An updated immigration and citizenship law went before lawmakers on Wednesday as the country grapples with a shrinking and ageing population, with the aim of strengthening the country’s economic outlook.
As Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls presented the proposed amendments to the Immigration Act, he highlighted declining fertility, outward migration and steady demographic contraction as key factors deepening the crisis.
He told the House of Assembly: “This shrinking and ageing population threatens to undermine long-term GDP growth, our capacity to fund our pensions, our capacity to be able to deliver on our social services and also all the other services that the government provides.”
When population trends over the past 60 to 70 years are compared with recent years, a clear shift from growth to decline is evident, he said, warning that the trajectory is already affecting Barbados’s economic competitiveness.
“This erosion of the productive population threatens the nation’s competitiveness; it limits our ability to attract investment and be able to make good on all of the things that we want to say attracts people to Barbados. With urgent action these trends will continue and it would undermine the country’s output. We have growth targets set in the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Programme 2026.”
In response, the government has reviewed the Immigration Act and the Barbados Citizenship Act, and has moved to expand residency categories and formalise long-standing administrative arrangements into law, Nicholls said.
“The bills before the chamber today, provide that legislative framework to strengthen the nation’s competitive edge in the global marketplace, which is key in attracting valuable human capital, also attracting investment, which can also promote innovation by the use of the introduction of technology from people who come to set up businesses here to make Barbados a place where they can establish businesses within this region, Barbados becomes a leader to attract investment of a kind and a nature in this era that other countries in the region and even in the wider hemisphere are not attracting.”
He explained that while the Immigration Department already facilitates residency permissions in practice, much of it has not been formally grounded in law.
Others are already granted permission to reside and work, but this arrangement exists as an administrative practice rather than a statutory one.
“This is being concretised in the law and it formalises and streamlines the previous customary practices and it benefits the spouses and dependents of persons who are legitimately living here. They don’t meet the cohabitation requisites within any legislation, but they are here legitimately. This provision enhances the flexibility in managing residency and work permit permissions and it also supports the family unit.”
The legislation also widens eligibility for permanent residency, including spouses of Barbadian citizens, retirees with sufficient financial means, and dependants, including minors and persons with disabilities.
“Where that a person does not have to keep their spouse, their wife, or husband out of the country and can only come and visit and then have to go back. It’s putting strain and stress on that family unit. So the immigration bill expands the eligibility for permanent residents to include the spouses of Barbadian citizens, retirees with adequate financial means and their dependants. We cannot continue to scoff at the possibility that people who have means that want to come legitimately and live out the rest of their lives in Barbados may have dependants that are attached to them.”
Nicholls also confirmed the abolition of the “immigrant” category, while introducing a merit-based immigration system.
“The bill also introduces for the first time a merit-based system, allowing individuals who meet specific criteria including age, Barbadian lineage, education skills, professional experience, financial resources, and senior diplomatic or other international service, to apply for permanent residency in Barbados.”
Applicants will be assessed using a points-based system, said the minister for immigration.
“Applicants have to achieve a maximum of 10 points and apply on the relevant forms for their status.”
The focus is on strengthening the labour market while addressing the loss of skilled Barbadians abroad, he explained.
“The focus here is on the tracking, managing and retaining skilled migrants to come into the country while addressing the loss of Barbadian talent.”
The reforms are also designed to boost Barbados’ global competitiveness and attract investment and innovation, Nicholls said.
“The bills before the chamber today, provide that legislative framework to strengthen the nation’s competitive edge in the global marketplace, which is key in attracting valuable human capital; also attracting investment, which can also promote innovation by the use of the introduction of technology from people who come to set up businesses here to make Barbados a place where they can establish businesses within this region. Barbados becomes a leader to attract investment of a kind and a nature in this era that other countries in the region and even in the wider hemisphere are not attracting.”
The reforms align Barbados with its regional and international obligations, he added.
“These legislative reforms are intended to modernise our immigration system and what you will see, particularly in our immigration legislation in the bill, is that we have concretised our regional commitments that we have made through the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the arrangements to allow for the free movement of Caribbean people from some countries and also aligns Barbados’ economic relationships under the economic partnership agreement with Europe.”
The legislation reinforces Barbados’ regional integration and global positioning as a forward-looking state, Nicholls suggested.
The Immigration Bill has been referred to the parliamentary economic policy joint select committee for further consideration.
(LG)
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