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Caricom member
Hi all! I currently have a USA passport (through birth), UK (through descent) and a Jamaican passport (through marriage). My family and I are looking to relocate to Barbados. I’ve been trying to do some research re: ability to live/work in Barbados but slightly confused. As a citizen of a Caricom state, can I live and work in Barbados without needing a work permit? - that whole process seems overly long winded! Even as a Caricom member, I imagine that my time on the island may be limited? What are the chances of eventually getting permanent residency/leave to remain? I will be bringing my 2 year old with us so keen on getting settled with the peace of mind that we won’t be turned on when least expected! I thank you all for your expert advice in advance! |
Re: Caricom member
I've listed below the information I've found. Long and not easy.. You can't just move here. and yes.. overly long winded but it does happen. You are Caricom by Marriage.. don't know if that plays into any of the considerations . .I think once you have the skills certificate and the permissions, you aren't limited by time.
I need to state very clearly as well.. Barbados, at this time, is NOT the paradise some wish it to be. We had a heard 10 years of government and are in our 2nd year of the "turn around" with a new government. Prices of food is nigh.. petrol/gas is about the 3rd highest in the world and the list goes on. Think very clearly and logically and knowing whether or not it's actually worth it and do you have the skill set that will be hired on the island AND give you a decent income. (and pay rates here aren't great either.. so.. ).. https://www.foreign.gov.bb/foreign-r...rk-in-barbados Caricom Skilled Nationals the requirements for application .. The form is listed on right right side of the page and can be downloaded as a PDF. https://bac.gov.bb/Services/SkillsCertificate/ give an explanation to the need for a certificate, but not necessarily a work permit. however. https://bac.gov.bb/Services/SkillsCe...nition-of.aspx If any of the above wage earners wish to work in another Member State, he/she must first obtain a Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification (CARICOM Skills Certificate) from the competent authority in either his/her home, host country or another CARICOM Member State. |
Re: Caricom member
Thank you for your reply! Very helpful. In terms of my skill - I’m a British trained GP. I’ve spoken to a few doctors who work in Barbados and I am aware that there is a need for more/good ones and I have contacted the health ministry to get the ball rolling. My husband is a construction project manager and we are also aware that there is a need for them as well. We have just returned from a month in Barbados. Food prices are very high! Didn’t find gas that terrible but then again we live in London whereby it’s extortionately high. Cars seem to be v. expensive too but that is the case in all Caribbean countries. We are definitely not naive and think that we will be living in “paradise” without any difficulties. We do however feel that we will have a more balanced life living in the Caribbean, even if we have less disposable income. In regards to the new government, how are people on the ground finding it? One of our Barbadian friends stated that she was happy with the new government with the previous one being fairly corrupt and embezzling public funds etc. Do you feel the same way? Do you see things changing in a positive direction? Would love to hear your thoughts. |
Re: Caricom member
I'll start with the "my thoughts" first. it's like a breath of fresh air.. this new government.. however.. it's till egg shells. WE.. all a we.. citizens, residents, caricom and tourits are ALL paying for the previous government.. and this isn't going away anytime soon, unless someone can squeeze the money out of Stinkler and Froon (reference to our former Min of Finance and the PM) which isn't likely to happen. Gas prices are HIGH.. (and it's possible going up over 4.00bbd per liter tonight.. we shall see.. it's usually the 1st Sunday night of the month. and it's almost at 4.00bbd anyway..
Well ok.. so. re the jobs. We do need more medical professionals. but what we really need are more doctors willing to work at the hospital, Emergency services and some cleaning and better facilities (going through it at the moment with my brother in law.. ).. AND.. people. .who want to work and do the job.. honest. (husband saw 3 orderlies in the ER section on Friday .. 2 were wearing their pants down below their underwear and were having a conversation like they were in a rum shop.. the 3rd one was trying to get them to get back to work.. really.. ) . of course that's everywhere.. and actually maybe not.in great need of medical professionals. we have lots of up and coming young students training to be doctors.. however.. no idea if they are ever coming back to Barbados to practice. and we need specializations ... 3 urologists on the island. 2 neurologists on the island. 1 MRI machine (privately owned .. so.. if you have an emergency.. well..) .. are you sure you want to work here??? Not sure about the construction project managers positions?!?!! I know the firms that do construction. and maybe they do need them.. but not sure about that.. Anyway. good your head isn't in the clouds about living and working here.. yes.. likely a better family life.. less road time.. to and from work.. more time to spend as a family. and it's warmer and doesn't snow.. so that helps.. Hehehe.. Keep us posted. |
Re: Caricom member
Can i ask the op - why barbados? I have nothing against the place but objectively i wouldnt choose it unless i had a personal connection. There are nicer cheaper and more incomer friendly places to move to in the caribbean? |
Re: Caricom member
What He Said!!! :goodpost: and you know.. I live in Barbados.. but still. and really haven never looked to go anywhere else. . I always viewed Barbados as 1st world ,(good infrastructure.. good governance.. good all sorts of things).. rather than 3rd world country.. however. after 26 years of being here and a bajan husband saying.. "how do we leave??"..
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Re: Caricom member
Originally Posted by Sunniebgi
(Post 12708008)
What He Said!!! :goodpost: and you know.. I live in Barbados.. but still. and really haven never looked to go anywhere else. . I always viewed Barbados as 1st world ,(good infrastructure.. good governance.. good all sorts of things).. rather than 3rd world country.. however. after 26 years of being here and a bajan husband saying.. "how do we leave??"..
Having lived in multiple islands and having friends from or on most of them, i know more... I have seen the mentalities, the big cost differences, the places that seem to have more people who hate outsiders or people of different whatever. Objectively - an american who wrote several ‘how to retire etc in the caribbean’ books got it right. Look at an islands education system - believe me, you want smart plumbers cleaners gardeners civil servants and shopkeepers Accept the rules imposed and limitations of climate infrastructure taxes/duties and shipping, they arent going to change for you. If you cant be like a local in most ways, accept that you wont ever be of the place but always an outsider, but that is probably ok if its a big place and you have lots of local friends who are like you. Being a tourist is never anything like living there, always test the water risk free for a year or more before you invest your time energy money etc and actually move. Incidentally my current home fits most attributes but its a balancing act. I also love living where local agriculture is excellent and produces a lot of what is consumed. |
Re: Caricom member
A few months ago I re-read the novel "Don't Stop the Carnival", and chuckled through it. A bit exaggerated, but not as much as strangers might think! Ever read it, grenada?
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Re: Caricom member
No |
Re: Caricom member
Originally Posted by uk_grenada
(Post 12707938)
Can i ask the op - why barbados? I have nothing against the place but objectively i wouldnt choose it unless i had a personal connection. There are nicer cheaper and more incomer friendly places to move to in the caribbean? You all have made the move so clearly it can't be that bad. Which Island would you suggest is cheaper and more incomer friendly uk_grenada? |
Re: Caricom member
I chose here - Grenada. I would say Dominica or the ABC’s are also a good option. Its about quality if lufe but thats complex This is is in about order of importance to me Security/crime - we don’t have a problem at all. Even petty crime is low, the police might not always be honest but they are a force not a service and bad guys really do fear them. local infrastructure and food. We can be self sufficient, farming is excellent and local fruit/veg always available and good, but equally I can buy British or American fresh and other stuff (tesco and Waitrose) in our local supermarkets. Power works well but is expensive, we have abundant good water by being a tall island with a rainforest interior, you can buy anything - just not 19 varieties, but don’t import furniture as local carpenters and teak are cheaper. Being south is a bonus, almost all hurricanes are north of us Cost of living is about the same as the uk overall if you live and consume well and use imported stuff a lot. If you choose more local living it costs a lot less. Fuel and local employees a lot less (1000 EC a month for a daily housekeeper). Houses are cheap, 3 bed 2,bath on an acre with pool somewhere very pleasant overlooking the sea, maybe 250-300k pounds, less away from the capital Transport links - direct to uk or us or anywhere local reasonably cheaply via Trinidad which is next door. |
Re: Caricom member
Clearly Jamaica, Trinidad and a few other places have dangerous areas, and there people with money are targeted. This is also becoming an issue in St Lucia, St Vincent, the Dom Rep and a few other places. A few places are just too dry for my preference - Antigua Barbados and most if the abc’s. The cost of living is high here in some ways, but on some islands it seems high in all ways. The French islands seem that way inclined. You have to build it buy or buy and refurb a house. Can you get good safe builders and lawyers or are they mostly crooks? I think you can fall foul of that anywhere and solid recommendation is a partial cure but caveat emptor! Which islands hate incomers? Well I have a lot of friends born on other islands. The main islands criticised are the French ones (not a surprise, the French in France hate everyone too), Barbados (the way I hear it, from locals, every colour and class group hates each other more passionately there than is usual) and Caymans (where it seems govt policy?!) Here it’s not such an issue, people are however conservative- olde worlde polite and good manners are both expected and shown almost universally. |
Re: Caricom member
Some of the really small islands don’t want inconers and some don’t even want tourists. I think it was bequea or mustique? . That decided not to expand its airport to allow bigger planes- local landowners are the govt and they don’t want any more people and don’t need tourist income. Some islands don’t allow anyone without connection to reside, some only allow it if you pay bigtime. Here the cost of citizenship is 250k us, but you can reside for very little if you follow the rules and can support yourself. |
Re: Caricom member
Thank you uk_grenada for your posts! Although we have Grenadian friends, we have never actually visited so it might be worth looking into it. Classism/colourism is an unfortunate post-colonialism scar which I have definitely noticed in both Jamaica and Barbados. Perhaps I just haven’t focused on it but something to consider! Being of black-Caribbean descent I feel that we are use to the whole “red-skinned”, “black”, “brown” divide but something worth thinking about when you are living it day by day. Would be interested in your views on some of the negatives to Grenada. One for me would be oil-down lol! Can’t get my taste-buds to like it :-) |
Re: Caricom member
The negatives for Grenada- it’s not the cheapest place to live, duties on cars can be ridiculous at 70-100% but that’s offset by very cheap local food and fairly cheap petrol. Fish and meat prices in markets are govt controlled as is fuel. 20lb gas cylibders are 40ec, petrol is about half the uk, small fish 5ec/lb, big fish 8ec. House and land is I think reasonably cheap. Because we are bext to trinidad flights there are cheap and from there you can go anywhere. The roads are poor, and there is poverty but nobody starved and even the meanest board house has immaculate children going to school. The health system is good for primary care and ok for accidents and some specialists but if you need a specialist often just go to the uk or states or Trinidad. Booze is ridiculously cheap and the laws are very relaxed on drunk driving so one is very careful at night. Government services are efficient but slow... Post is very slow but dhl is efficient. Thats about it really. People are very friendly generally to others including tourists. oul down - there are loads of recipes, I don’t like the saltfish and chicken variety but saltfish or chicken is fine by me - just not too maby dumplings. If you don’t like that we have excellent fish, sushi, every sort of restaurant under the sun really. Fusion tapas at the Calabash are world class, lobster mac and cheese or local ribs in sugar rum glaze, local lamb kebabs,Cajun lionfih? I don’t know if it’s the same in Barbados but we have a lot of Goan or Kerala style food - source if some of the indentured Indians I believe. |
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