Summary: Barbados is inviting people to live and work for up to a year. Their online application and 5-7 day turnaround time is remarkable and something we hope other countries will learn from.
Visa: 12 month Barbados Welcome Stamp
Length of Stay: Maximum 12 months from date of approval
Fees: $2,000 for an Individual, $3,000 for a Family
Online Application Available: Yes
Documents Needed: Passport (Bio data page of passport), Photograph, Proof of Relationship to Dependents (for Family Applicants)
Visa Processing Time: Application begins processing in 48 hours and will be confirmed or denied in 5 working days.
More Information & FAQs
Apply for Barbados Welcome Stamp
Barbados introduced the 12 month Barbados Welcome Stamp in July of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are looking for a beautiful island escape where you can work and relax, Barbados may be the perfect spot. Barbados re-opened their airport on July 12, 2020 and has established official travel protocols to, "protect, both locals and visitors while on island".
According to the Welcome Stamp FAQs, "Valid medical insurance is a prerequisite for approval of your Welcome Stamp application."
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How long does it take for your application to be processed? According to the FAQ page , "Your application will begin processing within 48 hours of receiving a complete application. A visa will be processed and confirmed or denied in 5 working days or less."
"Life is lived at a very different pace in Barbados. Do not expect things to be done too quickly or you will just become frustrated at the natural pace of things there. It is better to accept it and learn to slow down and go with their pace. It becomes much less stressful. Also once they see you are not so uptight they tend to help you out more as they are now not afraid to be around the foreigner who wants them to work faster," wrote one expat in Barbados.
When asked about access to quality medical care, one expat living in Clapham Ridge, Barbados replied, "Yes, they have both a government hospital as well as private hospital. These are located in the south east part of the island near Bridgetown. They also have many clinics around the island and an ambulance service. As in most places healthcare for major issues can be quite expensive. Make sure you have private healthcare insurance and understand your coverage before needing it."
Looking for long-term rentals in Barbados? Island Gold Realty, Long-term Rentals Barbados and Barbados Sotheby's International Realty.
More information about Barbados:
Betsy Burlingame is the Founder of Expat Exchange. She launched Expat Exchange in 1997 as her Master's thesis project at NYU. Some of Betsy's more popular articles include 6 Best Places to Live in Costa Rica, 12 Things to Know Before Moving to The Dominican Republic and 7 Tips for Obtaining Residence in Italy. Betsy loves to travel and spend time with her family. Connect with Betsy on LinkedIn.
I am a Canadian professional who wants to work remotely in Barbados - taking advantage of the 12-month stamp. I would prefer to live in a family-style home near the beach. Are there any Canadians up for a room-mate situation? Thanks
First Published: Aug 15, 2020
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