Upon arriving, you need to present your immigration and travel documents to the Immigration Officials at the Barbados Grantley Adams International Airport.

Immigration Officials can refuse your entry into Barbados for a variety of reasons.

As part of your travel preparations, you must provide the necessary paperwork to make your entry into Barbados as smooth as possible. 

What documents do I need to Enter Barbados

Your first step is to ensure you have the following:

— valid passport
— valid return ticket out of the island
— entry visa (if required – see below)
— your intended address in Barbados
— arrival card (you will generally receive this on your flight to Barbados) contains details of your arrival to and departure from the island, e.g., airline details, your port of final destination, and so on)
— upon request, evidence to demonstrate means of ‘personal support’ (i.e., that you have the financial ways to support yourself for the duration of your stay). 

HINT: a personal bank statement should suffice

— Children under 18 traveling without a parent/guardian must have a letter of authorization from their parent/guardian.

Immigration Requirements

So, have you decided to visit the beautiful island paradise of Barbados? Firstly, let us congratulate you on a fabulous choice of travel destination. Whether your visit is for work or play, you won’t regret it!

Visa Requirements

Upon your arrival in Barbados, Immigration Officials will generally grant you a visitor’s visa stamp in your passport, which is valid for 28 days. 

However, this is not guaranteed, and some visiting foreign nationals are additionally required to present an entry visa to gain permission to enter the island.

It is also worth noting that there are particular arrangements between Barbados and certain countries regarding the length of stay you can request at Immigration. 

It’s always best to check with the embassy of your home country and the Barbados Immigration Department before you travel, and never make assumptions.

Remember, Immigration Officials can refuse your entry into Barbados for various reasons.

To confirm if you require an entry visa to travel to Barbados, please check the drop-down box at the bottom of this webpage, where you can type in your nationality, which will display your specific visa requirements.

Please note that when you must present an entry visa on arrival in Barbados, your visa application should be submitted for processing and granted before booking your trip and confirming any travel arrangements.

Entry visa application forms can be obtained from any of the Barbados Tourism Authority offices and consulates overseas or downloaded from https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Visa_Requirements.aspx

These forms are to be completed and signed and must include a passport-size photograph, amongst other documentation, as specified on the Barbados Immigration Department website: https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/ 

According to the site, entry visa fees are as follows:

— Single Entry Visa: US $107/person

— Multiple Entry Visa: the US $211/person

NOTE: Possessing a visa to enter Barbados does not guarantee entry into the island. Permission to come can only be granted by the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

Cruise Ship Passengers

Cruise Ship Passengers do not generally require a visa to enter Barbados if ‘in transit,’ i.e., if you stay on the island for less than 12 daylight hours. Please confirm with your travel agent, cruise liner, and the Barbados Immigration Department before commencing your travels.

TIP: For further information on the above, check out the ‘Visitors to Barbados’ and ‘Visa Requirements’ links on the Barbados Immigration Department website.

Specialty Visas

Depending on your circumstances, there are other more specified visas you may wish to apply for:

— ‘Student Visa’ for those wishing to pursue a course of study in Barbados https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/StudentVisa.aspx

— Special Entry Permit: https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/SpecialEntryPermit.aspx

— registration as a ‘CARICOM Skilled National’ for employment purposes if you are a citizen of any CARICOM (Caribbean Community) member state (www.immigration.gov.bb). For a complete list of CARICOM members and associate member states, please refer to the CARICOM website at www.caricom.org.

Extension Of Stay

We all know that people become obsessed with our beautiful island, so it’s not uncommon for travelers to decide to stay a little longer than they had initially anticipated.

Should you wish to extend your time in Barbados, the Chief of Immigration must approve this extension. You must travel to our Immigration Department in Bridgetown (please see the bottom of this article for complete address and contact details).

You can also collect an extension or ‘variation of stay in Barbados’ form (you can also download it from https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Extension.aspx.

You can apply for an extension via the Barbados Immigration Department – tel +1 246-426-1011, Email them at [email protected], or visit them online at https://immigration.gov.bb/pages/Extension.aspx.

Once approved, a stamp is placed on your passport.

It is an offense to overstay the entry period granted or to work on the island without a work permit.

Your application should consist of:

— a passport photo

— $100BBD (approximately $50USD)

— a valid return ticket

— evidence of your financial support for the duration of your extended stay.

For complete documentation requirements for extensions of stay applications, please refer to the Barbados Immigration Department website.

NOTE: All of the above information on Totally Barbados is assumed accurate at the time of posting (November 2015); however, please always check with our Immigration Department website for the most up-to-date information.

You can also contact the Barbados Immigration Department at 1-800-268-9122 or locally at (246) 434-4100. 

Alternatively, you can write to:

The Chief Immigration Officer
Barbados Immigration Department
‘Careenage House,’ The Wharf
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados, West Indies