Find out what's happening around Barbados.
Persons who are self-employed are reminded that National Insurance contributions for 2025 are due by January 15th, 2026.
Self-employed individuals are required to contribute a minimum of $1,200 per year, regardless of their income level, in accordance with the Third Schedule to the National Insurance and Social Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023.
Persons who are registered under the Profession, Trade and Business Registration Act, Cap. 373 are reminded that the deadline for renewing their registration and paying the prescribed annual fee is January 31st, 2026. Any person who fails to pay the prescribed fee before the deadline will also be required to pay a penalty of the same amount.
It is now possible to pay the annual licence fee online via EZPay+, the official payment gateway of the Barbados Government.
Please note it is not possible to use EZPay+ for first time registrations. Persons who are not registered will need to attend in person to have their documentation authenticated and to pay the prescribed fee.
For first time registrations with the Registrar of the Supreme Court, visit the Registration Department at Whitepark Road.
For first time registrations with the Chief Labour Officer, visit the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector at the Warrens Office Complex.
If you are self-employed, learn more about professional registration to determine if you need to register under the Act.
The Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, under the powers conferred on him by Section 6(1) of the Minimum Wage Act, 2017 proposes to increase the National Minimum Wage from January 21st, 2026 as follows:
Security guards: $11.66 per hour
All other workers: $10.71 per hour
The minimum overtime rate of pay shall be 150% of the employee's ordinary rate of pay.
The minimum rate of pay on a Public Holiday shall be 200% of the employee's ordinary rate of pay.
It is proposed that overtime pay shall be based as a percentage of the employee's ordinary rate of pay rather than as a percentage of the minimum wage itself. For employees on the minimum wage, this is a technical distinction only. However, for employees that earn more than the minimum wage, their overtime pay will be required to be calculated from their ordinary rate of pay and not from the minimum wage.
For more information, please review the draft regulations.
The Minister responsible for Energy and Business, under the powers conferred on her by Section 3 of the Miscellaneous Controls Act, Cap. 329, has reduced the retail price of gasoline (petrol) to $3.85 per litre, and the retail price of diesel to $3.32 per litre. The retail price of kerosene has been increased to $1.56 per litre.
These price adjustments are effective from Monday, December 8th, 2025.
The Minister responsible for Energy and Business, under the powers conferred on her by Section 3 of the Miscellaneous Controls Act, Cap. 329, has reduced the retail price of gasoline (petrol) to $3.94 per litre, and increased the retail price of diesel to $3.36 per litre, and kerosene to $1.51 per litre.
These price adjustments are effective from Monday, November 3rd, 2025.
The Minister responsible for Energy and Business, under the powers conferred on her by Section 3 of the Miscellaneous Controls Act, Cap. 329, has reduced the retail price of gasoline (petrol) to $3.95 per litre, and the retail price of diesel to $3.34 per litre. The retail price of kerosene has increased to $1.48 per litre.
These price adjustments are effective from Monday, October 6th, 2025.
The Government of Barbados has announced that the Vehicle Rental Levy will take effect from October 15th, 2025. When the Levy was originally announced, the rate was set at $10 per day. However, the government has announced that the rate of the Levy will be $5 per day, up to a maximum of 7 days. This means the Levy will be capped at $35 per rental agreement, regardless of the length of the contract.
Once the Levy comes into force, visitor pemits will be abolished, but a valid domestic or foreign driving licence will still be required to drive in Barbados.
Please note the Levy will apply to both visitors and residents alike, whether they have a domestic or foreign driving licence, if they are renting a vehicle.
From October 1st, 2025, citizens of Belize, Dominica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines may live, work and retire in Barbados indefinitely under the freedom of movement. No visa or permit is required.
Likewise, citizens of Barbados may live, work and retire in the aforementioned countries from October 1st, 2025 under the freedom of movement.
The authorities of the aforementioned countries have the right to deport, or deny entry to, a person entitled to exercise the freedom of movement if that person:
The Government of Barbados has postponed the enforcement of the Vehicle Rental Levy until October 1, 2025. Until the Levy comes into force, it remains a legal requirement for visitors to have a Visitor Driving Permit to drive in Barbados using a valid foreign driving licence. The cost of a visitor permit is $10 for two months, or $100 for one year.
Once the Levy comes into force, visitor pemits will be abolished, but a valid domestic or foreign driving licence will still be required to drive in Barbados.
Please note the Levy will apply to both visitors and residents alike, whether they have a domestic or foreign driving licence, if they are renting a vehicle.
Update: The Vehicle Rental Levy will take effect from October 15th, 2025 at a rate of $5 per day, capped at 7 days per rental agreement.
We would like to remind residents and visitors that hurricane season officially starts June 1st, 2025, and runs through to November 30th, 2025. 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, an unexpected 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 2025, 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:
