Private Islands for Sale in the Bahamas
Table of contents
- Short answer
- Islands for sale in the Bahamas right now
- How much does a private island cost in the Bahamas?
- Can foreigners buy an island in the Bahamas?
- Where are the private islands in the Bahamas?
- Getting there, seasons and natural risks
- What can you build on a cay?
- Costs of buying and owning an island in the Bahamas
- How to buy an island in the Bahamas: step by step
- Risks and what to check
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
Short answer
Yes, foreigners can buy a private island in the Bahamas and own it outright. Most private cays for sale are in the Exumas, the Abacos, the Berry Islands and around Eleuthera.
Asking prices start at about $1.5 million for a small or raw cay. Large raw cays of 100–650 acres are listed at $8–38 million. Developed islands with houses, docks and solar power cost $10 million and more.
Before you buy, plan for three things: a government permit (needed for almost every whole cay), 10% VAT on the purchase price, and the hurricane season from June to November.
Islands for sale in the Bahamas right now
These are the Bahamas islands currently listed on FindIslands. You can also browse all islands for sale or see more islands in the Caribbean.
Selling an island in the Bahamas? List it on FindIslands →
How much does a private island cost in the Bahamas?
The Bahamian dollar is pegged one to one to the US dollar, so prices are quoted in US dollars. These are listings we checked, as of November 2026.
| Island | Island group | Size | Asking price | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bullard Cay | Exumas | 97 acres | $1,500,000 | Raw land |
| Swain’s Cay | Andros | ~3 acres | $1,500,000 | Small 2-bedroom house that needs repair |
| Joe’s Cay | Abacos | 30 acres | $2,950,000 | Raw land |
| South Pimlico Island | Eleuthera | 65 acres | $3,200,000 | Raw land |
| Powell Cay | Abacos | 126 private acres | $7,999,000 | Raw land; the rest of the island is government land |
| Devils Cay | Berry Islands | 117 acres | $8,390,000 | Land |
| Elizabeth Island | Exumas | ~25 acres | $10,250,000 | 4-bedroom house, dock, water tanks |
| Hoffman’s Cay | Berry Islands | 214 acres | $18,000,000 | Raw land |
| Bonds Cay | Berry Islands | 650 acres | $30,000,000 | Raw land |
| Haines Cay | Berry Islands | 265 acres | $37,900,000 | Raw land, sold with a 60-slip marina nearby |
Sources: Private Islands Online and Caribbean Journal (August–November 2026). Prices are asking prices, not sale prices, and they change often.
What this means for a buyer:
- Raw cays are the entry point. Most islands under $5 million have no house, no power and no water system.
- Buildings and docks add millions. A 25-acre island with a house costs more than a 200-acre raw cay.
- Check how much of the island is private. Some listings include only part of an island. The rest is government (Crown) land.
What is the cheapest private island in the Bahamas?
The cheapest whole islands we found in November 2026 were listed at about $1.5 million: Big Bullard Cay in the Exumas (raw land) and Swain’s Cay off Andros (a small house that needs repair).
Can foreigners buy an island in the Bahamas?
Yes. Foreigners can own land in the Bahamas outright (freehold). The rules depend on the size of the land and what you will use it for.
- A home for your own use, under 5 acres: you register the purchase after closing. No approval is needed in advance.
- 5 acres or more of undeveloped land, or land for any other use: you need a permit from the government’s Investments Board before closing. Without it, the sale is not valid.
Almost every whole cay is bigger than 5 acres, so plan on needing a permit. Your lawyer applies through the Bahamas Investment Authority. A permit can come with conditions about how and when you develop the island.
About 70% of land in the Bahamas is Crown land, which belongs to the government. It is usually leased, not sold. Make sure the land you buy is freehold, and check the exact boundaries on the survey.
Does owning an island give you residency in the Bahamas?
No. Owning an island does not give you residency or citizenship automatically. Two routes exist for owners, and both need a separate application:
- Permanent residence can be considered for people who invest at least $750,000 in the Bahamas, including in a home. Investments over $1.5 million get faster review.
- A Home Owner’s Resident Card lets a home owner and family enter and stay. It is renewed each year and does not give the right to work.
Where are the private islands in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas has about 700 islands and many more small cays and rocks. Most private islands for sale are in four groups:
- Exumas: the largest choice, a long chain of cays south of Nassau. George Town has an international airport.
- Abacos: cays off Great Abaco in the north. The area was hit hardest by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
- Berry Islands: large, often raw cays between Nassau and Grand Bahama. Some of the biggest islands for sale are here.
- Eleuthera: islands off the north end, near the airport at North Eleuthera.
- Andros: the largest Bahamian island, with small cays along its coast. Few are on the market.
Inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a few cays are private, such as Little Hall’s Pond Cay, which actor Johnny Depp bought in 2004 for about $3.6 million. Fishing is banned in the park and building is limited. Check with the Bahamas National Trust before you buy a cay there.
Getting there, seasons and natural risks
- Getting there: Bimini is about 50 miles from Miami. The main international airports are Nassau, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, George Town (Exuma) and North Eleuthera. From there you go on by boat, seaplane or a private plane if the cay has an airstrip.
- Best months: December to May, outside the hurricane season. Summers are hot and humid.
- Hurricanes: the season runs from June to November and peaks in September. Hurricane Dorian in 2019 caused about $3.4 billion in damage and losses, mostly on Abaco and Grand Bahama.
- Insurance: cover for coastal homes is expensive and rising. Get a quote before you make an offer.
- Low land: most cays are only a few metres above the sea. Storm surge and erosion are real risks.
What can you build on a cay?
You need several approvals before any work starts:
- Planning permission from the Department of Physical Planning.
- A building permit from the Ministry of Works.
- An environmental clearance certificate from the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP). Larger projects also need an environmental impact study and public consultation.
- Government approval or a seabed lease for a dock or marina. The seabed below the high-water line usually belongs to the government.
Most cays are off the grid. Owners use solar panels with batteries, diesel generators, rainwater tanks and machines that turn sea water into drinking water. Our guides to island energy supply and drinking water on a private island explain the options.
Costs of buying and owning an island in the Bahamas
When you buy:
| Cost | Typical amount | On a $3 million cay |
|---|---|---|
| VAT on the purchase (foreign buyers) | 10% of the price, often split 50/50 with the seller | $300,000 in total |
| Legal fees | 1.5–2.5% of the price | $45,000–75,000 |
| Agent’s commission | 6–10%, usually paid by the seller | — |
The VAT split is a matter of agreement, not law. Check what the sale contract says.
Every year:
- Real Property Tax. From July 2026, a foreign owner who lives in the home as a main residence pays 0.625% of the value a year, capped at $200,000. Other homes pay 0.75–1.5%, and vacant land pays a higher rate. The rules changed in 2026, so confirm the rate for your island with your lawyer.
- No income, capital gains or inheritance tax in the Bahamas. Your home country may still tax you.
- Insurance, a boat, fuel, a caretaker and upkeep of the dock, power and water systems.
How to buy an island in the Bahamas: step by step
- Hire a Bahamian lawyer early. They check the title and handle the permit application.
- Check the title. Bahamian title is proved by a chain of deeds going back at least 30 years. Title insurance is recommended.
- Check the boundaries. Confirm what is freehold and what is Crown land on a current survey.
- Apply for the permit if the island is 5 acres or more or not just a home for your own use.
- Sign the sale agreement, with the permit as a condition of closing.
- Close the sale, pay the VAT and record the deed.
- Register the purchase with the Investments Board if no permit was needed.
Thinking about a lease instead of full ownership? Read our guide to freehold vs leasehold islands.
Risks and what to check
- Crown land: part of the island may belong to the government.
- Unclear title: family land passed down without proper deeds (“generation property”) can lead to long court cases.
- Permit conditions: a permit may require you to build within a set time.
- Hurricanes and insurance: check the island’s storm history and the cost of cover.
- Access: check the depth of water at the dock, the nearest airport and how long a boat trip takes in rough weather.
- Park rules: cays in national parks have strict limits on building and fishing.
A Bahamian property lawyer should check the title, the boundaries and the permits before you sign anything.
Comparing with the mainland? See our guide to private islands for sale in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Many cays in the Exumas, Abacos, Berry Islands and around Eleuthera are privately owned and sold by brokers.
As of November 2026, asking prices ran from about $1.5 million for a small or raw cay to about $38 million for large raw cays. Developed islands with houses cost $10 million and more.
Yes. Foreigners can own land outright, but buying 5 acres or more of undeveloped land, which covers almost every whole cay, needs a government permit before closing.
Foreign buyers pay 10% VAT on the price, often split with the seller, plus legal fees of about 1.5–2.5%. There is also a yearly Real Property Tax.
No, not automatically. Owners can apply separately for a yearly Home Owner’s Resident Card or, with an investment of at least $750,000, for permanent residence.
The cheapest whole islands we found in November 2026 were listed at about $1.5 million.
About 700 islands, plus many more small cays and rocks.
From June to November, with the peak in September.
Prices are asking prices unless marked sold, not valuations. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Sources
- https://gpg-pdf.chambers.com/Real-Estate-2026/39/
- https://bfsb-bahamas.com/legislation/IPLA_Guidelines.PDF
- https://gpg-pdf.chambers.com/Private-Wealth-2026/86/
- https://depp.gov.bs/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Process-for-Attaining-a-Certificate-of-Environmental-Clearance-rev.pdf
- https://mofa.gov.bs/applying-for-a-home-owners-resident-card/
- https://tribune242.com/news/2026/jun/16/realtor-dont-cap-private-island-tax-at-200000-yearly/
- https://www.iadb.org/en/news/damages-and-other-impacts-bahamas-hurricane-dorian-estimated-34-billion-report
- https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/index.php
- https://www.privateislandsonline.com/region/the-exumas?availability=sale
