Residents in St. Lucy are advised to boil their tap water until further notice from the Barbados Water Authority

Visitor visa

Planning a visit to sunny Barbados? See how long you can stay in Barbados as a visitor.

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A visitor visa is a great option for persons who wish to stay in Barbados for a few months or less. However, precisely how long a person can stay in Barbados as a visitor depends on their nationality.

Maximum entry period by nationality

Citizens of countries within the Caribbean Community can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to six months in aggregate within a one year period.

Citizens of countries within the Commonwealth of Nations can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to six months in aggregate within a one year period.

Citizens of countries within the European Union can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to three months in aggregate within a six month period.

Citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the French Republic, the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Suriname, the Swiss Confederation and the United States of America can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to six months in aggregate within a one year period.

Citizens of the Republic of Panama can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to 90 days in aggregate within a one year period.

Citizens of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the United Mexican States, the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Peru can stay in Barbados as a visitor for up to 28 days in aggregate within a one year period.

What length of stay will be granted on entry

It is important to note that the length of time you are granted permission to stay in Barbados as a visitor is not usually the maximum entry period allowed. Foreign nationals who are allowed to stay in Barbados as a visitor for more than three months a year are usually granted an initial period of three months on entry, except for CARICOM nationals which are typically granted six months.

If you want to extend your stay, you will need to apply for an Extension of Stay with the Immigration Department before your current entry period expires. There is a non-refundable application fee of BBD $100. It is not usually possible to get permission to stay as a visitor beyond the maximum length permitted for your nationality unless there is an exceptional reason that prevents your onward travel.

You may see information online suggesting you can leave Barbados and return a few months later, known as a 'visa run'. Do not consider doing this. It is against the law to overstay the maximum aggregate entry period and you may be prosecuted for doing so.

Working in Barbados while on holiday

Please note it is against the law to work in Barbados as a visitor, regardless of your nationality. However, you are permitted to work remotely for your overseas employer or client while on vacation if it is incidental to your holiday in Barbados and not the main purpose of your visit.

If you work in a location-independent manner and are thinking of working remotely in Barbados, learn more about the Welcome Stamp visa if you want to stay beyond the maximum entry period, or if the main purpose of your visit is to work remotely for your overseas employer or client.

How to apply for a visitor visa

You don't need to apply for a visitor visa prior to arrival. All travellers are assessed on entry.

However, you will need an entry visa (which is different to a visitor visa) before travelling to Barbados if you are a citizen of any of the countries or regions listed here. This does not apply to any person who is a citizen of any country or union mentioned above, except the Republic of Haiti.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you may be denied entry if you do not furnish a valid return ticket on arrival.

Please note this does not apply to persons on the Welcome Stamp visa.

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.

If you are experiencing any difficulties or do not wish to use the online system, you will be directed to 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 primarily 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-chested (shirtless) or wearing minimal beach attire. You will be asked to leave the premises if you enter without wearing a shirt or vest.

Yes, the water supply is safe and refreshing 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.