FAQ
Barbados is a relatively prosperous middle income country, so most visitors will find it easy to adapt to living here.
Fine dining on the beach at sunset
Accommodation
What types of accomodation are available in Barbados?
There is a wide range of accommodation available to people working remotely from Barbados.
The houses available for fully furnished long term rental in the tourism industry are usually called villas. They range from palatial beachfront luxury estates to more reasonable houses and townhouses within a walk or short drive from the coast.
There are also a wide range of fully furnished apartments for rent, either in small buildings or in apartment hotels.
Where are the best Neighborhoods to live in Barbados?
This depends on what type of environment you are looking for. Some people are seeking bars and nightlife while others are seeking seclusion and nature. Most available accommodation is on the West or South coasts. This is because that is where the best beaches are, and the majority of people who come to Barbados want to spend time at the beach. Rents tend to get more expensive the closer you are to the beach, but the island is only 21 miles by 14 miles, so nowhere is very far from the coast. If you want dramatic coastline scenery and to be far from crowds you may want the east or southeast part of Barbados, The parishes of St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. John and St. Philip. To be closer to restaurants, beaches, and nightlife consider St James, St Michael, and Christ Church.
Internet and connectivity
How good are internet connections in Barbados?
Internet speed here is good. Barbados is currently ranked 34th in the world in the broadband Speedtest Global Index (that’s a little faster than in Belgium, but not quite as fast as in Germany). There are two major companies who provide internet connections, Digicel and Flow. A mid range plan from either provider will offer download speeds of about 100 Mbps and will cost around US$60 per month.
How good is mobile phone service in Barbados?
Mobile phones and plans are available from the same companies that provide internet services. Both of them operate 4G-LTE networks and will offer prepaid or postpaid plans. Coverage is is about the same for each service, with the only dead zones being in some particularly hilly areas of St. Andrew and St Joseph.
Medical and Health
Do I need medical insurance?
Yes. All Welcome Stamp visitors need to be covered by medical insurance. If you are arriving on the 12 Month Welcome Stamp you will need to provide proof of insurance coverage. We have formed a partnership with Safety Wing, a global health insurance provider that understands the needs of remote workers because they are all remote workers and digital nomads themselves. Click here to get your medical insurance...
What medical facilities are there in Barbados?
Medical facilities in Barbados are good, and all Barbadian citizens are covered by universal health care. There is a large public hospital, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Bridgetown; it is supplemented by eight community polyclinics around the island. However, the public health care system is very heavily overburdened, so visitors should be adequately insured and be prepared to use the private facilities like the Bayview Hospital and Sandy Crest Medical Centre.
Transportation
How reliable are public transportation systems?
This depends on where you are and where you are trying to go. The public transportation system is a mix of public and private operators. The public Transport Board buses (large blue ones) are a mix of several dozen old diesel ones and a few dozen new electric ones. These are supplemented both by private minibuses (yellow), and small ZR vans (white with a purple stripe). They all cost the same fare (Bd$3.50) and there are no transfers. On some routes at some times service is every few minutes; on other routes at other times the wait can easily be over an hour. The overall safety record of the system is good, but the ZR vans do have a reputation for reckless driving.
Is there Uber or Lyft in Barbados?
Neither Uber or Lyft operate in Barbados. The closest analog is the pickUp Caribbean app which uses licensed taxis and is available on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
There are a number of taxi companies and many independent taxi drivers. An internet search will turn up many of them. In general they are not equipped with fare meters, so you need to find out in advance how much the trip is going to cost.
Where can I rent a car?
You can rent cars through any of the many rental agencies. North American and European drivers will need to take extra care because they are not used to driving on the left hand side of the road. If you stay alert and not let your attention wander you will adapt safely. Finding your way around in Barbados can be a challenge because road signage is inconsistent, but the online navigation aids like Google maps, Apple Maps, and Waze all work well here.
Visas
Can I come to Barbados without a visa?
Visitors from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA and several other countries can stay in Barbados for up to three months without the need for a visa, and they can get a three month extension by applying to the Immigration Department. Visitors from countries in the European Union may stay for up to three months in any six month period. Nobody will complain if you check your work email while staying here without a visa, but of course you cannot be employed in Barbados.
Can I get a 12 Month Barbados Welcome Stamp?
To stay for longer than six months you will require a Barbados Welcome Stamp, which is valid for twelve months and explixitly allows you to work remotely for an employer outside Barbados. You can apply for this online before you arrive, or you can apply online after you arrive on a visitors’ visa. The cost is US$2,000 for an individual or US$3,000 for a family. You will have to prove that you earn at least US$50,000 per year to be eligible. The Welcome Stamp is renewable so that you can stay longer than one year.
Can I apply for permanent residence?
Barbados offers a residence by investment program. The Barbados Special Entry and Reside Permit (SERP) provides permanent residence to people who invest US$2 million in Barbados, or by acquiring a residential property worth more than US$300,000 purchased with funds sourced outside the island.
Cost of Living
How expensive is it to live in Barbados?
The cost of living in Barbados is high. This is because so much of what is available here is imported. Gasoline costs about US$2.00 per liter or US$7.50 per gallon, and many supermarket staples will cost up to twice what they do in Europe or North America.
How do Bajans cope with the high cost of living?
Locals cope by avoiding high priced imported goods and substituting locally produced items. Instead of patronising large supermarkets many locals buy their groceries from vendors at places like Cheapside Market or Bridgetown Fish Market.