When you start developing your international team, you’ll likely hire residents in the area. You may also choose to send some of your current employees abroad to oversee your new location. But, they’ll need correct documentation to work there legally. At Globalization Partners, we support your expansion by ensuring your international employees have the correct Barbados work permits.
Work Visa Types
Barbados offers two different work visa types — short term and long term. Short-term visas last for up to 11 months, and you are responsible for obtaining this documentation on behalf of your employees.
Long-term visas last for three years, and employees are responsible for the application process. However, you must provide reasonable evidence that there are no local citizens capable of filling the position. Employees will have to reapply after three years to receive a renewed work visa.
What Do You Need to Obtain a Barbados Work Visa?
Short-term visas require a few documents, while long-term permits include additional requirements. The necessities are:
- A valid passport.
- The required application form.
- A Police Certificate of Character (PCC) from the employee’s country of origin.
- A cover letter from you describing the nature of the job.
The applicant should include a PCC from every country they’ve lived in over the last three years. Living in a country is classified as any stay longer than six months. Along with a passport, applicants will need four copies of their passport photo and a copy of their bio-data page. The additional requirements for a long-term work permit include:
- A completed medical form with attached x-rays.
- Evidence of qualifications for the position.
- Two character references.
As an employer, you have to provide a few more documents along with your personal work visa application. You’ll need proof of your transferred funds, your certificate of registration, and any licenses you have for practicing your specific type of business.
How to Get a Work Visa in Barbados
The work permit application process is straightforward. The first step is receiving a job offer. Since employers are involved in the application process, applicants must have a position lined up in the country.
From there, applicants need to acquire all the required documents and materials and submit them to the Immigration Department. The department’s website offers links to required applications, including checklists for all the items applicants should attach.
Applications take about a week to process. Once an applicant receives their visa, they can begin working for you.
Other Considerations
Before applying for a work visa, all applicants will need an entry visa to enter the country’s borders. Individuals can submit the necessary materials to their nearest consulate or send them to the Immigration Department.
For this application process, your employees need to attach copies of their passports and birth certificates. They also need to provide a cover letter and any applicable employment letters. It takes about three weeks for the Immigration Department to process entry visas.
Applicants should also consider the associated application fees for obtaining a visa. The flat rate for a work visa application is 300 Barbadian Dollars (BDD), although individuals may incur more charges depending on their work term length.
Turn to Globalization Partners for Your International Expansion
Ensuring your international employees have the right documents is one way we streamline international expansions. Globalization Partners offers extensive resources and services to encourage global success. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our global PEO services and what we can do for you.