Barbados Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Welcome Stamp Rules, Fees

Who it is for

The Barbados Welcome Stamp is a visa that lets people work remotely in Barbados for a maximum of 12 months. The programme page on visitbarbados.org, the website of Barbados Tourism Marketing, Inc, one of the entities that form part of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, says it is available to anyone who meets the visa requirements and whose work is location independent, whether individuals or families. The online application is on barbadoswelcomestamp.bb, whose footer credits the Barbados Immigration Department. The only end date on the official pages cited here is in a Ministry of Tourism and International Transport release: Cabinet approved the renewal of the Welcome Stamp Visa until December 31, 2026. None of those pages says whether the Stamp will be available after that date. The programme page says approved school-aged children do not require a separate Student Visa application, and the application asks whether dependants will attend school in Barbados.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp barbadoswelcomestamp.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp (application for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa) tourism.gov.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp Statistics As Of April 30, 2024 tourism.gov.bb: Agencies, Boards & Commissions (Ministry of Tourism and International Transport)

The law and who counts as family

The law behind the Stamp is the Remote Employment Act, 2020 (Act 2020-23), amended in 2021. Parliament publishes the 2020 text as the Remote Employment Bill, 2020; its bill page shows the bill passed the House of Assembly on 21 July 2020 and the Senate on 22 July 2020 and records no amendments, and this page quotes that bill text. The 2020 bill text says a non-national who is employed in a country other than Barbados may, on application, be granted the Stamp. The 2021 amending Act defines a non-national as a person who is not a citizen of Barbados. In the schedule to the 2021 amendment, family means the applicant, spouse, partner and dependants, and a dependant is a child or step-child under the age of 26 years or any other relative who, by reason of age or any infirmity of body or mind, is wholly dependent on that person for subsistence.

governmentprintery.gov.bb: Gazette July 23 2021 – Part A ACTS (Act 2021-11, Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021) barbadosparliament.com: Remote Employment Bill, 2020 (text of the bill, short title Remote Employment Act, 2020) barbadosparliament.com: Remote Employment Bill, 2020 (bill history page)

Income, funds and insurance

The law sets the income condition. The 2020 bill text lists a valid passport, proof of annual income of "$100 000 or more" generated outside Barbados, and valid health insurance for the period for which the Stamp was granted; that income clause names no currency. In the form in the schedule to the 2021 amending Act, the applicant certifies an expected income of "$100 000 or more over the next 12 months" and the means to support themselves and accompanying family. The programme page says applicants must make an annual income of at least US$50,000 over the 12 months they intend to have the stamp, and the online application asks the applicant to certify an expected income of US$50,000.00 or more over the next 12 months and/or the means to support themselves and accompanying family. The official pages do not explain the difference between these figures, or whether means of support can replace income, so confirm the income test with the Barbados Immigration Department before applying.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp barbadoswelcomestamp.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp (application for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa) governmentprintery.gov.bb: Gazette July 23 2021 – Part A ACTS (Act 2021-11, Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021) barbadosparliament.com: Remote Employment Bill, 2020 (text of the bill, short title Remote Employment Act, 2020)

Documents and how to apply

The programme page says the application process is online. It lists a passport-sized photograph of the principal applicant and of all other family group members over the age of 18, the bio data page of the passport of the principal applicant and other family group members, and proof of the principal applicant's relationship to them. The application page lists a passport-sized photograph, the bio data page of the passport and proof of relationship of dependants, on Form C - 5 under the Immigration Act (Cap. 190), for new applications and renewals. The form in the schedule to the Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021 also lists a birth certificate for the applicant, spouse, partner, children and dependants, proof of relationship of dependants (birth certificate, marriage certificate or adoption documents) and an entry visa where applicable. The application page also asks for the employer's name, a description of the work and whether the applicant has ever been convicted of a serious criminal offence.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp barbadoswelcomestamp.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp (application for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa) governmentprintery.gov.bb: Gazette July 23 2021 – Part A ACTS (Act 2021-11, Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021)

Fees and payment

The law sets the fees in Barbados dollars: the schedule to the Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021 lists BDS $4,000.00 for an individual and BDS $6,000.00 for a family at first issue, and BDS $3,000.00 and BDS $4,500.00 at renewal. The programme page and the application page list fees in US dollars: US$2,000.00 for an individual and US$3,000.00 for a Family Bundle, non-refundable and due after approval. The programme page says applications are typically approved within 7 business days and that fees must be paid within 28 days of application approval. The application page, used for both new applications and renewals, shows only these two US-dollar fees and no separate renewal fee, so confirm with the Immigration Department which fee applies before paying.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp barbadoswelcomestamp.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp (application for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa) governmentprintery.gov.bb: Gazette July 23 2021 – Part A ACTS (Act 2021-11, Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021)

How long it lasts and renewal

The programme page says the visa is valid for one year once approved and that holders can reapply. The 2020 bill text says a Stamp is granted for a period of 12 months only. Under the 2021 amendment, a holder may renew by applying to the Minister, who may approve the renewal if the holder satisfies the conditions in section 3 of the Act. A renewed Stamp is valid for 12 months. A Ministry of Tourism and International Transport release with figures as of April 30, 2024 says Cabinet, at its meeting of October 26, 2023, approved the recommendation of the renewal of the Welcome Stamp Visa until December 31, 2026. When the official sources were re-read on 29 October 2026, none announced an extension beyond that date. The programme and application pages do not mention an end date, and none of the official pages cited here says whether the Welcome Stamp will be available after December 31, 2026, or what happens to a Stamp that runs past that date.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp tourism.gov.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp Statistics As Of April 30, 2024 governmentprintery.gov.bb: Gazette July 23 2021 – Part A ACTS (Act 2021-11, Remote Employment (Amendment) Act, 2021) barbadosparliament.com: Remote Employment Bill, 2020 (text of the bill, short title Remote Employment Act, 2020)

Restrictions

The programme page says the visa is for remote work only, meaning for companies and individuals outside Barbados, and that Stamp holders will not be liable to pay Barbados Income Tax. In the application, the applicant declares that they, and any family member included, will not accept employment from or offer services to a citizen, permanent resident, immigrant, work permit holder or anyone carrying on business in Barbados. The 2020 bill text says a Stamp holder shall not engage in employment in Barbados other than employment for which the Stamp was granted. It also says the Minister may revoke the Stamp of an individual who contravenes or fails to comply with the Act.

visitbarbados.org: Explore 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp barbadoswelcomestamp.bb: Barbados Welcome Stamp (application for the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp visa) barbadosparliament.com: Remote Employment Bill, 2020 (text of the bill, short title Remote Employment Act, 2020)

What this page does not cover

This page does not cover whether the Welcome Stamp will be available after December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-six, or what happens to a Stamp that runs past that date, any limit on the number of renewals, what minimum health insurance cover is accepted, or any route from the Welcome Stamp to permanent residence. Check the official pages for them.