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

Immigrant Status

Also known as residency. Learn about the requirements and how to apply.

This is not professional advice. If you need help with an immigration matter, please consult a qualified lawyer.

Table of Contents

Immigrant status is the equivalent of a permanent visa in other jurisdictions. It is not the same as permanent residency, but persons with immigrant status have permission to live and work in Barbados on an indefinite basis.

Requirements for immigrant status

Any person who has been lawfuly residing in Barbados for at least five years will usually be granted immigrant status unless there are reasonable grounds to reject the application.

Any person who has been lawfully residing in Barbados for less than five years may be granted immigrant status if they are a descendant of a Barbadian citizen, or where that person has qualifications and/or experience highly desirable to Barbados. In the latter case, persons are expected to provide a compelling case that would justify the granting of the application.

What constitutes a compelling case is considered on a case by case basis. For example, if a person with highly desirable skills can demonstrate that they are established in Barbados, this may create a compelling case in support of the application.

Persons residing in Barbados for less than five years who are unable to demonstrate a compelling case may be granted permission to reside and work for a period of three years in lieu of immigrant status. This may also apply to foreign nationals seeking a pathway from the Welcome Stamp visa, as such persons are not considered to be established in Barbados.

Documentation that must be furnished

Application fees for immigrant status

There is a non-refundable application fee of BBD $300. If your application is approved, there is a final fee of BBD $1,200. If you are granted permission to reside and work in lieu of immigrant status, the final fee is BBD $1,000. These fees must be paid in person at the Immigration Department. Credit and debit card payments are accepted.

Finding a Justice of the Peace

There should be at least one Justice of the Peace in every local community. You should reach out to your nearest Justice of the Peace to request your documents to be certified.

It is against the law for any person who has been sworn in as a Justice of the Peace to charge, or attempt to charge, members of the public for the certification of official documents.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, credit and debit card payments are accepted.

If you have an Amex or Discover card, please contact the Immigration Department before arriving to verify if your payment method is accepted.

Any person who has been lawfuly residing in Barbados for at least five years will usually be granted immigrant status unless there are reasonable grouds to reject the application. For example, if you reside in Barbados for two years on a Welcome Stamp visa or a work permit, and three years on a reside and work permit, this will be treated as five years' residency.

There is a pathway to permanent residency under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act, Cap. 190 if you have resided in Barbados as an immigrant for at least five (5) years.

If you have been ordinarily resident in Barbados for at least seven years and, within that period, have resided therein for at least five years, you can apply for Barbadian citizenship under Section 4(3) of the Barbados Citizenship Act, Cap. 186 if you are a citizen of a country within the Commonwealth of Nations or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or under Section 7 of that Act if you are a citizen of any other country.

Note: While Rwanda is also a Commonwealth country, the First Schedule to the Barbados Citizenship Act, Cap. 186 has not been updated to include Rwanda on the list. Therefore, Rwandan nationals who are eligible to apply for Barbadian citizenship may need to apply under Section 7 of that Act.