Digital nomad visas have been popping up all around the world in recent years, luring remote workers with promises of being able to live and work in a foreign country for an extended amount of time. A number of Caribbean countries have begun offering digital nomad visas, which offer an attractive proposition to applicants: the ability to live in paradise and work remotely while sipping a cold drink on the beach.
But which Caribbean digital nomad visas are actually worth it? Some offer better terms than others. Here’s what to know about digital nomad visas in the Caribbean:
What Is A Digital Nomad Visa?
Digital nomad visas are visas designed to allow applicants to live and work in a foreign country.
Typically, digital nomad visas require that applicants are self-employed or work remotely for an employer based outside the country. They offer an easy and cost-effective pathway for digital nomads to live and work in another country for a specific period of time.
The best digital nomad visas have a simple, affordable application process and don’t place too many requirements on applicants.
Digital nomad visas with high earning requirements, expensive application fees, and other red tape aren’t as great of an option as they might seem at first glance.
With many Caribbean countries offering digital nomad visas, these are some of the best (and worst) options based on factors like minimum earning requirements, application fees, livability, and more.
Curaçao
The Southern Caribbean island of Curaçao offers a digital nomad visa called @Home in Curaçao.
With this program, remote workers can live and work in Curaçao for up to 6 months, with the possibility of extending for an additional 6 months.
This is an attractive digital nomad visa because it has no minimum income requirements (however, you do need to have “proof of solvency”) and an application fee of just $294. Curaçao is also one of the more affordable islands in the Caribbean.
Grenada
The island of Grenada offers an attractive digital nomad visa program with comparatively low earning requirements.
Applicants will need to prove that they have earnings of at least $37,000 per year to qualify, as well as pay a $1,500 application fee. The visa lasts for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extending it for an additional 12 months.
Grenada has a lower cost of living compared to many other Caribbean countries and is cheaper than the United States.
Barbados
The Barbados Welcome Stamp is a digital nomad visa that allows remote workers to live and work in Barbados for up to 12 months.
Applicants must demonstrate that they earn $50,000 per year and pay a $1,000 application fee. Although this is steep, it’s lower than many other Caribbean digital nomad visas, and Barbados has a relatively affordable cost of living compared to its neighbors.
Antigua & Barbuda
Similar to Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda offers a digital nomad visa that requires applicants to earn at least $50,000 a year and pay a $1,500 application fee.
This visa is valid for up to 2 years, making it a good option for remote workers who want to relocate for a longer amount of time.
Caribbean Digital Nomad Visas To Avoid
Not every digital nomad visa offered by a Caribbean country is as easy to obtain. These digital nomad visas come with much higher minimum earnings requirements and other drawbacks:
- Cayman Islands: Their Global Citizen Concierge Program requires minimum annual earnings of $100,000 a year, making it inaccessible for many. The Cayman Islands also have a high cost of living.
- Montserrat: Montserrat is a very tiny and isolated island with a population of just 5,900. The Montserrat Remote Work Stamp requires annual earnings of $70,000.
- Dominica: Although Dominica is a very beautiful and relatively affordable island, the minimum earning requirement of $70,000 per year makes this inaccessible to many applicants.
