Grenada is joining the ranks of island countries offering special programs to attract digital nomads.
The Caribbean nation recently announced it will launch a digital nomad initiative for foreign remote workers in October.
The program will run for a year and is designed to be extended for an additional 12 months. It will also include a concierge service and a volunteer program to help nomads and their families make the most of their time on the island.
“We want [remote workers] to come into our island with us and share their knowledge and time with us and be fully immersed in our communities,” said Cherisse Hamid, the sales and marketing manager for the Grenada Tourism Authority, during a mid-September press conference organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization.
Possible volunteer opportunities could include planting trees, cleaning up reefs and Lionfish hunting. There may also be volunteer roles at health centers for medical professionals.
All remote workers accepted in the program must be fully vaccinated and present a negative PCR test taken within three days of arrival. They must also have a Pure Safe Travel Certificate.
While full details on the digital nomad program are not yet available, clues can be found in a remote worker bill that was brought before the Parliament of Grenada this summer.
Under the proposed Remote Employment Act, digital nomad applicants would be required to:
- Provide evidence of a valid passport
- Have an annual income of at least $37,000 USD.
- Provide proof a valid health insurance policy
- Provide a police certificate
- Pay an application fee of $1,500 USD
The bill was passed by the Lower House in May. It was scheduled for debate in the Upper House in June.
The digital nomad program is intended to stimulate Grenada’s economy and help rebuild its tourism sector after months of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Montserrat and St. Lucia have all introduced similar remote worker initiatives.