Barbados has approved visa applications for over 2,000 digital nomad workers, who seem to have relocated to the Caribbean island.

Their relocation has come about under Barbados’ Welcome Stamp programme. A statement from the Mia Mottley government pointed out that as of December 31, 2021, some 2,163 applications were approved out of 3,257 received.

The statement from the government explained that most of the digital nomads seeking to relocate to the island are from countries such as the United States, India, Britain, Canada, and Nigeria. However, not all of them are information technology (IT) professionals.

Some of them are working in professions such as finance, marketing, law, and logistics. Barbados in July 2020 introduced the Welcome Stamp programme in which a visa is issued allowing foreign individuals to work remotely on the island for up to 12 months.

One year later, the government amended the country’s employment laws to allow the digital nomads to extend their visas.

According to the government statement, “The Welcome Stamp program seeks to assist in diversifying the Island’s tourism product, attract a new type of visitors, and generate foreign exchange.”

Many countries across the region have launched digital nomad programmes of their own, but they are less likely to become as successful as Barbados some analysts have argued. Unlike many other Caribbean countries, Barbados is relatively safe for foreigners because of its low crime rate.