Please be advised that the British government are rolling out a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system which will soon apply to all foreign nationals who do not need to apply for a visitor visa to travel to the United Kingdom.

From January 8, 2025, Barbadian citizens must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom, even if it is only to transit through the UK to visit another country. However, if you are a Barbadian citizen, but also have—

• a British or Irish passport; or
• a British overseas territories citizen passport; or
• a UK visa (e.g. Standard Visitor or Skilled Worker visa); or
• permission to live, work or study in the United Kingdom

then you do not need to apply for an ETA. However, you must prove that you are not required to obtain an ETA. For example, if you are a British or Irish citizen, you should present your British or Irish passport for travel to the United Kingdom. You should still take your Barbadian passport when travelling overseas since it must be presented on return to Barbados.

If you are travelling to the United Kingdom on or after January 8, 2025 and are required to apply for an ETA, it will be possible to do so from November 27, 2024. For more information, please read the official guidance on GOV.UK. It costs £10 to apply for an ETA (approx $27 BBD). An ETA is valid for two years or until the expiration date of the passport (whichever is sooner).

Airlines have a responsibility to deny boarding to any foreign national who is not able to prove that they have permission to travel to the United Kingdom.

Please note an ETA only gives the applicant permission to travel to the United Kingdom. All persons in receipt of an ETA are still assessed by UK Border Force on arrival, and are granted or denied entry in accordance with the immigration rules.

Barbadians which are granted entry for tourism purposes, or to see friends or family, can usually stay in the United Kingdom for that purpose for up to six months a year. However, the maximum period of time granted to a person who has permission to enter the United Kingdom is at the discretion of UK Border Force. Six months a year represents the maximum permitted by law.

Foreign nationals who frequently visit the United Kingdom for long periods of time may be denied entry or questioned by UK Border Force in order to satisfy the authorities that they are not attempting to live in the United Kingdom, or undertake activities that visitors are not permitted to do (e.g. work).

On August 1, 2022, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Mia Mottley, M.P., announced a reduced VAT rate of 7.5% on the first 250 kWh of electricity per month, for residential properties. This relief has continued to be extended, most recently until September 30, 2024.

On September 30, 2024, the Minister within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Hon. Ryan Straughn, M.P., announced in the House of Assembly that the relief will be further extended until March 31, 2025.

During this time, residential properties will continue to be charged a reduced VAT rate of 7.5% on the first 250 kWh of electricity per month, with any amount in excess thereof charged at the normal VAT rate of 17.5%.

Residents in St. Lucy are advised to boil their tap water before use as the local water supply may be contaminated due to recent floods.

Routine post-flood testing of the water supply by the Barbados Water Authority has shown an increased presence of brown water, which suggests the possibility of infiltration of flood water into the distribution system.

As a precaution, the Barbados Water Authority has increased chlorination of the local water supply. Residents may detect a slight bleach-like taste to their water supply even after boiling.

Persons in St. Lucy should continue to boil their tap water before use until the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the Barbados Water Authority, advise otherwise.

From September 15, 2024, police officers will no longer attend vehicular accidents except in cases of serious injuries, fatalities, mass casualty events, breaches of the peace, refusals to exchange information, pedestrian-involved accidents, suspected criminality, or where persons involved in a vehicular accident are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

On average, the Barbados Police Service loses 70,000 man hours each year from officers having to attend vehicular accidents. According to the President of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, 90% of accidents do not require a police report.

These changes mean that, in most cases, drivers involved in a vehicular accident will no longer need to wait for the police to arrive. This will reduce the amount of time persons have to wait after being involved in a collision before being able to leave the scene. It will also allow the Barbados Police Service to better allocate its limited resources to ensure that officers are able to arrive at more serious vehicular accidents quickly, and to tackle serious crime.

Insurance company accident investigators have been trained by the Barbados Police Service at the Regional Police Training Centre to ensure that the required information is gathered at the scene of a vehicular accident to facilitate any potential civil action that may arise between the parties involved.

Members of the public are advised that the Barbados Licensing Authority has temporarily suspended the printing of driving licence cards until further notice.

Persons that need to renew their driving licence with the Barbados Revenue Authority should proceed as normal. During the period in which printing is suspended, drivers are advised to keep the payment receipt along with the expired driving licence card.

For those who are travelling and need to renew their licence to drive overseas can request a Driving Record Letter from the Barbados Licensing Authority after renewing their driving licence with the Barbados Revenue Authority.

International Driving Permits continue to be available as normal from the Barbados Licensing Authority location at The Pine, St. Michael.

Update #1 – August 20th, 2024:

Printing has resumed for the following cases:

• persons who are first time card holders;
• persons who require international driving licences;
• persons who require the replacement of lost licences; and
• persons who are transferring from an overseas driving licence.

Those to whom any of these cases apply are advised to bring their receipts and a valid form of identification to the Barbados Licensing Authority at The Pine, St. Michael.

Persons requesting international driving licences must produce their travel itinerary along with their receipt and a valid form of identification. For those who are transferring to a Barbadian driving licence must also present their overseas driving licence.

The Government of Barbados announced, as at April 30th, 2024, a total of 5,164 applications have been received under the Welcome Stamp visa programme since its inception. Among the applications received, 3,058 have been approved, signifying an overall acceptance rate of 59%.

Since the last review in December 2023, a total of 227 applications were received and of which 93 were approved, signifying an acceptance rate of 40%.

The top leading countries were the United States, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Canada, India and the Republic of Ireland.

In July, 2021, the Remote Employment Act, 2020 was amended to allow persons on the Welcome Stamp to apply for a renewal of their visa, for a further 12 months, at a 25% discount on the visa application fee.

Persons who wish to apply for a renewal of their Welcome Stamp visa can do so by visiting the official website.^‍

Please be advised that the Barbados Water Authority is installing a new metre at Canefield, St. Thomas between 1 PM and 5 PM on Friday, June 26, 2024.

Residents in the following areas will be affected: Canefield, Mount Misery, Porey Spring, Church Gap, Highway D, Highway C, Yearwood Road, Plum Tree, Blunts, Airy Cot, White Hill, Mose Bottom, Turners Hall and surrounding areas.

During this time, residents in the affected areas will experience low or no water. Persons are advised to store an adequate supply of water ahead of the maintenance window.

The Barbados Water Authority apologises for any inconvenience the work may cause.

Please be advised there are two upcoming bank holidays, during which many businesses will be closed:

Emancipation Day on the 1st August, 2024.

Kadooment Day on the 5th August, 2024.

We would like to remind visitors and residents that hurricane season officially starts June 1st, 2024, and runs through to November 30th, 2024. While the likelihood of a hurricane directly impacting Barbados is low, it always remains a possibility each year.

In 2021, Barbados was directly hit by a category 1 tropical cyclone, known as Hurricane Elsa. A few weeks before, a sudden 'freak storm' caused damage to dozens of homes across Barbados.

Please make sure you are prepared for the hurricane season. Familiarise yourself with the Emergency Shelters List for 2024, published by the Department of Emergency Management.

Make sure you have adequate supplies, including non-perishable foodstuffs and potable water that will last you and your family for a minimum of two (2) weeks. See page 29 of the shelters list for a detailed list of supplies you should have as part of your Disaster Emergency Kit.

In addition to hurricane preparedness, you should also be mindful that Barbados lies within an area of relatively high earthquake activity and therefore can be impacted by tsunamis at any time during the year. Always obey the 'natural signs', that is to say:

Persons are advised that a low pressure area centred in the far north Atlantic is predicted to cause large northerly swells propagating southward into the eastern Caribbean waters, affecting the western coastlines of Barbados on March 12th, 2024 and March 13th, 2024.

The Barbados Meteorological Services advises beachgoers and small-craft operators to exercise caution on western coastlines. Beachgoers should use beaches with on-duty lifeguards.

Choppy sea conditions with swells ranging from 1½ to 2 metres (5 to 7 ft) are expected on the western coastlines on Tuesday, March 12th, 2024 and Wednesday March 13th, 2024.