Barbados Is the Best Caribbean Country for Digital Nomads
Barbados is now considered the best Caribbean country for digital nomads in 2022.
As the world changes rapidly and technology reaches a global audience, nations are being integrated and virtually connected in the working environment. As more companies now use a remote workforce, day-to-day office work is drastically diminishing . This fact technically means that skilled people can gain employment from anywhere in the world as long as you have a strong internet connection and a smart device. Digital nomads are people who go about life in a nomadic pattern while earning a living by practicing remote work with the use of digital telecommunication technology.
This trend is not new per say, but its prominence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown was an eye opener to many as most regular 9-5 workers lost their jobs and those who worked remotely continued earning money. Industries began to look into the possibility of working from home while people who had specific skills could make a living in the comfort of their homes.
This flexibility enables freelancers work from anywhere in the world, but it is not enough to just work from any part of the world as a freelancer or a digital nomad. There are lots of things to consider ranging from the cost of living to security and environmental issues of that country. There must also be a positive balance between what you earn and what you spend.
Barbados, according to the Executive Nomad rating survey conducted by Savills Plc, has been rated the number one Caribbean destination for Digital nomads. This news does not come as a surprise for many reasons. Barbados is known to be a peaceful nation with an acceptable standard of living. The people are friendly and welcoming, and the environment makes it possible for remote work which requires a lot of mental investment.
High-speed Internet connections, extraordinary natural beauty and good air connectivity were the reasons behind Barbados’s rise in the ranking. Barbados is blessed with lots of beaches and water activities, relaxation spots and restaurants, Bars and cafes plus a healthy amount of nightlife to ensure you have an opportunity to unwind after a stressful days’ work.
The top destination for digital nomads was Lisbon, Portugal, and then Miami in the United States, and also Dubai, UAE, Algarve and Portugal. In July 2020, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley launched a new visa program called “Welcome Stamp”, urging foreign digital workers to trade their urbane home office for a new life in the Caribbean. This initiative was established to fill the gap created by the reduced inflow of tourists created by the global lockdown and also to increase foreign exchange.
Barbados Welcome Stamp program allows people who work online to relocate and work from Barbados for 12 months. To qualify, you must be employed in a country other than Barbados and be earning all your income from sources outside of Barbados. All seeking this Visa should be expected to earn over $50,000 during the course of the year and/or have financial means to support themselves during that time.
So far, the program has proven to be a success with over 2,000 digital nomads relocating to the island in less than 2 years. By March 2022, Barbados received 3,511 applications and approved 2,300 applications from digital nomads, according to Barbados Today. Digital workers from the US, Britain, Canada, Nigeria and Ireland make up a chunk of the Nomads seeking the Welcome Stamp.
“Those approved applicants under the program have occupations in fields such as Engineering, Health Science, Architecture, Information Technology, Communications, Public Administration, Finance, Education and Training, Law, Distribution and Logistics and Management,” the Barbados Today added.
Thinking about traveling to Barbados as a digital nomad in 2022? Be sure to check our Caribbean Travel Requirements COVID-19 updates for the latest requirements for travel to Barbados as well as other Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
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