Barbados: New 12-month welcome visa comes into effect
Knight Frank sees surge in online viewings and enquiries after the government announces it plans to introduce a new visa.
2 minutes to read
The proposal by Mia Mottley’s government to introduce a new 12-month welcome visa to attract digital nomads has now come into effect.
The speed at which the law was enacted - it is just two weeks since the plan was initially proposed - suggests the Caribbean island is keen to be at the top of the list of locations vying for the attention of a new breed of remote workers post the pandemic.
The new visa costs $2,000 for an individual visa or $3,000 for a ‘family bundle’ and visa-holders will not have to pay income tax whilst working in Barbados, therefore avoiding the issue of double taxation.
One key stipulation applied by the Barbados authorities is that all applicants should expect to earn over $50,000 per annum or have the means to support themselves, and their spouse/dependants, for 12 months.
The island is also highlighting its fibre broadband, good healthcare and excellent schools.
Flights to the island resumed on 12 July and with only 110 cases to date (as at 27 July) according to the Johns Hopkins University, the authorities are keen all new arrivals follow strict rules. Visitors from high-risk countries (more than 10,000 new cases in the previous seven days) are "strongly encouraged" to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure.
Travelers from low-risk spots (fewer than 100 cases in the previous week) can take the test up to a week before departure, according to Barbados Tourism Marketing.
The government’s website confirms that once you have you have been approved for the 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp, you will be able to re-apply at least two more times to extend your visa.
A look at Knight Frank’s own online viewings data shows a surge in activity a week after the Barbados visa was first mooted on the government’s website on 1 July, with activity rising 65% week-on-week.
View a selection of Barbados properties for sale or do get in touch with Edward de Mallet Morgan or Andrew Blandford-Newson to discuss Barbados’s property market or any requirements you may have.