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Summer 2020 has definitely been a strange one. Amid a lot of plans getting canceled because of the current pandemic, there remains one small ray of hope. As of July 12th, Barbados is opening back up to tourists and they’re rolling out a brand new initiative.

The government of Barbados now is introducing the “Barbados Welcome Stamp” visa. This allows remote workers to comfortably live and work on the island for the duration of 12 months. Since there are a lot more people working from home now, the program is quite appealing. Imagine doing your job from the comfort of a sunny beach.

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The Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made the announcement about the new visa earlier in July. According to the announcement, those who are from the United States, Europe, and Latin America will be allowed to move to the island nation and work remotely for a few months before they move back home.

This long-term visa might just be a safe alternative to travel bans and other “non-essential” travel restrictions that we’re facing in the current climate. With many countries implementing a mandatory two-week quarantine on international travelers, shorter trips seem really futile at the moment. But moving to Barbados for a couple of months or a year? Yes, please! Think about all that wonderful beach time you’ll get.

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Besides giving remote workers a chance to enjoy the beach and tick off another place on their wanderlust list, the government of Barbados is hoping that the new initiative will help to jumpstart their local economy since the country is very reliant on tourism.

If you are seriously considering moving to Barbados for a year then you might want to wear a mask and practice social distancing. While the visa is in the last stages of development before it’s rolled out to the public, there is one prerequisite: all travelers must test negative for coronavirus before they’re admitted into the island paradise.