Calling all digital nomads: Barbados’ new visa would let you work there remotely for a year

Fancy a long term holiday? You could work remotely in paradise for up to one year

Most of us have grown used to the working from home lifestyle, taking calls at the kitchen desk or even working on our laptops in bed.

But staring at the same four-walled view gets old fairly quickly and we’ve been dreaming of a post-lockdown holiday.

And, with Barbados’ newly proposed visa, travellers could relocate to the Caribbean island and work remotely there.

Barbados Welcome Stamp

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley recently announced that the Barbados government is developing a 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp.

The visa is in its final stage of development and would allow travellers to come and enjoy island life for a longer stint of time than the usual two-week holiday.

“It would allow people from the United States, Europe, and Latin America to come and do their jobs digitally for a couple of months and then go back home, if they feel they can work better in a more relaxed atmosphere such as next to a beach,” said Mottley.

The country is set to reopen to tourists on July 12, and while short term travel is difficult due to Covid-19 restrictions, Mottley said that longer stays would greatly benefit the economy.

Covid-19 testing

All travelers arriving into Barbados are required to present a negative Covid-19 test result. Those arriving from high-risk countries must take their test within 72 hours before departure, while visitors from low-risk countries can take it a week before traveling.

Travelers who didn’t take a test before their arrival will have to take one when they land, then quarantine at their expense until they receive the results, which could take about two days.

So, if you fancy yourself a digital nomad, keep an eye out for the visa’s final details. A year-long island stay might be the perfect way to upgrade your WFH lifestyle.

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