The UK Overseas Territory of Montserrat, a small island in the Eastern Caribbean, launched it’s 12 month Remote Workers Stamp program this week, and invites digital nomads to apply now on www.MontserratRemoteWorker.com. The stamp will give professionals and entrepreneurs the opportunity to experience a work-life-vacation balance by exchanging the crowds and hassles of urban life, for the peace and tranquility of an island lifestyle.
Deputy Premier of Montserrat Dr. Samuel Joseph explained that the need for this type of program was propelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The global pandemic has changed how we live and work, and as multinationals and leading startups across the world accelerate their rates of digital adoption, the need to be physically present to fulfill professional responsibilities has been redefined…There are people currently in metropolitan areas and various parts of the world, who now have the ability to work from home, so the remote worker program is basically telling people to come to Montserrat to work—and you can do the same work that you would have produced for your company, from Montserrat.”
Less than 5,000 souls live in the Caribbean British island colony. The stamp is valid for 12 months but may be renewed. Applicants taking advantage of the program will be exempt from any Montserrat Income Tax.
These developments have also presented an opportunity for Montserrat to expand its global appeal and boost its economy. By attracting remote workers to the island, Montserrat’s economy will receive a much-needed boost and accommodation owners, car rental companies, restaurants, supermarkets and other service based companies who have suffered financially for the past few months, will also benefit from the program.
The US government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has listed Montserrat as having a “very low” COVID-19 risk, because the island has had no active COVID-19 cases since July 2020. The island has also been commended internationally for still having robust and effective contact tracing protocols in place, and with a population of just over 4,000 people, Montserrat has only had 13 cases of the virus and 1 death to date.
The 12-month Remote Workers Stamp offers new opportunities for anyone whose work is location-independent, and the Government of Montserrat has been working to ensure that the process to apply is as simple as possible, to facilitate travel. Fees are $500 USD for individuals or $750 for individuals accompanied by a maximum of 3 family members, then $250 for each additional family member. The stamp is valid for 12 months but may be renewed. Applicants taking advantage of the program will be exempt from any Montserrat Income Tax.
With an active but safe volcano, a year-round warm climate, beautiful scenery, idyllic beaches, good internet connectivity and a wide range of accommodations from budget-friendly studios to luxury villas, Montserrat offers itself as the perfect destination for professionals to achieve the sustainable work-life balance that they crave.
The Montserrat Remote Workers Program is led by the Ministry of Communication, Work, Energy and Labor (MCWLE) in collaboration with the Montserrat Tourism Division.
