Legislative and Regulatory Regime

Industry Legislation

NOTE: Entries marked in green text are linked directly to the relevant Acts in PDF format. Click here to access Bahamas Laws Online, a Bahamas Government web site. Some Acts also may be available for download from the Bahamas Compliance Commission. To visit their website click here. The link will be open a new browser window. To return to the BFSB site, simply close the new window.

Banking & Trusts

Regulatory

• The Banks Act, 1909
• The Banks & Trust Companies Regulations Act, 1965
• The Banks & Trust Companies Regulation (Amendment) Act, 1989
• The Banks & Trust Companies Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2007
• The Banks & Trust Companies Regulation Act, 2000
• The Central Bank of The Bahamas Act, 2000
• The Central Bank of The Bahamas (Amendment) Act, 2007

Private Trust Companies

• The Banks & Trust Companies Regulations (Amendment) Act, 2006
• The Central Bank of the Bahamas (Amendment) Act, 2006
• The Banks & Trust Companies (Private Trust Companies) Regulations, 2007
• Guidance Notice BTCRA 6 (1)
• Guidance Notice BTCRA (7)
• Central Bank Guidelines

Purpose Trust

• The Purpose Trust Act, 2004
• The Purpose Trust (Amendment) Act, 2005
• The Purpose Trust (Amendment) Act, 2007

Ordinary Trust

• The Trustee Act, 1998
• The Trustee (Amendment) Act, 2004

Other Relevant Legislation

• The Trusts (Choice of Governing Law) Act, 1989
• The Trusts (Choice of Governing Law)(Amendment) Act, 1996
• The Fraudulent Disposition Act, 1991 (Asset Protection Trust)
• The Perpetuities Act, 1995
• The Perpetuities (Amendment) Act, 2004

Companies

• The Companies Act, 1992
• The Exempted Limited Partnership Act, 1995
• The Exempted Limited Partnership (Amendment) Act, 1999
• The Financial and Corporate Service Providers Act, 2000
• The Financial and Corporate Service Providers (Amendment) Act, 2007
• The Financial & Corporate Service Providers (General) Regulations, 2001
  
• The International Business Companies Act, 2000
• The International Business Companies (Amendment) Act 2004
• The International Business Companies (Amendment to Fee Schedule) Order, 2004
• The Segregated Accounts Companies Act, 2004

E-Commerce

• Computer Misuse Act 2003
• Data Protection Act 2003
• Electronic Communications and Transactions 2003

Foundations

• The Foundations Act, 2004
  
• The Foundations (Amendment) Act, 2005
  
• The Foundations (Amendment) Act, 2007
  
• The Foundations Regulations, 2004

Immigration

• The Bahamas Nationality Act, 1973

Insurance

• The External Insurance Act, 1983
• The External Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2007
• The Insurance Act 1969
• The Insurance (Amendment) Act 2001
• The Insurance (Amendment) Act 2007

International Co-operation, Anti Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorism

• The Anti-Terrorism Act, 2004
• The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act, 2000
• The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Regulations, 2000
• The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act, 2000
• The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) (Amendment) Act, 2000
• The Financial Intelligence Unit Act, 2000
• The Financial Transactions Reporting Act, 2000
• The Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Regulations, 2003
• The Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Act, 2007
• The Financial Transactions Reporting Regulations, 2000
• The Financial Transactions Reporting (Amendment) Act 2003
• The Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Act 1996
• The Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Regulations 1996
• The Money Laundering (Proceeds of Crime) Amendment Act 1999
• The Mutual Legal Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act 1988
• The Proceeds of Crime Act 2000
• The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2007
• The Proceeds of Crime (Designated Countries & Territories) Order, 2001

Miscellaneous

• The Business License Act, 1980
• The Business Licence (Amendment) Act, 1999
• The Business Names Act 1989 (Registration of)
• The Exchange Control Regulations Act, 1952
• The Exchange Control Regulations, 1956
  
• The Bahamas-US TIEA Act, 2003
• The Stamp Act, 1925

Securities Industry

• The Investment Funds Act 2003
• The Investment Funds (Amendment) Act 2007
• The Investment Funds Regulations 2003
• The Investment Funds (SMART Fund) Rules 2003
• The Investment Funds (SMART Fund) Rules 2005
• The Securities Industry Act, 1999
• The Securities Industry Regulations, 2000
• The Securities Industry (Amendment) Act 2001
• The Securities Industry (Amendment) Act 2007

Shipping

The Bahamas Maritime Authority Act, 1995
The Merchant Shipping Act, 1976
The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1979
The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1982
The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 1995

Real Estate

The International Persons Landholding Act, 1993
The International Persons Landholding Act Guidelines, 1993
The International Persons Landholding (Amendment) Act, 1995 (May)
The International Persons Landholding (Amendment) Act, 1995 (Nov)

Official Gazetted copies of all Acts and Regulations may be obtained directly from Government Publications, Cabinet Office:

P.O. Box N 7147
Nassau, N.P., The Bahamas
Tel: (242) 322-2410
Fax : (242) 328-8294
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/

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