The beautiful Barbados island country with the fascinating nature that the Atlantic Ocean surrounds offers a wonderful experience to those who seek to visit. However, before traveling to this amazing island, you need to check if you need a Barbados visa.
Who Needs a Visa for Barbados?
If you are a citizen from one of the countries listed below, you do not need a visa to enter the Republic of Bahamas:
Six Months Visa-Free Stay
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Kenya
- Sri Lanka
- Australia
- Kiribati
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Bahamas
- Lesotho
- Saint Lucia
- Bangladesh
- Liechtenstein
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Belize
- Malawi
- Suriname
- Botswana
- Malaysia
- Tanzania
- Brazil
- Maldives
- Tonga
- Brunei
- Mali
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Canada
- Mauritania
- Tunisia
- Dominica
- Mauritius
- Turkey
- Eswatini
- New Zealand
- Tuvalu
- Fiji
- Nigeria
- United Kingdom
- Gambia
- Samoa
- United States
- Ghana
- San Marino
- Uganda
- Grenada
- Seychelles
- Vanuatu
- Guyana
- Sierra Leone
- Zambia
- Ireland
- Singapore
- Zimbabwe
- Israel
- Solomon Islands
- Jamaica
- South Africa
90 Days Visa-Free Stay
- All European Union citizens
- Iceland
- Qatar
- Argentina
- India
- Russia
- Bahrain
- Indonesia
- Rwanda
- Burkina Faso
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Burundi
- Jordan
- Senegal
- Cameroon
- Liberia
- Serbia
- Chile
- Monaco
- South Korea
- Colombia
- Morocco
- Switzerland
- El Salvador
- Nigeria
- Thailand
- Ethiopia
- Norway
- United Arab Emirates
- Ghana
- Oman
- Uruguay
- Guatemala
- Panama
- Hong Kong
- Philippines
30 Days Visa-Free Stay
- China
- Costa Rica
28 Days Visa-Free Stay
- Albania
- Kazakhstan
- Tajikistan
- Armenia
- Kyrgyzstan
- Timor-Leste
- Azerbaijan
- Mexico
- Turkmenistan
- Belarus
- Moldova
- Ukraine
- Cuba
- Nicaragua
- Uzbekistan
- Georgia
- Peru
- Venezuela
Note: Depending on which country you come from, you must check how long you can stay in Barbados without a visa.
How to Apply for Barbados Visa?
Here are the steps you need to follow when applying for a Barbados visa:
- Contact the nearest embassy/consulate of Barbados in your home country and book an appointment. You can find a list of Barbados embassy/consulate abroad here.
- Gather and submit all the requested documents at Barbados’s nearest embassy/consulate in your home country. For further information regarding the requested documents, see ‘Barbados Visa Requirements.’
- Wait for a response. You will receive a response via text message or email after three weeks of applying for a Barbados visa.
Note: Even if you receive a visa, the final decision on whether you are granted entry lies with the Immigration Officer at the port of entry in Barbados.
Barbados Visa Requirements
You must submit these documents when applying for a Barbados visa:
- A copy of your passport. Your actual passport is not required, only if you wish to have your stamp of visa endorsed in your passport. However, your passport must be in the form of a letter accepted by the airline check-in and by the Immigration Officer At The Port Of Entry of Barbados.
- Application form. You can download the application form online, print a hard copy, fully complete and sign it at the end.
- A valid return flight ticket. The return flight ticket is a document proving that you will return to your home country after your visa expires.
- Health insurance. A document proving that you have valid health insurance that is still valid in Barbados.
- Passport-sized photo. Your photos must be taken recently, within the last six months.
- Accommodation proof. This document can be a rental agreement, hotel reservation, letter of invitation, etc. It must prove that you have a place to stay while in Barbados.
- Bank statement. The bank statement is a document that needs to prove that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while you are in Barbados.
- Letter of invitation. A letter of invitation is issued from a family member or a friend living in Barbados, and it must prove that they will sponsor your stay and that you will stay in their place as long as you are in Barbados.
- Criminal record. The criminal record is a document issued by the police authorities of your home country. This document must prove that you are not a threat to the Republic of Barbados.
- Flight itinerary. The flight itinerary is a document that describes your flight process, such as the date and flight time, airline name, the return flight ticket, etc.
- A cover letter. Your cover letter must be directed directly at the ‘Chief Immigration Officer’, including the purpose of your visit, the duration of your stay, etc.
- Birth certificate or marriage certificate (if applicable).
Note: Make sure your documents are in English language or translated to English.
Duration of Barbados Visa
There are two types of visas in Barbados:
- A short-stay visa, which allows you to stay in Barbados from 28 days to six months. The short-stay visa is issued for different purposes, such as:
- Tourism.
- Business meetings.
- Family visits, etc.
- A long-stay visa, that allows you to stay in Barbados for one year. A long-stay visa is issued for different purposes, such as:
- Work.
- Study.
- Investment.
- Family reunion.
- Digital nomad.
- Retirement.
Barbados Visa Fees
The Barbados visa fee depends on the type of visa you are issued. However, depending on the type of visa you are issued, you need to finish the payment of:
- US$107 for a single entry visa. With a single entry visa, you are only allowed once to enter Barbados within three months.
- US$211 for a multiple entry visa. With a multiple entry visa, you can enter Barbados multiple times within six months.
Important: You can finish the Barbados visa fee payment in a bank. Make sure you address the payment to the ‘Chief Immigration Officer’, signed and dated.
Residence Permit for Barbados
If you plan to live in Barbados, you need to apply for a residence permit. Depending on the purpose of your stay in Barbados, the residence permit is issued for the same reasons as a long-stay visa, such as:
- Work.
- Study.
- Investment.
- Family reunion.
- Digital nomad.
- Retirement.
To apply for a residence permit in Barbados, you must submit the application to the Immigration Department. The residence permit will allow you to stay in Barbados for five years.
Note: If you want to permanently stay in Barbados, you can apply for a permanent residence permit after staying for five years in Barbados with a temporary residence permit.
Interesting facts about Barbados?
Here are ten interesting facts you should know about Barbados, such as:
- The Republic of Barbados is the birthplace of Rihanna, the famous singer.
- The Atlantic Ocean surrounds the country.
- Barbados is famous for its incredible beaches and surf.
- Rum was created in Barbados.
- Barbados was once British but now is an independent country.
- The country island is home to the famous flying fishes.
- The locals of Barbados are called ‘Bajans.’
- The country is famous for its Bajan seasoning.
- The Barbados locals create incredible handmade jewelry and art pieces.
- Barbados is known as the birthplace of grapefruit.