Menu
Expat.com
Search
Magazine
Search

Living in Barbados: the ultimate expat guide

Everything you need to know for a successful life in Barbados.

Barbados offers a good way of life to expatriates wishing to settle here to live and work, among the wild Atlantic Coast and the quietness of its beaches on the Caribbean Sea. Foreigners settling to Barbados are pleased to discover a fascinating culture and atypical landscapes.

Expats looking for career prospects can find job opportunities: to be able to work here, a work visa is required.

Barbados is warm throughout the year with a light, pleasant breeze ' summer and winter temperatures are between 28°C and 30°C, and occasionally drop to 20°C. Barbados may be very popular among expats thanks to all year round good weather, but it bears a long history, as it was the British empire's first and most beneficial settlement in the Americas.

In Barbados, European expats may feel at home, as in the country once can will witness a cultural mix of West African and European traditions. The islanders, sometimes called Bajans, are mostly Christian, although other faiths are present and respected.

As with most islands, expect plenty of water-sports and beach-side activities such as surfing, scuba diving, and boat tours. Inland, a walk around the beautiful botanical gardens, a round of golf, or a game of cricket, are some of the various pastimes you can enjoy. The island truly comes to life during the many carnivals, with music and dancing filling the streets.

Barbados is one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean and has the highest per capita income in the area. The primary revenue for Barbados is coming from the tourism industry, and the country continues to grow in popularity as both a luxury holiday and honeymoon destination. Sugar has traditionally been the economy's backbone here, and it remains an important part of the island's agriculture. Financial services, such as offshore banking continue to be on the increase in Barbados.

There is a large https://www.expat.community in Barbados, and working conditions are good. It may be easier to find employment in specialised areas, rather than tourism, as these jobs are unofficially reserved for locals.