‘Industriousness and harmony’ is said to be the vibe across the island. And, as English is the official language, it’s easier to do business.
Anguilla is famous for tennis and cycling – and the flat terrain makes it easy to cycle around! You may also be roped into a lively game of dominoes. In fact, the Anguilla Domino Team compete in the World Council of Dominoes. If that’s not your bag, you could go coral diving instead.
The island’s national dish is pigeon peas and rice. These are beans (nothing to do with avian life) and rice flavoured with spices, all served with a meat dish. The island grows a lot of citrus fruit, tomatoes and garlic so expect that to feature heavily in dishes. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of seafood too. Anguillans eat lionfish as it’s an invasive species that’s harmful to local aquatic life. For dessert, chow down on tamarind balls and coconut drops.
The cost of living is moderate. Here’s a rundown of costs according to Numbeo:
- Three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $145 (£117)
- 1 litre of regular milk: $1.74 (£1.40)
- 500g loaf of bread: $3.50 (£2.80)
- Basics for an 85m squared flat (heat, electricity, water): $225 (£181.50) per month
- Rent on a one-bedroom flat in the city centre: $800 (£645.50) per month
There’s no public transport, but as it’s a small island it’s easy enough to walk, rent a car or hire a taxi. There are no co-working spaces anyway so you’ll likely be working from your flat or at a café.
It hasn’t ranked in the top 182 on Speedtest, so you may encounter problems with internet speed.
The digital nomad visa
Name of visa: eVisa Anguilla
Visa fee:
Up to 3 months
- Individual Traveller – US$400 (£323)
- Couple – US$600 (£484)
- Family – $400 (£323) for the main application and US$250 (£200) for each additional person
3 – 12 months
- Individual Traveller – US$2,000 (£1,613)
- Family – $3,000 (£2,420) for up to 4 persons and US$250 (£200) for each additional person
Length of stay: Up to 12 months
Can I extend my stay? No
Requirements:
- Proof of employment or business incorporation certificate
- Proof that person can financially maintain themselves for the during of stay in Anguilla
- Proof of visas if applicable
- Valid health insurance policy
- Police record (must be six months old or less) for all persons 18 and over
- Proof of relationship to dependents
- Copy of birth certificate
- Copy of passport picture page
How to apply: Done on an extension to a regular visit to Anguilla rather than through an online application. Can’t be applied for in advance to arriving in Anguilla. Visit the island and get given a period of time to stay. Request for digital nomad should be made on your application.
