Moving to Barbados: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

294,560

Population Growth Rate

0.34%

Urban Population

44.400000

Population in Major Urban Areas

BRIDGETOWN (capital) 122,000

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Age Structure

18.130000

Median Age

37.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

12

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

8.4

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.68

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.010000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.3

Ethnic Groups

Black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

Nationality Noun

Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)

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Literacy - total population

99.7%

Literacy - male

99.7%

Literacy - female

99.7%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over has ever attended school

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.6%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

15.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

74.750000

Infant Mortality Rate

11.130000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

11.130000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

51

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.81

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

6.6

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

7.7%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

34.7%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

99.800000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

91.600000

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Economic Overview

Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region.

Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities.

However, in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism.

Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce.

Following the 2008-09 recession, external vulnerabilities such as fluctuations in international oil prices have hurt economic growth, raised Barbados' already high public debt to GDP ratio - which stood at 105% of GDP in 2016 - and cut into its international reserves.

Industries

Tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$3,700,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$17,200.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7%

GDP - official exchange rate

$4,473,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 82.5% Government
• Consumption: 14.3% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 14.4% Investment in
• Inventories: 3.2% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 35.1% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -49.5%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

2.8%

GDP by Sector- Industry

11.7%

GDP by Sector- services

85.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

-1%

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Inflation Rate

1.3%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

2

Currency Name and Code

Barbadian dollars (BBD)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

8.1%

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Labor Force

142,500

Unemployment Rate

11%

Major Industries

Tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Agriculture Products

Sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

10%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

15%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

75%

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Annual Budget

$1,200,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

108.9%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-6.7%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

26.8%

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Full Country Name

none

Country Name

Barbados

Etymology- history of name

the name derives from the Portuguese "as barbadas," which means "the bearded ones" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the indigenous Carib inhabitants

Independence

30 November 1966 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

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Government Type

parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm

Constitution

• history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council
• amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2021
• note: following the transition to a republic in November 2021, the Government of Barbados in February 2022 began the process of establishing a constitution commission to review a new draft constitution

Legal System:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021) previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022)
• head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
• elections/appointments: president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; election last held on 20 October 2021; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
• election results: Sandra MASON elected as first president on 20 October 2021

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (21 seats statutory - 19 current; members appointed by the president - 12 on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at the discretion of the president; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: Senate - last appointments on 4 February 2022 (next appointments in February 2027) House of Assembly - last held on 19 January 2022 (next to be held in January 2027)
• Election Results: Senate - appointed; composition as of August 2023 - men 11, women 8, percent of women 42.1% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - BLP 69%, DLP 26.5%, other 4.5%; seats by party - BLP 30; composition as of August 2023 - men 22, women 8, percent of women 26.7%;
• Note: total Parliament percent of women 32.7%
• Note: tradition dictates that the next election is held within 5 years of the last election, but constitutionally it is 5 years from the first seating of Parliament plus a 90-day grace period

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and presidential appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
• subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts

Regions or States:

• Summary: 11 parishes and 1 city*
• Bridgetown*
• Christ Church
• Saint Andrew
• Saint George
• Saint James
• Saint John
• Saint Joseph
• Saint Lucy
• Saint Michael
• Saint Peter
• Saint Philip
• Saint Thomas

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Alliance Party for Progress or APP [Joseph ATHERLEY]
• Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]
• Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Ronnie YEARWOOD]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by descent
• only: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

Capital Name

Bridgetown

Capital - geographic coordinate

13 06 N, 59 37 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AOSIS
• Caricom
• CDB
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IADB
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAES
• MIGA
• NAM
• OAS
• OPANAL
• OPCW
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNIDO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Roger F. NYHUS (since 19 January 2024) note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Embassy: Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.
• Mailing Address: 3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120
• Telephone: (246) 227-4000
• FAX: (246) 431-0179
• Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov
• Website: https://bb.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)
• Chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
• FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
• Email: washington@foreign.gov.bb
• Website: https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
• Consulate(s) General: Miami, New York

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Geographic Location

The Caribbean

Geographic Coordinates

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Total Area

166 Square Miles 430 Square Kilometers

Land Area

166 Square Miles 430 Square Kilometers

Coastline

60 Miles 97 Kilometers

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Terrain

Relatively flat; rises gently to a central highland region

Highest Point

336 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mount Hillaby 336 m

Lowest Point Location

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Petroleum, fish, natural gas

Irrigated Land

21 Square Miles 54 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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Climate

The temperature in Barbados varies little during the year, averaging about 77°F (25°C) and rarely rising above 89°F (32°C) or falling below 65°F (18°C).

However, the intensity of the sun this near to the Equator often makes it seem much hotter, especially when combined with high humidity.

During July through October, the rainy season as well as the hurricane season, high humidity levels make the weather quite uncomfortable.

During the dry winter months from November through May, which is the tourist season, it is more comfortable and can even become cool in the evenings.

However, even in these months a significant amount of rain can fall.

Terrain

Relatively flat; rises gently to a central highland region

Location

The Caribbean, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Total Area

166 Square Miles 430 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

• Pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships
• soil erosion
• illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$446,700,000 (USD)

Imports

$1,575,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Manufactures, sugar, molasses, rum, other foodstuffs and beverages, chemicals, electrical components

Major Imports

Consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Top Export Partners

Trinidad and Tobago 22.5%, United States 11.8%, St. Lucia 9.2%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.7%, St. Kitts and Nevis 4.4%, Guyana 4.2%

Top Import Partners

Trinidad and Tobago 39%, United States 31.1%

Export Partners

Trinidad and Tobago 22.5%, United States 11.8%, St. Lucia 9.2%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.7%, St. Kitts and Nevis 4.4%, Guyana 4.2%

Import Partners

Trinidad and Tobago 39%, United States 31.1%

Country Description

Barbados is an independent Caribbean island nation with a developed economy.

The capital is Bridgetown.

Facilities for tourism are widely available.

The U.S.

Embassy in Barbados has consular responsibility for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St.

Kitts, and Nevis, St.

Lucia, St.

Vincent, and the Grenadines, as well as the British dependent territories of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat, and the French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, St.

Barthélemy and St.

Martin.

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Crime

Crime in Barbados is characterized primarily by petty theft and street crime.

Incidents of violent crime, including rape, do occur.

Visitors should be especially vigilant on the beaches at night.

In 2012 several female tourists were reportedly sexually assaulted in separate attacks while walking alone in the Holetown area on the West Coast of Barbados.

As always, visitors to and residents in Barbados should always be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution, especially when walking alone and even during the day.

If walking alone, avoid secluded areas.

Always secure valuables in a hotel safe, and always lock and secure a hotel room and rental home doors and windows.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Barbados, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Barbados, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Barbados laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Barbados are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

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Medical Facilities

The main medical facility in Barbados is Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Medical care is good for the region, but medical transport can take hours to respond and ambulance attendants are prohibited from applying lifesaving techniques during transport.

Minor problems requiring a visit to the emergency room can involve a wait of several hours; private clinics and physicians offer speedier service.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars.

Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.

U.S.

Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions While in Barbados, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving in Barbados is on the left-hand side of the road.

Registered taxis and large public buses are generally safe.

Private vans and small buses are often crowded and tend to travel at excessive speeds.

Travelers are cautioned against riding in private mini-buses, known as “Z buses”, as the owners frequently drive erratically.

Night driving should be done with caution because of narrow roads with no shoulders and pedestrian/bicycle traffic.

Visitors are warned to be extremely careful when driving, riding in a vehicle, or crossing roads on foot.

Traffic Safety

While in Barbados, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Driving in Barbados is on the left-hand side of the road.

Registered taxis and large public buses are generally safe.

Private vans and small buses are often crowded and tend to travel at excessive speeds.

Travelers are cautioned against riding in private mini-buses, known as “Z buses”, as the owners frequently drive erratically.

Night driving should be done with caution because of narrow roads with no shoulders and pedestrian/bicycle traffic.

Visitors are warned to be extremely careful when driving, riding in a vehicle, or crossing roads on foot.

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Airports - total

1

Airports with Paved Runways

1

Roadways- total

994 Miles 1,600 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

1,025 Miles 1,650 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)

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Pipelines: Gas

21 Miles 33 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

40 Miles 64 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

4 Miles 6 Kilometers

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Telephones

135,700

Cell Phones

237,100

Internet Users

160,000

Internet Country Code

.bb

Internet Hosts

1,508

Broadcast Media

• Government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station
• CBC also operates a multi-channel cable TV subscription service
• roughly a dozen radio stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network operating alongside privately-owned radio stations

Telephone System

• Assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system
• Domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons
• International: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

939,900,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,003,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

20,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

20,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

113,300,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

8,339

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

764.5

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

2,260,000

Anthem Lyrics

In plenty and in time of need When this fair land was young Our brave forefathers sowed the seed From which our pride has sprung A pride that makes no wanton boast Of what it has withstood That binds our hearts from coast to coast The pride of nationhood chorus We loyal sons and daughters all Do hereby make it known These fields and hills beyond recall Are now our very own We write our names on history's page With expectations great Strict guardians of our heritage Firm craftsmen of our fate The Lord has been the people's guide For past three hundred years.

With Him still on the people's side We have no doubts or fears.

Upward and onward we shall go, Inspired, exulting, free, And greater will our nation grow In strength and unity.