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workations
WORK, REST and play
Done with working from home or commuting to the office? Then consider a stay in the Caribbean that combines work with leisure and sunshine, suggests Peter Ellegard
H
ow about swapping your dreary home office in the UK with one by a tropical beach – and staying there for up to two years? That’s the lure being offered by several Caribbean destinations and hotels that have launched extended-stay programmes for international visitors to work remotely. In this virtual age of Zoom calls from anywhere, relocating to the Caribbean is now both realistic and attainable. Here are some options to consider.
BARBADoS
Barbados was one of the first to recognise the potential of replacing missing tourist dollars with income from long-stay visitors when it launched The Barbados Welcome Stamp in July 2020. The scheme allows you to live and work remotely in Barbados for up to a year, for a fee of US$2,000 for individuals and US$3,000 for families. You can’t seek new employment in Barbados; rather you must ‘transport’ your current job with you. Applications for the required visa are processed within five days.
monTSeRRAT
Montserrat’s Remote Worker Stamp is a 12-month travel permit which allows
non-nationals who are employed and earn an annual income of US$70,000 to remain for up to a year. Applications cost US$500 or US$750 for families (up to three dependants).
DominicA
Dominica’s extended-stay visa programme, called Work in Nature (WIN) aims to tempt those wanting a healthier work-life balance. Applicants can live and work on the verdant island for up to 18 months. Incentives such as duty-free on selected items and discounts from service providers are also included under the scheme.
AnTiGUA AnD BARBUDA
Antigua and Barbuda’s Business on the Beach campaign specifically targets the UK market, encouraging Brits to swap their morning commute for the sunshine and 365 palm-fringed beaches of the twin-island nation by applying for a long-stay visa under the Nomad Digital Residence programme. It gives special-resident authorisation for up to two years and costs £250 per applicant and £125 for a spouse and each dependant.
Chilling out after a day’s work
AnGUillA
The Work from Anguilla scheme allows visitors to stay for up to 12 months. Application fees cost US$2,000 for individuals and US$3,000 for families.
cAYmAn iSlAnDS
The Global Citizen Concierge programme offers a visa for up to two years. Fees cost US$1,469 per annum, for two, and US$500 per dependent. Applicants must have a job paying at least US$100,000 a year.
SAinT lUciA
Saint Lucia has an immersive programme called Live it, with visitors able to stay for up to six weeks on customised and curated visits. They are paired with a Live it Island Specialist, a local tour operator who acts as
THe BAHAmAS
The Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay programme (or BEATS) provides a permit to work or study remotely for a year. The work permit costs US$1,025 for each approved applicant and US$500 for each dependant. The remote worker visa is renewable on a case by case basis for up to three years.
Live and work in the Caribbean? Food for thought
caribbean.co.uk
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