Work from Paradise! Barbados Celebrates the Arrival of Welcome Stamp Visa Holders to the Island

Launched in July 2020, the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa offers individuals from across the globe the opportunity to live and work remotely in paradise

Boasting beautiful beaches, warm weather, welcoming locals and strong internet connectivity all around the island, it’s no surprise that the Barbados Welcome Stamp Visa has generated such a huge amount of interest and has seen applications from individuals, couples and families from all over the world.

Launched in July 2020, the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa offers individuals from across the globe the opportunity to live and work remotely in paradise.

The leading countries seeking entry to live and work remotely in Barbados under the programme are the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, accounting for over 1,200 of the 2,000 applications processed since the launch. To date 45 Irish applicants have been received and the initiative offers an incredible opportunity for those whose work is location-independent, which due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now includes entire offices, multi-disciplinary creatives, digital nomads and bold entrepreneurs.

Welcome Stamp Visa holders have been arriving to Barbados since August and the destination has worked to ensure that the application process for the 12-month Welcome Stamp is as simple and seamless as possible with fees of US $2,000 for individuals and a family bundle fee of US $3000 available. The visa is valid for one year but may be re-applied for. Applicants will not be liable for Barbados Income Tax but a health insurance policy is mandatory.

At a welcome dinner hosted by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) this month, Cris Torres, from Barcelona and the first person to arrive in Barbados as part of the programme, described her experience “I had heard about the Welcome Stamp Programme and was very interested, but thought it would take some time to be initiated, so I went to Martinique with the intention of staying for three months until the programme got up and running, but in a week, the website was up and I was able to apply and receive my approval. I have never been to Barbados, and now I’m here, I’m glad that I chose the island to be my new home”.

The Welcome Stamp Programme was created with the intention to help fill the gap left by decreased tourist arrivals due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to generate foreign exchange. Barbados has been widely commended for how it has handled the virus thus far with robust and effective testing and contact tracing protocols in place. With a population of just over 280,000 people, the island has had just over 250 cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths since April. Even as it officially re-opened its borders in July the island continues to review and update its travel protocols to ensure that travel isn’t onerous but safe.

Interested persons can now apply now at Barbadoswelcomestamp.bb for the opportunity to live and work remotely in paradise.

Documents needed include:

  • Two passport sized photographs
  • Bio data page of passport
  • Birth certificate (self/spouse/children)
  • Proof of relationship of dependents
  • Entry visa (where applicable)

Upon approval the following non-refundable fees are applicable:

  • Individual – Fee of US $2,000.00
  • Family Bundle-Fee US $3,000.00

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