BarbadosPermanent residence

Permanent resident status in Barbados

A status for those whose life is legally connected with Barbados: marriage to a citizen of the country, Barbadian descent through the mother, or long residence in immigrant status. The applicant attends the Immigration Department in person and confirms identity, marital status, absence of criminal convictions and state of health. Immigrant status is the earlier stage; with sufficient length of residence it leads on to permanent residence. Citizenship is arranged by a separate procedure.

Source: Barbados Immigration Department — Requirements for Permanent Resident Status

Grounds for permanent residence

The law sets out two grounds for registration: a personal connection with a citizen of Barbados, and length of residence in immigrant status.

Through marriage or Barbadian descent

A married woman files her marriage certificate together with the application
A man married to a citizen of Barbados attaches her birth certificate and their joint marriage certificate
A person born in lawful wedlock to a citizen of Barbados and a non-citizen father files the mother's birth certificate and the parents' marriage certificate

Through immigrant status and length of residence

Previously granted immigrant status by the minister responsible for immigration under a separate procedure
Has lived continuously in Barbados in that status for at least 5 years
Periods of imprisonment, compulsory treatment and time after a deportation decision do not count towards the term

When this programme will not suit you

You need Barbados citizenship rather than permanent residence

Citizenship is arranged separately under section 4 of the Citizenship Act — for citizens of the Commonwealth and of Ireland aged 16 and over, on the basis of ordinary residence on the island or of service to the Crown

You do not yet have immigrant status and have no Barbadian spouse or parent

First apply for immigrant status on Form A through the department, and apply for permanent residence once you have the required length of residence

The applicant is a citizen of a CARICOM country to whom the status has already been granted by a government act

Permanent residence in that case follows automatically, together with the spouse and minor children — the department is approached only for the supporting documents

What it costs

Application feePersonal cheques are not accepted	300 BBD
Final fee on approval of the status	1 200 BBD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	1 500 BBD

Documents to gather

All documents are submitted as originals together with copies; versions not in English require an official translation.

The applicant's birth certificate
Copy of the passport page with personal details
Marriage certificate — for married applicants and for their Barbadian citizen spouse
Death certificate of a spouse or a decree of divorce — if a previous marriage has ended
The mother's birth certificate and the parents' marriage certificate — for those born within a Barbadian marriage
Police certificate from every country where the applicant has lived for 6 months or more in the last 3 years
A medical certificate from a doctor — for applicants aged 16 and under, or a completed standard medical Form R1 — for applicants aged 16 and over
Four passport photographs, one of them certified by a justice of the peace or a notary
A letter confirming attendance at school in Barbados
A letter of employment
Proof of qualifications
An official translation into English for documents in a foreign language
Notarised parental consent — if the applicant is under 18 and does not sign the application personally
An affidavit where there are discrepancies in the spelling of a name
A guardianship document — where applicable

How the process runs

1
Completing Form A1 and the medical form
The applicant completes Form A1 for registration as a permanent resident; from the age of 16 a medical Form R1 completed by a doctor is attached to it. For applicants under 18 the form is signed by a parent — or the parent's notarised consent is attached.
2
Assembling the document package
The applicant prepares originals and copies of the birth certificate, documents on marriage or its termination, police certificates from all countries of residence over the last three years, medical documents, four photographs, letters on schooling and employment, and proof of qualifications.
3
Filing the application and paying the fee
The document package and payment of the fee of 300 Barbados dollars are submitted to the Immigration Department at the same time — without payment the application is not accepted.
4
Consideration of the application by the department
The Immigration Department checks the set of documents and takes a decision on granting permanent resident status.
5
Payment of the final fee and grant of status
After approval the applicant pays the final fee of 1,200 Barbados dollars and receives permanent resident status of Barbados.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent resident status of Barbados

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is arranged separately. Under section 4 of the Citizenship Act, citizens of the Commonwealth and of Ireland aged 16 and over are registered — on the basis of ordinary residence in Barbados or of service to the Crown.

Frequently asked questions about Permanent resident status

Who can apply for permanent resident status in Barbados?

The law confers the right of registration on those whose connection with Barbados is already legally established: spouses of Barbados citizens, those born in wedlock to a citizen of Barbados, and those who previously obtained immigrant status and have lived continuously in that status for at least 5 years.

How much does permanent residence cost?

On filing the application, 300 Barbados dollars are paid; personal cheques are not accepted. If the status is approved, a further final fee of 1,200 Barbados dollars is paid.

What if the documents are not in English?

Certificates and other documents in a foreign language are submitted together with an official translation into English — without the translation the department will not accept them.

Can a minor obtain permanent resident status?

Yes: the application on their behalf is normally signed by a parent, and where that is not possible, the parent's notarised consent, certified by a justice of the peace or a notary, is attached.

Is permanent residence the same as Barbados citizenship?

No, these are separate statuses. Citizenship under section 4 of the Citizenship Act is registered for citizens of the Commonwealth and of Ireland aged 16 and over — on the basis of ordinary residence on the island or of service to the Crown.

Other ways to move to Barbados

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Barbados.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.