Living in Barbados
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-22)

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Barbados – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

Getting help with living in Barbados

Help from the Barbados government

For any questions about moving to or living in Barbados, you may be able to get help from the:

High Commission for Barbados in the UK (https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/)

Barbados Immigration Department (https://immigration.gov.bb/)

The UK government and the British High Commission in Bridgetown cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Barbados.

Professional help in Barbados

You can also get help from professionals (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad) in Barbados, including:

lawyers

notaries

funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados) to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Barbados. This includes the latest information on:

visas and entry requirements

laws and cultural differences

safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad).

Get help from the UK government abroad (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/), including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados/entry-requirements) before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which visa or residence permit (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/SERVICES.aspx) you need to live in Barbados.

You must get a visa to study or work in Barbados. You may also be eligible for a Special Entry Permit or immigrant status.

If you want to extend or replace your visa (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Extension.aspx), contact the Barbados Immigration Department (https://immigration.gov.bb/).

For more information, contact:

the High Commission for Barbados in the UK (https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/)

a lawyer in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=Barbados)

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Barbados.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read guidance on requirements for permanent resident status (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Permanent_Residence.aspx).

Citizenship

Barbados recognises dual citizenship (https://www.gov.uk/dual-citizenship). This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a citizen of Barbados.

To find out if you’re eligible for citizenship of Barbados:

read guidance on Barbadian citizenship (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Citizenship.aspx)

contact the Barbados Immigration Department (https://immigration.gov.bb/)

Help with visa and residency applications

The British High Commission in Bridgetown cannot help with Barbados visa and residency applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

the Barbados Immigration Department (https://immigration.gov.bb/)

the High Commission for Barbados in the UK (https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/)

a lawyer in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=Barbados)

Passports

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

apply for a British passport from abroad

travel urgently without your British passport

Healthcare in Barbados

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

plan your healthcare

take medicine abroad

Barbados does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK. Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. You can get insurance from private providers.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

contact your insurance provider

read guidance on health in Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados/health)

find medical facilities in Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/barbados-list-of-medical-facilities-practioners)

Working in Barbados

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Barbados, you need a work permit.

The Barbados Immigration Department explains the different work permits (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/WorkPermit.aspx) available to you.

The Barbados welcome stamp programme (https://www.visitbarbados.org/barbados-welcome-stamp) allows you to work remotely in Barbados for up to 12 months.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Barbados, you may need to get your foreign qualifications recognised (https://bac.gov.bb/recognition-of-qualification/).

Driving in Barbados

Read our guidance on moving, living and retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

drive abroad legally

take your UK vehicle abroad

get driving licence letters

To drive in Barbados, you must exchange your UK licence for a Barbadian licence. You can make the exchange at the Barbados Licensing Authority at the Pine. For any questions about exchanging your licence, contact the Barbados Licensing Authority (https://bla.gov.bb/).

For more information on driving and road travel, see safety and security in the travel advice for Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/barbados/safety-and-security).

The Barbados Licencing Authority (https://bla.gov.bb/) provides information on driving in Barbados, including how to:

apply for a Barbadian driving licence (https://bla.gov.bb/servicedetails/RHJpdmVyIExpY2VuY2U=)

apply for a learner’s permit (https://bla.gov.bb/servicedetails/TGVhcm5lciBQZXJtaXQ=)

register a vehicle (https://bla.gov.bb/servicedetails/VmVoaWNsZSBSZWdpc3RyYXRpb24=)

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for a Barbadian disabled parking card (https://barbadosdisabled.org.bb/our-services/parking-id/).

If you have a UK Blue Badge (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/blue-badge-scheme) and live in Barbados, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/barbados-tax-treaties) so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the Barbados Revenue Authority (https://bra.gov.bb/) for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Barbados (https://bra.gov.bb/Popular-Topics/Employed-Retired-Persons/). To do this, find a lawyer in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=Barbados).

Pensions

Claiming your UK State Pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers:

how to claim your UK State Pension

where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Claiming a Barbadian pension

Contact the National Insurance and Social Security Service (https://www.nis.gov.bb/pensioners/) to find out whether you can claim Old Age Pension (https://www.nis.gov.bb/pensioners/) in Barbados.

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

Claiming Barbadian benefits

You may be entitled to some Barbadian benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim:

read guidance on benefits in Barbados (https://www.nis.gov.bb/benefits/)

contact the National Insurance and Social Security Service (https://www.nis.gov.bb/home/)

Buying and renting property in Barbados

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers buying and renting property abroad.

Read the Barbados Revenue Service’s guidance on selling, buying or transferring a property (https://bra.gov.bb/Popular-Topics/Property/Selling-buying-or-transferring-a-Pr).

Contact a lawyer in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=Barbados) you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Barbados

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

vote in UK elections from abroad

register as an overseas voter

Barbadian elections

You may be eligible to vote in Barbadian elections.

Read guidance on:

voting in Barbados (https://www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb/faq/)

registering to vote in Barbados (https://www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb/faqs-about-registration/)

Studying in Barbados

If you plan to study in Barbados, you must meet all visa requirements (https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/StudentVisa.aspx) before you travel.

For more information:

read guidance on travel grants for students studying abroad or on placements (England) (https://www.gov.uk/travel-grants-students-england)

contact your higher education provider in the UK or Barbados

contact the Barbados Ministry of Education, Technical and Vocational Training (https://www.gov.bb/Ministries/education)

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers moving abroad with children, including:

getting permission to take your child abroad

claiming UK Child Benefit abroad

child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The Ministry of Educational Transformation provides information about the schooling system in Barbados (https://mes.gov.bb/Welcome-Stamp/Barbados-Education-System.aspx).

All children aged 5 to 16 must attend school or home school in Barbados.

For more information, read the Ministry of Educational Transformation’s guidance on how to:

enrol your child in school (https://mes.gov.bb/Welcome-Stamp/The-Process.aspx)

apply to homeschool your child (https://mes.gov.bb/Welcome-Stamp/Home-Schooling-Process.aspx)

Childcare

The Barbados Child Care Board (https://childcareboard.gov.bb/) is responsible for childcare services in Barbados.

The Child Care Board will at times hold a list of public daycare centres in Barbados. Contact the Child Care Board for more information.

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Barbados, register the birth with the Barbadian authorities (https://www.gov.bb/Citizens/register-birth).

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to:

register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate

apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers:

what to do after someone dies abroad

how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Barbados, read guidance on:

what to do when someone dies in Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-barbados)

funeral directors in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors)

what to do if someone is murdered or dies in suspicious circumstances in Barbados (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/information-for-bereaved-families-barbados-murder-manslaughter-or-suspicious-deaths)

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

You can also read the Barbadian government’s guidance on getting married in Barbados (https://www.gov.bb/Citizens/marriage-licence).

Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Barbados.

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-living-or-retiring-abroad). This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

Consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in Barbados (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers&country=Barbados).

Documents for British people in Barbados

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/documents-for-british-people-abroad) This covers:

legalising and certifying UK documents

marriage and civil partnership documents

affirmations and affidavits

witnessing signatures

Lawyers and notaries

To find a lawyer or notary in Barbados, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/professional-services-if-you-are-abroad).

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Barbados, read guidance on:

bringing animals into Barbados (https://agriculture.gov.bb/Departments/Veterinary-Services/Bringing-Animals-into-Barbados/)

taking your pet dog, cat or ferret to a non-EU country (https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-a-noneu-country)

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk). This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Barbadian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-commonwealth-development-office-fcdo-consular-information-disclaimer).