Barbados Digital Nomad Visa
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Nadia Dardón
Freelance writer
Last update
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Barbados Rating from Citizen Remote
Overall 
3.8
Internet Infrastructure 3.0
Country Stability 4.0
Cost of Living 3.0
Ease of Obtaining Visa 5.0
Taxes 4.0
Quick Visa Facts
Visa length N/A
Possible to extend? N/A
Who can apply? N/A
Minimum Income Requirements N/A
Time for visa applications N/A
Want to know if you can apply?
Complete a visa quiz and see if you qualify!
Barbados Quick Facts
Few countries have beaches more beautiful and paradisiac than Barbados, a country that has been a popular destination for digital nomads around the world due to its great local hospitality, delicious food, and incredible rum.
Capital Bridgetown
Form of Government Constitutional monarchy
Population 286,400
Climate Tropical
Language English
Currency Barbados Dollar
4 people in Barbados!
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Barbados enjoys a strategic position as the most easterly Caribbean island, which has allowed it to become an important trading and aviation hub which in combination with its duty and tax concessions allows travelers and locals to go on shopping sprees at a more affordable price.
Also known as “the land of the flying fish”, the country is said to be the birthplace of Rum and is home to famous breweries such as Mount Gay Distilleries, which has been open for more than 3 centuries – since 1703.
When visiting or living in Barbados, you will be able to visit over 1500 rum shops with an incredible variety suitable for all tastes.
The island was originally a British colony, which gave it its other nickname of “little England”, until its independence on November 30 of 1966 when it negotiated its freedom from the Crown.
If you are looking for great nightlife, shopping experiences, delicious food and comfortable resorts, history (including pirates), beautiful landscapes and beaches, and world-class attractions, think no more as Barbados might be the place for you.
Barbados Digital Nomad Visa Overview
Barbados introduced a new remote work program back in June of 2020 by the name of “the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp” visa, aimed at foreigners looking to make the country their new destination.
The announcement of the program by Barbados’ prime minister was not a surprise, as the island’s government has been keen to benefit from the growing interest in remote working resulting from the COVID19 pandemic.
The Island is no stranger to tourism as it has historically been of its most important economic sectors, allowing the creation of laws and regulations designed to transform the island into one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean as well as develop services specifically tailored to expats.
As the name suggests, this visa will allow you to establish yourself and your family in the country for a maximum period of 12 months after completing your application to the program.
The announcement of the program by Barbados’ prime minister was not a surprise, as the island’s government has been keen to benefit from the growing interest in remote working resulting from the COVID19 pandemic.
The Island is no stranger to tourism as it has historically been of its most important economic sectors, allowing the creation of laws and regulations designed to transform the island into one of the most important destinations in the Caribbean as well as develop services specifically tailored to expats.
As the name suggests, this visa will allow you to establish yourself and your family in the country for a maximum period of 12 months after completing your application to the program.
Our Community Drives it all
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Who Can Apply for the Freelance Visa for Barbados?
It doesn’t matter if you have been a digital nomad for some time if you are a business owner looking to take a long vacation while still being able to take care of your business, or you are a remote worker looking to make the best out of the COVID19 pandemic, you will still be able to apply for this visa.
The 12-Month Barbados Welcome Stamp is intended to be applied for by any foreigner who is not employed by a company registered in Barbados or making business from the country.
An interesting aspect of this digital nomad visa is that companies can pay for and start applications for one or more of their remote workers, which would allow companies to incentivize their workers to move to the Caribbean island.
If you are interested in moving with your family, you will also be able to apply for this visa but will be required to pay a higher fee that will cover the whole family. If the application is approved, your family will be able to move to the country with you under the same conditions of your visa.
Any children you have will be able to attend schools while staying in the country under this visa, although some fees may be involved, depending on the school.
At this time, there are no restrictions for citizens of any country interest in applying for the 12 months Barbados Welcome Stamp visa.
As long as you fulfill the other requirements established by Barbados’ government, you will be able to apply independently of your nationality, sexual orientation, religion, or gender.
Unlike some other countries with programs for digital nomads and remote workers, Barbados’ parliament has not established a ceiling on how many applications for this visa can be done or how many can be approved by the relevant authorities.
Whatever reason you have to look for a country that allows you to work while sitting on a beach and drinking a rum cocktail, it is highly likely that you can apply for this visa as the requirements are not too specific or restrictive.
The visa has been such a hit, that 2,796 people had already applied during the first 3 months of the program, allowing digital nomads and remote workers to take advantage of the situation created by the COVID19 pandemic and work from paradise.
How To Apply For the
Freelance Visa For Barbados
We have now reached the part where most people usually get discouraged when looking for their next destination: The application process.
The application process is incredibly fast, taking up to 7 days for your application to be approved or denied, and this is including the first 48 hours it takes the reviewing process to start.
Applying for a visa is a process that is known to require a lot of bureaucracy, preparation time, the gathering of documents, previous research, and waiting. Whoever, in this case, Barbados’ government has made the process as straightforward as anyone could wish for.
When it comes to providing documentation and filling forms, you will also find this process to be surprisingly quick and easy to follow, with most documentation being already available for applicants in most cases.
If you are not a citizen from a country exempted from the visa requirement to enter Barbados, you will need to provide further documentation to acquire an entry visa, but this won’t be the case for most applicants as the government has agreements with most countries to exempt their citizens from the visa requirement, but we will talk about this further in this article.
Remember that we mentioned that the fee was higher than in other countries?
Well, the advantage, in this case, is not only that the process is faster and simpler, but also that the fee-only has to be paid after your visa has been approved.
That’s right – no non-refundable fees here!
There is no drawback in applying if you are considering Barbados as your next destination, and everything to win. So let’s talk about the requirements and the process itself.
Requirements for Applying
When it comes to requirements, this visa is as good as it gets. There are not a lot of conditions you must fulfill when applying for this visa, which is great as the digital nomad life is all about enjoying yourself.
The requirements you must fulfill to apply for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa are:
Pay $2000 for a personal visa or $3000 for a family visa fee upon approval of your application.
Working independently or for a company that is registered and conducts business outside Barbados.
Expect to make more than $50,000 in the next 12 months or having the means to support yourself or your family.
That’s it! If you fulfill these 3 basic requirements, you are eligible to apply for this visa!
The documentation required is simple in most cases and consists of documents you are likely to already have lying around. These are the documents you will need to provide when applying for the 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa:
Passport-sized photograph
Biodata page of your passport
Your birth certificate
If you have a partner and/or children traveling with you:
Prerequisite entry visa if not from an exempted country.
These documents will need to be attached to the application form you will need to fill online, so make sure to have them in a digital format at the time of starting the application.
If you are not from a country exempted from a visa to enter the country, you will need to apply for one before applying for this specific visa. You can find out if you are exempt from a visa using the tool located at the bottom of this page.
If your country is not exempted from a visa, you will be required to start the application process for the tourist visa following the instructions provided on the page.
If this is the case for you, don’t get discouraged, as the application process is not overly complicated either and once you have it, you can apply for the digital nomad visa just as anyone else.
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How much does it cost?
The only thing that could make the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa even better is if it was free to apply for, which unfortunately is not the case.
This visa has a price rarely seen with other visas:
$2000 if you are by yourself
$3000 if you are applying with your family, in which case it covers everyone’s visa
While the price is high, the good news is that this fee is only charged when the visa is approved. That’s right! if the visa is denied you will not have to pay a penny for the application process for the digital nomad visa.
Keeping in mind that the visa has a duration of 12 months, the fee is pretty reasonable as you won’t need to travel to the country beforehand or hire a proxy/agency as you would have to when applying for digital nomad visas to other countries.
However, if you are not exempted from a visa to enter the country as a tourist, you will need to pay an extra $107 to $211 depending on the number of entries you require.
No other fees will apply once you enter the country and start working there, so you should not worry about hidden costs for work permits or anything similar.
Timeline for Applying
As you already saw, the application process itself is pretty straightforward and efficient, but this doesn’t mean that you should not pay attention to timing.
As you probably already know, some countries are reporting an increase in COVID19 cases and new strains, which could result in changes in the conditions and international travel. So make sure to apply for the visa as soon as possible if you are thinking about traveling in the short term.
Once the visa is approved, you can take advantage of it at any time in the next 12 months as there is no deadline for your first entry to the country, so applying for it can be done even if you are planning your trip with more than 1 month in advance.
This is how the application process goes:
Check and make sure you meet the requirements.
Collect the necessary documentation and make sure to have the originals or copies in a digital format.If you are not exempted from a visa to enter the country under normal circumstances, make sure to contact your local consulate/mission or schedule an appointment here.
Fill the online application following the instructions and attach the necessary documentation. You can find the form here.
Wait up to 5 days for the processing of your application.
If the visa application was approved, pay the corresponding fee following the instructions you will receive.
Travel to Barbados before the expiration of your visa.
If you are not exempt from a visa to enter the country, you should keep in mind that the application can take up to a month, but time might vary depending on your country. Make sure to check with your local consulate for more information on this.
On the other hand, if you are exempt from a visa, you will be ready to travel to Barbados in up to a week, making the planning process easier than ever.
However, there are no guarantees that your application will be approved, so take advantage of the fast processing time and wait for the final response before paying for reservations or tickets.
Now that you know how simple it is to apply for (and hopefully get) the 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa, you are ready to start the process and enjoy working from one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
Enjoy your time on the beach, don’t forget your sunscreen, and don’t drink too much rum while working.
Have a nice trip!
FAQ’s for the Barbados Digital Nomad Visa
Does Barbados have a digital nomad visa?
Yes. It is called the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa.
What Is the difference between a Barbados digital nomad visa and a tourist visa?
The Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa will allow you to stay in Barbados for 12 whole months. A tourist visa only allows you to stay for up to six months.
Additionally, the Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa allows you to establish yourself and your family in the country while you work remotely. The tourist visa is meant to be used for tourism purposes, and legally you’re not allowed to work while you’re in the country with the tourist visa.
What is the length of the Barbados digital nomad visa?
12 months.
Is it possible to extend the Barbados digital nomad visa?
Yes, you can extend the visa for another 12 months.
How long does it take to complete the entire application process?
The application process takes up to 7 days. However, keep in mind that gathering all the required documents may take longer.
Can you apply for Barbados digital nomad visa while abroad?
Yes. The application is filled out online.
What currency should you pay for a Barbados digital nomad visa with?
In US dollars ($).
How can you pay the visa fee?
You pay the visa fee online once your application has been approved.
$2000 if you are by yourself.
$3000 if you are applying with your family.
Will you get a refund for your visa application if you are denied?
The visa fee does not need to be refunded. You only pay the fee once your application has been approved.
Can U.S. citizens travel to Barbados without a visa?
Yes. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Barbados. However, they can only stay up to 6 months without a visa.
Author
Nadia Dardón is a freelance writer from Guatemala. In early 2022 she embarked as a digital nomad, traveling through Europe, focusing mostly on the literary history of each country. She has worked fully remotely for the past four years as a reader, writer, and content creator with experience creating pieces for different industries. She also has a personal blog where she writes about her cultural and literary travels.
