Visa-free travel to Barbados

Yes, a return ticket is required for all visitors, including Caribbean Community citizens entering Barbados under the Right of Entry. You may be denied entry, or directed to purchase a return ticket upon arrival, if you do not furnish a valid return ticket upon request by immigration officials.

This does not apply to foreign nationals who are either: (a) residents of Barbados; (b) entering Barbados on a valid work permit or Welcome Stamp visa; or (c) entering Barbados on a foreign passport which shows Barbados as their place of birth.

It is usually three months, but if you are not sure, please contact the Immigration Department after you arrive.

Please call the Barbados Light & Power Company at +1 (246) 626-9000.

If you are staying in a hotel or Airbnb, reach out to your reception team or host for general assistance.

In the event a power outage has created or is about to create a life threatening emergency, call the emergency services.

All persons travelling to Barbados are required to complete the online Immigration and Customs Form at travelform.gov.bb no sooner than 72 hours before their arrival.

The Immigration and Customs Form has a section which asks passengers how long they intend to stay in Barbados. This question is intended primarily for visitors to Barbados. If you are a returning resident and intend to stay on island for more than one year, you may input 365 as the number of days.

If you are experiencing any difficulties or do not wish to use the online system, this will not affect your travel plans. You can also complete the Immigration and Customs Form at the immigration kiosks on arrival in Barbados.

No, all remaining travel protocols were discontinued on September 23rd, 2022.

People in Barbados are not as tolerant towards homosexuality, but attitudes are slowly changing. You may wish to avoid showing public displays of affection as it may trigger inappropriate remarks from others.

Barbados is heavily dependent on tourism and most same-sex couples have no issues with hotels and other businesses that serve tourists. Many same-sex couples are regular visitors to Barbados.

Generally speaking, it is always a good time to visit the Island.

There are two distinct seasons in Barbados – a dry season and a wet season. You will struggle to find a day where it is not sunny, even after heavy downpours or during the odd day when it is overcast.

While it still rains during the dry season, it does not rain as much or as often as it does during the wet season. The weather is generally more predictable during the dry season.

The temperature varies only slightly throughout the year but the difference is very noticeable between the two seasons because it is less humid during the dry season.

If you are a budget-conscious traveller, you may find the best rates during the wet season – also known as the hurricane season – which runs from July to October.

You may struggle to find affordable short-term rentals between December and April, which are often the busiest months for tourism in Barbados.

Barbados often experiences tropical depressions ^[1] during the hurricane season, but is rarely impacted by a hurricane-strength tropical cyclone because the island is outside the principle hurricane belt.

The most recent tropical cyclones to impact Barbados at hurricane-strength was Hurricane Janet in 1955 and Hurricane Elsa in 2021.

^{[1] A tropical depression is a 'tropical cyclone' that has maximum sustained surface winds (one-minute average) of 38 mph or less.}

You must obtain an Import Permit from the Veterinary Services Department.

Your dog or cat must be permanently identified with a microchip, and be vaccinated against rabies after the microchip has been implanted. If your dog or cat was vaccinated before being fitted with a microchip, it must be vaccinated again. Your dog or cat must be vaccinated against rabies for at least thirty five (35) days before being eligible to enter Barbados.

Within thirty (30) days prior to travel, your dog must be tested for heartworm disease, unless your dog is less than six (6) months old.

Within seven (7) days prior to travel, your dog or cat must be treated against ticks and tapeworms, and undergo a veterinary examination and be issued with an Official Export Health Certificate endorsed and stamped by an official government veterinarian of the country of origin.

Please do not take the foregoing information as a complete description of the requirements to import dogs or cats. The Barbados government strictly enforce rules on the importation of pets; failure to comply is a serious offence.

You should read this guidance from the Barbados Government Information Service.

If you are importing a pet from the UK, please also read this guidance.

If you are importing a pet from Canada, please also read this guidance.

If you are importing a pet from the USA, please also read this guidance.

It is always warm in Barbados even during the winter months so you should bring a good variety of summer garments with you. It is common to see Barbadians wearing sandals (also known as flip-flops or thongs).

Any garment deemed acceptable in most western countries is likely to be acceptable in Barbados, but there are some exceptions. For example, it is against the law to wear camoflauge clothing (i.e. any garments bearing text, colours, patterns or designs associated with the military).

Please note a dress code usually applies when conducting official business. You should bring long pants (trousers) and sleeved tee-shirts if you think you'll need to enter a government building (e.g. Immigration Department). Some high-end restaurants and night clubs also enforce a similar dress code.

Avoid entering supermarkets or convenience stores either bare-back (shirtless) or wearing minimal beach attire. You may be asked to leave the premises if you enter without wearing a shirt or vest.

Yes, the local water supply is safe to drink.

Barbados is a limestone island. Most of the water supply is pumped from wells within natural coral aquifers, which is then treated with chlorine to comply with World Health Organisation standards.

Lime is naturally present in the water supply (often called 'hard water' in other countries), which some people may notice. Flouride is NOT added to the local water supply.

If you are flying with Virgin Atlantic without a return flight to your country of citizenship, Virgin Atlantic may not allow you to check-in for your flight even if you use their automated check-in kiosks (e.g. at London Heathrow). In such cases, you'll need to be checked-in manually by a Virgin Atlantic staff member when you arrive at the airport. They are usually standing near the automated check-in kiosks. If the staff member directs you to use the automated check-ins after requesting assistance, promptly tell them that you are a returning resident on a foreign passport and cannot check-in yourself. You'll need to provide evidence of your residency (e.g. Barbados ID, work permit, etc). If you are on the Welcome Stamp visa, you should present an electronic or printed copy of your visa.

Freedom of movement for CARICOM nationals is not currently recognised in Barbados. However, the Prime Minister announced on February 22, 2025 that freedom of movement for most CARICOM nationals should come into force from June 1st, 2025, but this date should not be taken as a guarantee.

Presently, CARICOM nationals must obtain permission from the Immigration Department to reside in Barbados for more than six months a year, or to work in Barbados.

If you would like to engage in employment in Barbados, even if it is on a self-employed basis, you must have a valid permit or visa that allows you to do so.

Cannabis and cannabis paraphernalia are illegal in Barbados and MUST NOT be brought into the island.