Dominica Joins Regional Agreement to Launch Full Free Movement

Dominica, Barbados, Belize, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have officially implemented unrestricted free movement for their citizens, allowing nationals to live, work, and reside indefinitely across all four countries without visas or work permits.

The agreement, which took effect on October 1, 2025, marks the first time the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has introduced indefinite mobility beyond its skills-based or temporary work framework.

Under the new rules, citizens from these four nations will receive indefinite stay authorization upon arrival. They will also gain access to emergency and primary healthcare and public education for their children in any of the participating countries.

This represents a significant step beyond CARICOM’s existing skills regime, which previously limited mobility to approved categories of workers and left accompanying family members without full access to local services.

New Framework for Regional Integration

Each participating country has established registration and tracking systems to manage arrivals and coordinate data through CARICOM’s regional security framework, including the CARICOM IMPACS Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS).

Governments retain authority to deny entry on national security or public health grounds, with passenger screening integrated into regional and international watch lists.

Regional Impact and Next Steps

The four-nation agreement operates under CARICOM’s Enhanced Cooperation Protocol, which allows smaller groups of member states to advance deeper integration when full consensus among all 15 members is not immediately possible.

CARICOM has confirmed that indefinite stay stamping and digital record systems are now live across all four nations. Barbados’ Parliament will debate supporting legislation on October 7, while Jamaica has expressed interest in joining at a later stage.