On October 1, 2025, a historic new chapter began for the Caribbean as four nations—Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—launched a groundbreaking agreement allowing their citizens to move freely among them without the need for visas or work permits. The move, widely hailed as a major milestone for regional integration, marks the first time that such comprehensive freedom of movement has been established among these Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, according to CNBC TV18.
For decades, Caribbean leaders and citizens alike have dreamed of a region where borders are less a barrier and more a bridge. The Enhanced Cooperation Chapter of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, adopted in March 2022, finally made that dream possible by allowing three or more CARICOM member states to deepen cooperation even if full consensus was lacking. This paved the way for Prime Ministers Mia Mottley (Barbados), John Briceño (Belize), Roosevelt Skerritt (Dominica), and Ralph Gonsalves (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) to commit their countries to full free movement as a group within the CARICOM Single Market.
So, what exactly does this new agreement mean for the everyday citizen? When nationals from any of the four participating countries travel to another member, their passports are stamped—or a digital record is created—granting them indefinite stay. Gone are the days of six-month limits or restrictions to economic purposes only. Now, families can relocate for leisure, work, or simply to experience life in a neighboring Caribbean nation, with the assurance that they can officially register for education, healthcare, and other vital services. As CNBC TV18 reported, “measures for incoming travellers to officially register for education, health care and other services also are in place, according to Caricom, a regional 15-member trade bloc spearheading the initiative.”
This is a marked change from previous policy. Historically, CARICOM nationals could only move freely for economic reasons—primarily as skilled workers—without a work permit. Others could stay for up to six months, but were barred from working. The new arrangement, however, recognizes that true integration means more than just jobs. As St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves put it on Monday, “If you can move for work, but your spouse or children cannot access education or health care, the right is hollow.”
The agreement also addresses concerns about security, a critical issue for the region. With crime an ongoing challenge in several Caribbean countries, authorities have taken steps to ensure that open borders do not come at the expense of safety. In a national address on September 30, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley was unequivocal: “Any government may refuse entry to a person who poses a genuine threat to national security.” The vetting systems and guardrails in place are designed to keep criminals out while enabling genuine travelers to enjoy their new freedoms.
For Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this kind of arrangement isn’t entirely new. Both are members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which has enjoyed full freedom of movement for over a decade. Within the OECS, citizens benefit from indefinite stay stamps upon arrival, can travel with any valid government-issued identification card, enjoy mutual recognition of driver’s licenses, and do not require work permits. They also have access to employment, education, healthcare, and social protection for themselves and their families. The new CARICOM agreement, however, is a first for Belize and Barbados, marking a significant expansion of these rights within the broader Caribbean region.
As one commentator reflected in a recent opinion piece, “We are on the cusp of the major milestone within our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of the full free movement between a selected group of 4 countries comprising of Belize in Central America, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and Barbados.” The sense of excitement is palpable, but so too is the awareness that challenges lie ahead.
Indeed, the journey to this point has been a long one. The Grand Anse Declaration of 1989 provided the initial impetus for a Caribbean Single Market, but nearly 40 years later, full realization is only now coming into view for some. The process has required not just political will, but also the development of practical systems for registering newcomers, harmonizing services, and ensuring that citizens can access the rights and protections they need.
Looking forward, regional leaders and experts are calling for even greater integration. Improved intra-regional air and maritime transportation is seen as vital to making free movement a lived reality rather than just a legal one. The need for reliable, sustainable, and affordable bi-weekly services between the four jurisdictions is widely acknowledged, with calls for nonstop, direct transport options to help overcome the physical distance and even North American visa requirements that sometimes separate the islands.
There are also calls for citizens to engage more deeply with regional institutions and news sources. The CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), and the CARICOM Secretariat all provide vital information and technical expertise. Young people, in particular, are encouraged to learn about CARICOM governance and to tune in to bi-annual live-streamed conferences of the Heads of Government. As the opinion writer advised, “subscribe to the social media channels of regional institutions…to hear the news directly from the source to avoid any misinformation, disinformation or untruths floating across the Caribbean Sea.”
For those looking to take advantage of the new freedoms, there’s practical advice as well. Young professionals are encouraged to explore opportunities in the OECS territories, where freedom of movement has already been tested and proven. Older generations are urged to support the younger ones in “spreading their wings and choosing CARICOM first.” After all, as the writer notes, the CARICOM Single Market is a framework created for the people and the private sector to utilize; it’s up to individuals and communities to make the most of it.
As the region embraces this new reality, there’s a sense that Caribbean unity is not just a lofty ideal, but a practical necessity. Former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, quoted in the opinion piece, captured the sentiment perfectly: “Ours is therefore the region in today’s world where integration is most sorely needed as the indispensable foundation on which to rest national and regional endeavours in pursuit of equitable and sustainable development. We have tried all the others…It is time to now give Caribbean unity a chance.”
With the ink barely dry on this new agreement, the Caribbean finds itself at a crossroads—one where the promise of open borders, shared opportunities, and deeper unity could finally become the lived experience of its people.
