Guide on How to Obtain a Barbados Family Reunion Visa
Do you have your family members in Barbados? And probably, you desire to reunite with them. But, confused about the correct steps to follow. A Barbados Family Reunion Visa will solve your difficulty.
However, there is a common problem for foreigners looking for Barbados visas. Information about applications for visas to the country is scarce. So, you may be left in the jumbo and confused about which information is correct. To that end, we have decided to bring this good news to you today.
This article will clarify the application for a Family Reunion Visa in Barbados, the requirements, processing fees and time, validity, and places to apply for an entry permit to Barbados.
What is Barbados Family Reunion Visa?
Family Reunion Visa allows foreign nationals to visit Barbados and reunite with family members. It gives them access to the country for up to 6 months, depending on the type of visa. A family reunion visa can be a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.
You can only enter Barbados once during the validity period of a single-entry visa. On the other hand, a multiple-entry entry allows holders to visit Barbados many times within six months.
So, who needs a Barbados Family Reunion Visa?
Citizens of over 100 countries need a visa to enter Barbados. Therefore, they must apply for a tourist visa or family reunion visa. They include:
- Afghanistan
- Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea
- Algeria
- Kuwait
- Andorra
- People’s Republic Of Laos
- Angola
- Lebanon
- Benin
- Libya
- Bhutan
- Macedonia
- Bolivia
- Madagascar
- Bosnia – Herzegovina
- Marshall Islands
- Cambodia
- Federated States Of Micronesia
- Cameroon
- Mongolia
- Cape Verde
- Montenegro
- The central African Republic
- Mozambique
- Chad
- Myanmar
- Comoros
- Namibia
- Congo
- Nauru
- Cook Islands
- Nepal
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Niger
- Djibouti
- Pakistan
- Dominican Republic
- Palau Islands
- Ecuador
- Papua New Guinea
- Egypt
- Paraguay
- Equatorial
- Guinea
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Eritrea
- Somalia
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
- Gabon
- Syria
- Guinea
- Taiwan
- Guinea-Bissau
- Togo
- Honduras
- United Arab Emirates
- Iran
- Iraq
- Yemen
Exemptions from Barbados Family Reunion Visa
Nationals of different countries don’t need a visa to visit Barbados for up to six months. However, they must meet the following conditions. They include:
- You must have a valid passport not less than six months from your departure date in Barbados.
- Proof of flight ticket to and from Barbados.
- Have your complete travel document.
- Must show proof of sufficient funds for your stay in the country.
Requirements for Barbados Family Reunion Visa
You will need the following documents to travel to Barbados for a family reunion. They include:
#1. Application form for Barbados Family Reunion Visa
The first document you need for a Barbados Family Reunion Visa is an application form. You must complete the application with the relevant information in each space. The information you need to provide includes your name, nationality, country of birth, time of travel, duration of stay and the purpose of your visit.
#2. Photo
You will need one passport-sized photo. The photo must cover at least 80% of your face. In addition, you will not put on headgear except for religious purposes.
#3. Copy of your passport page
You don’t need to come with your actual passport. However, you must provide a copy of the outer cover and the biometric page. However, sometimes, the immigration officer may ask for your valid passport.
#4. Birth certificate
Another document you will need for a Barbados Family Reunion Visa is your birth certificate. Your birth certificate will help to show proof of relationship with the person you are visiting in Barbados.
#5. Marriage certificate
If you are married, you must show a certificate as proof of your marital status.
#6. Cover letter
You address a cover letter to the Chief Immigration Office. The letter must contain the following information:
- return address
- phone number
- fax number
- email address
- the purpose of the visit,
- the proposed date of entry
- the duration of your stay.
#7. Invitation letter
Your host in Barbados must send an invitation letter to you. The letter will contain the contact address of the person, phone number and relationship you have with the person.
#8. Proof of payment for Barbados Family Reunion Visa
You will send a banker’s draft to the Chief Immigration Officer as proof of payment for your visa. You can send your payment document through FedEx, DHL, or LIAT Quik Pak to Barbados Immigration Department, Wharf Road or Bridgetown. In addition, you will add a prepaid flight bill for your passport return.
#9. Proof of sufficient financial means
You also require a bank statement from the last six months as proof of sufficient funds to live in Barbados.
#10. Proof of accommodation in Barbados
Another important document for a Barbados family Reunion Visa is proof of accommodation in the country. It must not be a hole reservation. An invitation letter from your host indicating that there is a place for you to live can serve. Moreover, you can use any other valid document as evidence of accommodation in Barbados.
Steps to apply for Barbados Family Reunion visa
Obtaining a visa to Barbados is not an easy task. All applications must go to a Barbadian embassy abroad. However, their embassies are not much. Thus, you may not find an embassy in your country of origin. However, you can contact a Barbados Tourism Authority in your country.
Meanwhile, the steps below will guide you to receive your Family Reunion Visa to be with your loved ones in Barbados. They include
Step 1. Contact the nearest Barbados Tourism Authority
Firstly, you must contact the nearest Barbados Tourism Authority for the visa requirements and application form.
Step 2. Fill out an application form for Barbados Family Reunion Visa
Secondly, you will fill out the application form with the correct details. The information you will provide includes your name, place of birth, country of origin, the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay in Barbados.
Step 3. Gather your documents for Barbados Family Reunion Visa
Thirdly, you will gather all the documents you need to apply for a Barbados family Reunion Visa.
Step 4. Submit your application and other documents to a Barbados embassy
Fourthly, it is time to submit your application and other documents to a Barbadian embassy. Barbados has missions and embassies in New York, Miami, Washington, Toronto, Ottawa, London, Brussels and Geneva. Therefore, you must send your application to any of these Barbadian embassies.
Step 5. Pay your Barbados Family Reunion Visa fees
In addition to the documents, you must also pay your visa application fee. If you don’t pay your Barbados visa fee, the Barbadian embassy will not accept your visa application.
Step 6. Wait for processing
The final step in the application is to wait for the processing of your Barbados visa. It usually takes three weeks to process all types of Barbados entry permits. However, if you send your application to the embassy in the UK or the US, you must send it earlier.
Once your visa is completed, you will get a message from the embassy. However, it is only a permit to enter the country because the immigration officer at the airport in Barbados will determine if you will get your Barbados Family Reunion Visa.
Read Also: Barbados Short Stay Visa: Guide on How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to apply for a Barbados visa?
It is better to apply for a Barbados visa at least a month from the time you plan to enter the country. Generally, it takes around three weeks to process a Barbados entry permit.
So, applying this time will allow the authorities to process your Barbados visa.
How much is the Barbados visa application fee?
The application fee for a Barbados visa depends on the type of visa.
A single-entry permit costs US$107.00, while a multiple-entry visa is US$211.00.
How can I pay a Barbados visa fee?
You can pay a Barbados visa fee with a bank draft or money order. Then, you can send it to The Chief Immigration Officer using the address below:
Mailing address:
The Chief Immigration Officer
“Careenage House”
Wharf Road
Bridgetown
St. Michael
BARBADOS
How long is a Barbados Family Reunion Visa valid?
The validity of a family reunion entry permit in Barbados depends on the type of visa.
For single-entry visas, the validity period is one entry in three months. But for a multiple-entry permit, you can enter Barbados many times within six months.
What is the processing time for a Barbados visa?
Generally, it takes only three weeks to process an entry permit to Barbados, But you have to apply earlier to avoid delay in your travel plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is hard to obtain a Barbados Family Reunion Visa. However, you can get it if you follow the instructions and steps provided in this article. Moreover, you will need an expert to guide you on your application for a visa to Barbados.
Above all, you must contact the nearest Barbados Tourism Authority to know the requirements for Barbados visas.
