tl;dr – Similar to the EU, citizens of these nations can live and work freely in any of the four countries without the need for a permit.
I have many controversial opinions, but one that is likely near the top of the list is as follows: free and open borders – plain and simple. To that end, the latest development out of the Caribbean has me smiling. Four nations – Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines – have forged a ‘full free movement’ agreement, allowing their citizens to move about and work in any of the four countries, without the need for a residency or work permit. The agreement comes into effect, today, October 7, 2025.
Modeled after the free movement afforded to citizens of EU-member states (and Schengen Area countries), this is actually the second agreement of its kind in the region. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States – a (12) twelve-member grouping of islands spread across the Eastern Caribbean comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands; and the Windward Islands: Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin – has a similar free movement agreement in place.
A large motivator in getting a deal done here was to provide each country’s citizens with other destinations for moving that weren’t the US, Canada, or the U.K. Notably, the current political climate of the United States has made it a less attractive destination for some Caribbean residents.
As all these countries are part of Caricom, there’s hope that in time, other Caribbean countries can strike similar partnerships to extend to their citizens additional flexibility and optionality in deciding where to work and live.
