Travel Made Easier: Canada includes St Kitts and Nevis in visa-free access list, Image Courtesy: facebook
Travel Made Easier: Canada includes St Kitts and Nevis in visa-free access list, Image Courtesy: facebook

Last Updated on June 7, 2023, 5:37 AM AST by Anthony Morris

Qualifying citizens from St Kitts and Nevis are now eligible for visa-free travel to Canada. In a recent announcement made by the Sean Fraser – Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, people who hold valid US non-immigrant visas or ever held a Canadian visa in the past ten years are now eligible for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

In a letter, the High Commission of Canada to Barbados noted that as CARICOM (Caribbean Community) and fellow Commonwealth member St Kitts and Nevis is an important partner for Canada.”Both countries share strong cultural and people-to-people ties. Accordingly, Canada recognizes the importance of expanding and simplifying travel between our countries,”.

Besides St Kitts and Nevis, there are twelve other countries that will now enjoy similar benefits of partial visa free access, including four sister islands from the region.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, made the significant announcement during his visit to Winnipeg on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

He said that with the new regulations, eligible people from thirteen nations would no longer need Temporary Residence Visas (TRV) while travelling to Canada by Air.

However, he clarified that to be eligible, the travellers must either hold a Canadian visa in the last ten years or a valid United States non-immigrant visa.

Further, Sean Fraser- Canadian the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in the government of Canada, asserted that this new development would take the burden off the immigration office.

The Minister stated that this would make the pretravel screening process easier for all travellers and divert several applications from the visa caseload and allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to serve the people in a more efficient manner.

With this new development within the immigration framework of the country, Canada has added St Kitts and Nevis to the list of nations with visa-free travel access. The list of countries that the government of Canada has decided to extend their Visa Free travel privileges to include five Caribbean Nations:

Caribbean Nations
Antigua and Barbuda
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and The Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

The other eight nations on this list are
Philippines
Morocco
Panama
Argentina
Costa Rica
Uruguay
Seychelles
Thailand

With the announcement of the removal of Visa restrictions, the eligible people of these nations will no longer need to get a Visitor Visa or a Temporary Residence Visa (TRV).

Visitors from these thirteen nations can now travel to and live in Canada for up to six months for business or leisure purposes.

The people of St Kitts and Nevis have welcomed the development with open arms as the new regulations will help simplify travel decisions.

People can travel to the country for short durations for business and recreation. The decision of the government of Canada was most anticipated among the people of the country.

Following this major announcement by Canada, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, also welcomed the decision.

“After sustained and meaningful dialogue between the governments of Canada and St. Kitts and Nevis, the visa requirement imposed on nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis in 2014 has been partially lifted, clearing the way for easier movement of people between our two countries,” said the office of the Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew on Tuesday.

The Premier of Nevis has also applauded the decision of the government of Canada for their decision to grant partial visa-free access to the country. He also lauded the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Denzil Douglas and the government of St Kitts and Nevis for their efforts to get the government of Canada to provide partial visa-free access to the passport holders of St Kitts and Nevis.

The decision will benefit the business community of St Kitts and Nevis Passport holders most as access to the new destination will open a plethora of doors to more unique avenues in the growth of their businesses.

Reporter at SKN News | anthony@sknnews.com |  + posts

Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.