A Barbados visa is not required of citizens of Azerbaijan, but this island has two particularities that set it apart from the other Caribbean countries. The first is that the visa-free stay is only 28 days, that is less than a month. The second is that filling in an online immigration and customs form before arriving on the island is compulsory, and without it you get a queue and trouble at the border.
In this article we explain the conditions of visa-free entry to Barbados, how the online form is filled in, the realistic ways of reaching the island from Baku and what the trip costs.
Do you need a visa for Barbados?
No. Citizens of Azerbaijan can go to Barbados without a visa on an ordinary passport and stay up to 28 days. At the border the immigration officer stamps the passport and writes in the length of stay. They usually look at the return date on the ticket, so the 28 days are not given automatically. If you need to stay longer, you can apply to the immigration office on the island and extend the period; that is a paid procedure.
| Is a visa required? | No |
| How long can you stay? | Up to 28 days |
| Before arrival | Online immigration and customs form (opens 72 hours ahead) |
| Passport | Valid for the length of the trip; 6 months is advisable |
| Currency | Barbadian dollar, pegged to the US dollar at 2:1 |
| Direct flight | None, via London |
The online entry form: the document required instead of a Barbados visa
Barbados requires every passenger arriving by air to fill in an online immigration and customs form. The form is filled in at travelform.gov.bb and opens 72 hours before the flight. Once you have completed it, two receipts arrive by email: immigration and customs. Keep these receipts on your phone or print them out; at the border they scan the QR code.
The form asks for passport details, the flight number, the address of where you will be staying and the customs declaration. It cannot be filled in on the plane because you need the internet, so do it at the transit airport or before leaving home. The official requirements are set out on the page of the Barbados Immigration Department.
What do they ask at the border?
- Passport. It must be valid at least to the end of the trip. Taking the transit countries into account, six months of remaining validity is more comfortable.
- Return ticket. A paid ticket, or a ticket onward to the next country, is always asked for.
- Where you will be staying. A hotel booking or the address of the person receiving you. The address is written on the online form as well.
- Funds. Not always asked for, but when it is, a bank card or a statement is enough.
How do you get from Baku to Barbados?
People fly to Bridgetown airport in Barbados from Europe on two main routes. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London every day, and the journey takes about 8 hours 30 minutes. Condor flies from Frankfurt on the winter timetable, but that flight stops in Tobago. For a citizen of Azerbaijan the most comfortable route is Baku–Istanbul–London–Bridgetown; as long as you do not leave the transit zone at Heathrow, no UK visa is needed.
There are more flights via the USA, but the USA requires a visa even for transit. If you have no American visa, that route is closed to you. Since the journey is long, the ticket is the biggest expense; on flight booking sites, shifting the dates by a few days can turn up a serious difference on the London flights.
Read next: Do you need a visa for Antigua and Barbuda? The rules of a 180-day visa-free stay in the Caribbean
What does a trip to Barbados without a visa cost?
No money goes on the visa, but Barbados is not a cheap island. The hotels on the west coast are dearer than European prices, while the south coast is relatively better value. The local currency is the Barbadian dollar, pegged firmly to the US dollar at 2:1, and US dollars are accepted everywhere. In restaurants a 10 per cent service charge is added to the bill.
For a week-long trip you need to reckon on roughly 3000–4000 manats for one person, ticket included. That amount is worth comparing with nearer seas before you settle on a Caribbean destination: for the same budget you could take two or three European trips on cheap tour packages. But those who go for the Caribbean’s particular sea and atmosphere go knowing that.
Points to know before the trip
- Season. December–April is the dry season and most tourists come then. June–November is the hurricane season, but because Barbados lies on the southern edge of the hurricane belt it suffers less damage than the neighbouring islands.
- Insurance. Not required, but medical care is expensive. It is advisable for the insurance to cover the transit countries too.
- Driving. Traffic drives on the left. To hire a car you get a local temporary driving permit, which the hire company arranges on the spot.
- The 28-day limit. One day of overstaying means a fine and trouble at the next entry. If you need to stay longer, extend before the period runs out.
Frequently asked questions about the Barbados visa
What happens if the online form is not filled in?
They do not send you back, but you have to fill the form in on the spot at the border, and that takes time and creates a queue. Some airlines ask for the receipt at check-in.
Can you cross to the neighbouring islands from Barbados?
There are short flights from Bridgetown to Saint Vincent, Grenada and Saint Lucia. Saint Vincent admits citizens of Azerbaijan for 3 months without a visa, while Saint Lucia requires one. Check each island separately.
Do children need a Barbados visa?
No, children also travel without a visa, but they must have their own passport. The online form is filled in separately for every passenger, children included.
In closing
No visa is needed for Barbados, but the trip has three conditions: filling in the online form in time, taking the 28-day limit into account and building the right transit route via London. The Viza.az team helps with planning the route, booking flights and checking the transit rules.
You can read more about the Barbados destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. The visa-free regime and the online form requirements can change, so look at the official sources once more before the trip.
