This rather lengthy worldwide pandemic closed down offices and made remote work more popular than ever. Though we all do enjoy spending time working from the comfort of home, we also enjoy traveling, which has been for the past few months strictly forbidden. And that’s where the idea emerged — why not to travel and work from paradise?
The Barbados Welcome Stamp is a year-long working holiday visa for remote workers, launched in July.
To apply, one has to submit a passport-size photo, the biodata page of the passport, and the Dependent Certificate. A family bundle fee of USD $3,000 or USD $2,000 per person is applicable upon approval.
Applicants should either own a location-independent business or work remotely for a firm based outside of Barbados. They also have to purchase their own health insurance and make at least USD $50,000 per year that one may become eligible to enjoy a year of this working holiday on the tropical Caribbean beaches.
So far, the island has approved 1,693 applications, of which the leading 675 came from the nearby US, followed by Canadians and British. American Airlines returned to their regular services in October from Miami International Airport to Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport, which made access to the island easier. At the moment, they fly five times a week.
Regarding the pandemics, Barbados maintains a position among the low-risk countries, with only 18 cases recorded in the past two weeks (November 11 – 24). Than, all incomers must undergo a COVID-19 test in order to move freely around the country.
Travelers from high or medium-risk countries should get tested three days prior to arrival and are required to retest four or five days after the first accepted negative test. Visitors coming from low-risk countries can get examined either before or on arrival and are not required to get tested again if their results are negative.
Figure tourism officials commented that the Barbados Welcome Stamp has already imported over $1 million and is getting ready for a second application wave. The program already proved itself to be beneficial for both the country’s economy and all international workers, from digital nomads to entrepreneurs.
Related: Countries offering digital nomad visas or residency