“These four countries have agreed to grant their nationals the right to enter, leave, and re-enter, and move freely,” stated CARICOM.

By Charles Gladden

BELIZE CITY, Tues. Sept. 16, 2025

   Four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states will be implementing a policy of full free movement among themselves on October 1. Those countries are Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The decision was made at the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government.

   Residents of those four countries will be able to travel freely to and from these countries, and skilled workers will be able to enter, leave, and re-enter, as well as reside, work, and remain indefinitely, in the participating Member States, without needing a work or residency permit.

   “Their nationals will also be able to access emergency and primary health care, and public primary and secondary education, within the means of the receiving Member State,” CARICOM outlined in a statement on Monday, September 15.

   CARICOM added that this agreement falls under the Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, which all CARICOM members signed in 2023, and aims to eliminate the need for work permits or skills certificates for nationals moving among CARICOM states.

   “This type of free movement expands what is offered under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It is available to all CARICOM nationals of the participating four countries,” the CARICOM release added.

   The other Member States participating in the CSME will continue to permit the type of free movement currently allowed under the existing Regimes, which is based on criteria such as skills, services, business establishment, and general facilitation of travel.    The 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government was held in Jamaica in July.