Montserrat Nomad Visa

What is the Montserrat digital nomad visa?

Montserrat's version is the Remote Work Stamp, called the Remote Employment Stamp in law. It lets a foreigner live in Montserrat for up to 12 months while working for an employer or clients outside the island.

The stamp is created by the Remote Employment Act (Act 14 of 2020, now Cap. 15.20 of the Laws of Montserrat), which came into force on 12 January 2021. The Government of Montserrat opened applications on 29 January 2021 through its programme site, montserratremoteworker.com, and the online application portal was still live in October 2026.

Montserrat is a UK Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean. The stamp does not make you a resident: the Act says holders are treated as non-resident and must leave when the stamp expires, unless it is renewed.

Who can apply for the Montserrat digital nomad visa?

Any non-Montserratian whose work does not depend on Montserrat can apply. The programme FAQ says there are no nationality restrictions, though Immigration can refuse applicants on national security grounds.

The programme site says you must fit one of three categories:

• you work for an employer registered outside Montserrat, under a contract of employment;
• you are a partner or shareholder in a company registered outside Montserrat and do business for it; or
• you are a freelancer or consultant whose clients are mostly based outside Montserrat, with contracts to show for it.

You must be able to work remotely, have health insurance, and pass a background check. You may not take any job or offer services to a person or business in Montserrat.

How much income do you need for the Montserrat digital nomad visa?

You need annual income of more than EC$189,000, earned outside Montserrat. The programme site gives this as US$70,000. Income in any currency is accepted as long as it is equivalent to at least that amount.

On the application form you also declare that you expect to earn above that level over the next 12 months and can support any family members who come with you.

How long can you stay, and can you renew it?

The stamp lasts up to 12 months, counted from the day it is issued on arrival in Montserrat. You can leave and re-enter during that time.

The Act allows renewal: you apply at least one month before the stamp expires, using the same process as a first application. The programme FAQ describes this as re-applying. If the renewal starts as soon as the old stamp ends, you can stay on without leaving.

How much does it cost?

Fees are set in Eastern Caribbean dollars in the Act and are non-refundable:

• Individual: EC$1,350 (US$500 on the programme site).
• Applicant with up to three family members: EC$2,025 (US$750).
• Each additional family member: EC$540 in the Act. The programme site lists US$250 for this item, so confirm the amount before paying.

The programme site says fees are paid by Visa, Mastercard or American Express card on the application form.

What documents do you need?

The Act and the programme site list the following for the main applicant, with passport pages and photos for each family member:

• the completed online application form;
• proof of employment, or a business incorporation certificate;
• proof of annual income from outside Montserrat;
• health insurance covering you and your family in Montserrat for the length of the stamp (the site still mentions COVID-19 cover, which dates from 2021);
• a police record;
• a passport-size photo and the biographical page of your passport, valid for at least six months;
• a copy of your birth certificate and proof of relationship to dependants;
• a school enrolment letter if a child will study online;
• a list of work equipment you want to import free of customs duty and consumption tax, if any.

How do you apply from Nigeria?

You apply online; there is no embassy step for the stamp.

1. Secure your foreign income first. If you are still looking, browse remote jobs open to Nigerians.
2. Collect your documents, including a recent police record and health insurance valid in Montserrat.
3. Complete the application at apply.montserratremoteworker.com and pay the fee by card. You get a tracking number to follow your application.
4. Wait for the email decision. When approved, you receive a confirmation letter to show on arrival.
5. Travel to Montserrat. The stamp is issued when you arrive, and runs from that date.

If you want help putting the file together, Premium membership includes nomad visa assistance.

How long does processing take?

The programme site says a decision usually takes about 7 working days once a complete application is received. Missing or incorrect documents can push this to 14 working days or more.

Do you pay tax in Montserrat on a digital nomad visa?

No Montserrat income tax is due on income earned outside Montserrat. Section 8 of the Remote Employment Act says a stamp holder is not liable to income tax on income derived outside Montserrat, despite the Income and Corporation Tax Act.

Your tax position in Nigeria is a separate question; Montserrat's exemption does not settle it. This is general information, not tax advice.

Can you bring your family?

Yes. The stamp can be extended to your spouse, including an unmarried partner you live with, your children or stepchildren under 18, and any other relative who relies on you because of disability, age or infirmity. Family members may not work for anyone in Montserrat either.

Children can study online, be home-schooled or attend a local private or public school; the application form asks which.

What to know before you move

• Time difference: Montserrat is on Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4) all year, five hours behind Lagos. A 9am Lagos meeting is 4am in Montserrat.
• Getting there: the programme FAQ, written in 2021, describes entry by air through John A. Osborne Airport with passengers transiting Antigua, and says the Antigua ferry was suspended. Check current routes, and Antigua and Barbuda's transit rules for Nigerian passports, before you book.
• Money: the local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. Fees are paid by international card.
• Customs: work equipment listed in your application can be imported duty-free, but must leave Montserrat when the stamp ends unless it is renewed.

Comparing Caribbean options? See Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda.