At a recent press conference, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed his confidence that the United Kingdom will soon reinstate the visa waiver agreement with Dominica.
According to Skerrit, Dominica continues to engage with the UK, and this could soon lead to the reconsideration to start permitting visa-free entry for Dominicans again, VisaGuide.World reports.
We continue to engage with the United Kingdom. We had meetings with them while in Grenada. We continue to engage them on a political level.
The UK currently has visa requirements in place for Dominicans following security concerns. Back when visas were imposed for Dominicans, the UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman, addressed concerns in Parliament about Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme.
As Loop News explained, Braverman noted that the investigations revealed significant abuse of the scheme, with citizenships granted to individuals deemed potential risks to the UK. for this reason, visa-free entry for Dominican passport holders was ended.
Despite such concerns, Prime Minister Skerrit emphasizd the significance of this agreement for the nation’s connectivity and economic growth, saying that they will continue to work on the matter.
We will continue to dialogue with them with a view to allaying any concerns which they may have and to have the visas reinstated with the United Kingdom.
UK Imposed Visa Restrictions on Dominica in 2023
The UK government started applying visa requirements for Dominica and four other countries on July 19, 2023, citing migration and border security as key concerns. This move has complicated travel for Dominican nationals, who now require a direct air transit visa to holiday in the UK.
Since then, citizens from Dominica and several other nations, including Namibia, Honduras, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu, are required to obtain visas for ordinary visits to the UK, which can last up to six months. Additionally, these travelers must secure a transit visa to connect through UK airports.
The Prime Minister of Dominica noted that while UK visa-free status is vital, Dominica is expanding its global reach. He said the growing number of countries Dominica citizens can enter without a visa reflects the island’s commitment to increasing its international presence.
Dominica, part of a select group of Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations with a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, allows foreign investors to acquire citizenship through significant contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.
Recent developments within the CBI framework include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with other members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) – St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Kitts. This agreement focuses on best practices, due diligence and setting a minimum investment threshold of USD 200,000, ensuring an efficient and secure process for applicants.