By Development Counsellors International
The island of Barbados is now accepting applications for its new 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp. Launched July 19, this special visa provides remote workers with an opportunity to transport their “home office” to paradise by relocating to Barbados for up to a year. To learn more about the new visa and submit an application, visit www.Barbadoswelcomestamp.bb.
After temporarily suspending non-essential travel to the island in response to COVID-19, Barbados has reopened to international travelers with an invitation to work remotely and live like a “Bajan” for a year. “COVID-19 has changed the global business landscape as a larger number of people continue to work from home. With this new visa, we can provide workers with an opportunity to spend the next 12-months working remotely from paradise, here in Barbados,” said Barbados’ Prime Minister, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley.
Prime Minister Mottley expressed that part of the challenge relates to short-term travel. “Rather than coming for the usual week, or three weeks or a month, why not plan out your business? We have a mechanism that allows people who want to take advantage of being in a different part of the world, of the sun, sea and sand, and a stable society; one that functions well. Barbados is a perfect place for you to come.”
Visa Requirements
Barbados has simplified the visa application process to ensure a stress-free experience for 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp applicants. Visa applications along with the documents listed below must be submitted electronically at www.Barbadoswelcomestamp.bb.
Documents needed include:
- Two passport size photographs
- Bio data page of passport
- Birth certificate (self/spouse/children)
- Proof of relationship to dependents
- Entry visa (where applicable)
- Upon approval, the following non-refundable fees are applicable:
- Individual – Fee of $2,000.00 USD
- Family Bundle – Fee of $3,000.00 USD
The visa is valid for one year and participants can reapply for renewal. Applicants will not be liable for Barbados Income Tax.
The 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp offers new opportunities for anyone whose work is location-independent. This includes entire offices, multi-disciplinary creatives, digital nomads and bold entrepreneurs. With many companies moving the majority of their workforce to the working from home (WFH) model, Barbados presents an excellent option for corporate teams or individuals.
“Barbados is firmly established as a sought-after leisure destination and has recently been growing as a destination for Millennials. We can easily accommodate visitors working remotely from on island, said Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Sunil Chatrani. “Barbados boasts the fastest fiber internet and mobile services in the Caribbean, and with a range of flexible office space locations, the working environment in Barbados definitely enables you get things done. Our country also offers excellent health care and a high education standard, which we know is critical for those who want to bring their families to the island for a 12-month period.”
Barbados has been commended for its ongoing COVID-19 response efforts and robust contact tracing protocols. The country of more than 280,000 people has had just over 100 cases of the novel coronavirus and seven deaths. Even as it has re-opened its borders the country has maintained a proper set of health and safety guidelines, making travel not onerous, but safe.
Petra Roach, Head of Global Markets at the BTMI, stated that Barbados’ established multi-tiered tourism model has positioned the island to easily accommodate all types of remote workers. “Barbados as a destination has always been very much in demand, so we have a wide range of accommodations from budget-friendly studios to beachfront luxury condos. Added to our year-round warm climate, beautiful countryside, world class beaches and countless activities, this is an ideal backdrop for a more sustainable work-life balance that many are craving for themselves and their families,” she said.
“COVID-19 has placed a severe strain on people’s mental wellness,” Prime Minister Mottley told Today’s WorldView in an interview. “The sunshine is powerful. The seawater is powerful. They’re both therapeutic in ways that are hard to explain. Why not share it?”
More information on how to travel to Barbados during COVID-19 can be found at https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2020. For questions, photos and interview requests please contact Symeria Palmer at symeria.palmer@aboutdci.com.
About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes. Rated as one of the world’s sexiest beaches in 2008 by Concierge.com; Barbados’ Crane Beach in St. Philip stands as a premier destination for travelers. Barbados is also the first Zagat-rated Caribbean island and is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Barbados has hosted several world class events including: The annual Barbados Food & Rum Festival; the 2006 PGA World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup, the ICC Cricket World Cup Finals in 2007, the Sentebale Charity Polo match with Prince Harry of Wales in 2010, and the ICC Twenty20 Cricket Finals for 2010, and the Rihanna LOUD concert in 2012. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas, to quaint bed and breakfasts and award-winning, five-star resorts. Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. Barbados was voted eighth in the World by Trip Advisor’s “2008 Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards” in its Top 100 Destinations category. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, follow on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VisitBarbados, via Twitter @Barbados.
