weeksGather police, medical and bank references
  3. 2 weeksSubmit application to Department of Immigration
  4. 16 weeksApproval and residence certificate

About 28 weeks in total

Official websites: Tax authority · Immigration

Approximate figures that change often; check them before deciding.

Other destinations from Netherlands