Barbados Tourist Visa
You may require a visa. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.
All About the Barbados Visa
Booking a trip to beautiful Barbados? You’ll need to be clear on if you need a visa!
Visitors to this Caribbean island nation must obtain travel authorisation at a Barbadian diplomatic mission unless they come from one of the exempt countries.
Thankfully, citizens of many nations including Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand come under the exempt category. In fact, travellers coming from here can stay for up to 6 months without requiring travel authorisation. If you’re visiting here as an Indian tourist, you can stay for 90 days visa-free.
Even if you don’t require a travel visa to Barbados, you must ensure that you hold a valid passport and a return ticket to be allowed entry to the Land of the flying fish’! Ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay.
As well as attracting tourists from across the globe with its stunning beaches and friendly people, this nation has also started to actively attract remote workers. Digital nomads are drawn by the white sand beaches and its visa policies are becoming more open to match.
Read on for more about securing your travel paperwork to visit this tropical destination!
Contents
Barbados Visa Application Process
Citizens of most countries in the world will not need to obtain a travel visa before travelling to this island paradise. We have an extensive list below of who does and doesn’t so you can see at a glance which category you fall under.
Alternatively, you can use our visa checker:
If you do require authorisation, you will make your application either via mail or at a consulate or mission abroad. In North America, offices can be found in Miami, New York, Ottawa, Toronto and Washington. In Europe, offices can be found in Brussels, Geneva and London.
The process that potential visitors to this nation must follow to secure their paperwork is as follows:
- Download the application form from the Barbados Immigration Department.
- Fill out the form (more details about the information you’ll need to enter into this form below) and gather the relevant supporting documents.
- Send your form and documents by mail to the Immigration Department in Barbados. If you live near one of the cities mentioned above, you can submit it at the consulate.
- Pay the fee (applications will not be accepted if the charge has not been paid).
The corresponding fee can be sent as a postal money order or as a bank draft by courier and addressed to The Chief Immigration Officer.
The mailing address is:
The Chief Immigration Officer
‘Careenage House’
Wharf Road
Bridgetown
St. Michael
Barbados
- Wait to receive your stamp of approval (it will be stamped straight into your passport if it is approved).
Please note, some travel agents will be able to manage your visa application process as well as sorting your accommodation and flights.
Barbados Visa Requirements and Eligibility
Holders of passports issued by the following 141 countries and territories do not require a visa to visit Barbados:
Citizens of these 54 nations can visit for up to 6 months without requiring travel authorisation.
Barbados Visa Free Countries
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Belize
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Dominica
Eswatini
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
New Zealand
Nigeria
Samoa
San Marino
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu
United Kingdom
United States
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia
Zimbabwe
If you’re from one of the nations listed below, you can stay for 90 days visa-free.
*Please note, for citizens of EU countries, it is 1-3 months within 6 months except for Irish nationals.
All European Union citizens*
Argentina
Bahrain
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Chile
Colombia
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Japan
Jordan
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Morocco
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Philippines
Qatar
Russia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
South Korea
Switzerland
Thailand
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Vietnam
Travellers holding a passport from 1 of these 3 countries can stay for 30 days without travel authorisation:
China
Costa Rica
Macau
And the total time permitted is 28 days if you’re a citizen of one of these countries:
Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Cuba
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Russia
Tajikistan
Timor-Leste
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
As well as holding a valid passport you will also need to show evidence of a return ticket.
Countries Eligible for Embassy Visa
Not from one of the countries listed above? Then you will require a visa and you should apply for this via the Barbados Immigration Department.
Citizens of these nations do require travel authorisation and you must apply for this before you book your trip:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Andorra
Angola
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia Herzegovina
Cambodia
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo (Republic of the)
Cook Islands
Côte d’Ivoire
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Honduras
Iran
Iraq
Korea
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Macedonia
Madagascar
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Mongolia
Montenegro
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Pakistan
Palau Islands
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Sao Tome & Principe
Somalia
Sudan & South Sudan
Syria
Taiwan
Togo
Barbados Visa Forms and Documents
Filling out the application form properly is essential to increase the likelihood of your paperwork being processed as quickly as possible. You don’t want anything to get in the way of your holiday to this West Indian haven!
Here is a guide to the information you will have to include when filling out your form.
Personal and passport details
- Name (s).
- Surnames.
- Maiden name (where applicable).
- Date of birth.
- Gender.
- Marital status.
- Place of birth.
- Country of birth.
- (Current) nationality.
- Occupation.
- Passport number.
- Date of issue.
- Date of expiry.
- Place of issue.
- Issuing country.
- Permanent address.
- Have you ever been convicted of any criminal offence (if yes, give details).
Visit information
- Reason for visit.
- Date of arrival.
- Dates of previous visits (if any).
- Means of support.
- Intended address during your visit.
Along with your completed application form, you will also need to submit the following documents (via mail or at the embassy in certain countries):
- Valid passport.
- Passport size photo.
- Cover letter.
- Proof of status in the country where you currently reside (if applicable).
- Bankers draft for the sum of 211 USD (Multiple Entry) or 107 USD (Single Entry).
When you land, you will need to present your valid travel pass, passport and return ticket. You may also be requested at Immigration to show evidence that you have sufficient funds for your trip. A personal bank statement should be sufficient in this instance.
Barbados Visa Status Check and How Long Does It Take to Process
Updates are not typically given on the process of applications. If a fault is found with the documents when they are received the applicant will be immediately contacted by the department to rectify the same.
Wondering how long it takes to obtain your stamp of approval to visit here? The typical processing time to get this paperwork is 3 weeks.
You will not receive updates from the embassy regarding the progress of your application.
If there is an issue with your application, you will be contacted by the consulate to rectify it. So in other words, no news is good news!
You should make your application plenty of time in advance of your planned departure. It is advised not to book flights until your paperwork has been approved.
How Much Is a Visa for Barbados?
The cost to apply for your travel authorisation is an important cost to factor in when planning a trip.
The cost for a Single Entry pass is 107 USD. This allows you to make 1 entry within a 3 month period.
The fee for a Multiple Entry pass is 211 USD. This pass allows the bearer to make numerous entries within a 6 month period.
The Banker’s draft should be addressed to the Chief Immigration Officer and signed and dated.
How Do I Get a Barbados Work Visa?
How you secure authorisation to work here depends on how long you’re planning to work in the country for. Barbados offers 2 different work visa types – short term and long term. The short term option is valid for up to 11 months and must be obtained via the employer on your behalf.
A long term work pass lasts for 3 years, and employees apply for it themselves. There must be evidence that there are no local citizens capable of filling the position.
If you’re looking to live the digital nomad life here, there is also a travel authorisation for remote workers who meet the eligibility criteria.
More Barbados Visa Questions and Information
Here you’ll find more helpful questions and answers to help you plan your travels. We’ve done our best to cover all the most common queries for visitors to this dreamy destination.
