Barbados - the first of many governments to welcome digital nomads post-Covid-19?
The visa landscape is changing post-Covid-19 with governments looking to capitalise on the surge in remote working
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The Barbados government has mooted a 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp to allow visitors the option to work remotely from Barbados for a year at a time, this could boost long-term rental and buyer demand on the island.
Whilst Covid-19 has limited international travel, it has also made remote working in far-flung idylls a reality. Reliable broadband, good transport links and quality healthcare remain the non-negotiables for many considering a move.
Prime prices across Barbados’s South and West Coasts are at their lowest level in a decade and with concerns mounting that winter could bring a second spike to European markets, it seems demand is strengthening. Last week online searches for properties on the island increased 66% week-on-week via Knight Frank’s website.
Barbados has seen 103 confirmed Covid-19 cases and seven deaths according to Johns Hopkins University. The country reopened its borders to international tourists on 12 July with all new arrivals required to present a negative Covid-19 test.
Flights from the UK will resume on 18 July, with British Airways resuming its weekly flight out of London Gatwick, followed by Virgin Atlantic from 1 August departing from London Heathrow.
According to Edward de Mallet Morgan, Head of Caribbean Sales, “With children and parents remote working together, a Barbados lifestyle ticks multiple boxes. One of my clients who has been spending extended time on the island starts work at 4.30am enabling him to join UK video conference calls, before having lunch with the family and enjoying a swim at the end of the day.”
Aside from Barbados, Estonia has also passed a law allowing freelancers a one-year visa. Other countries bereft of tourists and in need of economic stimulus may follow suit.
Top 10 nationalities searching for a Barbados property
1st March - 12 July 2020
| 1 |
United Kingdom |
| 2 |
United States |
| 3 |
Canada |
| 4 |
Barbados |
| 5 |
Sweden |
| 6 |
Denmark |
| 7 |
Ireland |
| 8 |
Germany |
| 9 |
Norway |
| 10 |
Italy |
Source: KnightFrank.com
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