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

How about swapping your dreary home offi ce 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 fi rst 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 fi ve 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 specifi cally 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.

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.

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

Programmes that allow extended stays for ‘digital nomads’ are aimed at the Caribbean’s key source markets, which include the UK

a personal guide before and during their stay and tailors activities such as learning creole cooking or exploring the island’s rainforests. Many island hotels offer special perks and amenities for remote working guests.

ARUBA

Aruba’s One Happy Workation scheme allows UK travellers to stay and work on the island for up to 30 days. More than 20 resort hotels have signed up to a scheme offering special rates for long stays and all-inclusive food/drink packages.

DominicAn RepUBlic

The Dominican Republic has an extended-stay visa. Properties including Eden Roc Cap Cana and Casa de Campo offer Work from Paradise packages that include IT support and rooms with ergonomic chairs and desks. •