Montserrat

Remote Employment Stamp

The Montserrat Remote Employment Stamp is a 12-month visa that allows foreign nationals to live on the island while continuing to work remotely for employers, clients, or businesses based outside Montserrat. Established under the Remote Employment Act, 2020, the program is open to remote employees, freelancers, business owners, and consultants who meet a minimum annual income threshold. Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean, and the program launched in January 2021 as part of a wave of Caribbean remote work visa initiatives.

• Minimum annual income of USD 70,000 (EC$189,000) from sources outside Montserrat
• Valid passport for the applicant and all accompanying family members
• Valid health insurance covering the full period of stay for the applicant and all family members
• Must be employed by a foreign-registered employer, a partner or shareholder of a foreign company, or a freelancer serving primarily foreign clients
• Must not engage in any employment derived from within Montserrat
• Police character certificate and disclosure of any criminal convictions
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required

• Copy of passport biographical data page (applicant and family members)
• Passport-sized photograph (applicant and family members)
• Proof of annual income exceeding USD 70,000 from outside Montserrat
• Proof of valid health insurance (applicant and family members)
• Employment contract or company incorporation certificate
• Birth certificate copy
• Proof of relationship for accompanying family members
• Police character certificate
• List of items to import duty-free, if applicable
• Student enrolment letter for any dependant child attending school online

The stamp is valid for 12 months and is renewable. Holders should apply for renewal at least one month before the current stamp expires. The renewal follows the same application process and requires the same documentation and fees as the initial application. If a renewed stamp takes effect immediately upon expiration, the holder may remain in Montserrat continuously without departing.

The application fee is USD 500 (EC$1,350) for an individual, USD 750 (EC$2,025) for an individual with up to three family members, and USD 250 (EC$540) for each additional family member. All fees are non-refundable. The Governor acting on Cabinet advice may adjust fees by Order.

The stamp may be extended to a spouse (including a common-law partner), children and step-children under 18, and other relatives who are dependent on the applicant due to physical or mental disability, age, or infirmity. No additional income is required beyond the main applicant's USD 70,000 threshold. Family members are subject to the same prohibition on local employment. Dependant children may attend local schools in Montserrat, including public primary schools (EC$100 application fee per student), private schools, or continue with online or home schooling.

Stamp holders are exempt from Montserrat income tax on all income derived from outside the territory. Holders are deemed non-resident for the duration of the stamp, regardless of the Income and Corporation Tax Act. The program also provides customs duty and consumption tax exemptions for work-related equipment imported during the stamp's validity. Duty-free items must be removed from Montserrat when the stamp expires unless a consecutive renewal is obtained, or the holder must pay the duties that were originally waived.

Applications are submitted online through the Montserrat Remote Worker portal. The application form covers personal details, passport information, employment details, proposed entry date, family member information, and a declaration that the applicant will not accept local employment. Payment is made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express). Processing takes approximately 7 business days from a complete submission, though incomplete documentation may extend this to 14 or more business days. Upon approval, applicants receive a confirmation letter to present at immigration when entering Montserrat.

Montserrat is accessible via John A. Osborne Airport. Citizens of the USA, Canada, EU member states, and the United Kingdom do not require additional travel permits beyond the Remote Employment Stamp. Stamp holders may freely leave and re-enter Montserrat during the validity period, with no minimum stay requirement or maximum absence restriction.

Links

• https://montserratremoteworker.com/
• https://www.gov.ms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Act-No-14-of-2020-Remote-Employment-Act-2020.pdf
• https://www.gov.ms/2021/01/29/applications-are-now-open-for-the-12-month-montserrat-remote-workers-stamp/
• https://www.visitmontserrat.com/montserrat-remote-work-the-essential-guide/

Other Digital Nomad Visas in North America