Barbados CARICOM free movement

Nationals of CSME states in an approved skills category (such as university graduates) can work in Barbados without a work permit once they hold a CARICOM Skills Certificate verified by the Barbados Accreditation Council, with indefinite entry from the Immigration Department. ^{1 2 3}

Requirements

• The person is a national of one of the 13 qualifying CARICOM states listed by Barbados, including Haiti, or of Montserrat. ¹
• Wage-earner categories: graduates, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, media persons, teachers, professional nurses, artisans and associate degree holders. ^{1 4}
• Domestic workers, security officers and agricultural workers are also approved wage-earner categories. ¹
• Graduates need at least a bachelor degree from a recognised university; honorary degrees are not accepted. ¹
• Managers, technical and supervisory staff of a company and self-employed persons are handled by the Immigration Department, not the BAC. ¹
• Persons outside the approved categories still need a work permit. ¹
• The BAC charges BDS$100 per application and BDS$100 per verification of a certificate issued by another state. ^{1 2}
• Birth certificate, qualifications, two professional reference letters, passport biodata page and two passport photographs. ^{1 2}
• The application form must be signed by a Justice of the Peace or notary, and the applicant appears in person. ^{1 2}
• Obtain a Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification from a competent authority in the home state, the host state or another member state. ¹
• At the BAC, a new certificate takes at least 7 working days and verification of another state's certificate at least 10 working days. ^{1 2}
• Present the certificate or verification letter and the immigration forms to the Immigration Department to be granted indefinite entry. ¹
• The Indefinite Stay form needs the passport biodata page, two photographs, the qualifying certificate and details of any dependants. ³

Stay

• Indefinite stay once the Skills Certificate is issued or verified and the Immigration Department grants indefinite entry.

Nationality

Nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and of Montserrat. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, MS, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Work

The holder can seek work or engage in gainful employment, as a wage earner or non-wage earner, without a work permit.

Family

Dependants are listed on the Indefinite Stay application with their passport copies and photographs; a marriage certificate is attached for a spouse.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification Guidelines · Barbados Accreditation Council · checked 2026-10-10
2. CARICOM Skills Certificate · Barbados Accreditation Council · checked 2026-10-10
3. Caribbean Community (Movement of Skilled Nationals) Act, Cap. 186A: Application Form for Indefinite Stay · Immigration Department, Barbados · checked 2026-10-10
4. CSME - CARICOM Single Market and Economy · Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago · checked 2026-10-10