For all those who still do not know about Dominica, it is a beautiful island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea and has been a member of the Commonwealth since 1978 independence. The lush rainforests and volcanic landscapes in the country contribute to its natural beauty and attract many tourists to the country. Another main reason behind the country’s global recognition is its Dominica citizenship by investment program, which, as per the 2025 CBI Index Report, ranks in the 2nd position among many other CBI programs due to the long-term stability, visa-free access, and multiple other benefits it provides to global investors. Recently, the country took another major decision for the benefit of its citizens and CBI investors.
Dominica - Now a Part of Caribbean Free Movement
According to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, Dominica officially joined Barbados, Belize, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to implement the full free movement Pact. The decision was approved by the CARICOM Heads of Government in a meeting in July 2025. The movement means the citizens of these four countries can now live, work, and stay in these four nations without visas or work permits for an indefinite period of time, providing them with travel freedom and global mobility, which is a dire need for being successful in today’s era.
What is the CARICOM Free Movement Pact?
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a group of 21 countries, 15 member states and 6 associated members of the Caribbean, established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973. All of these states work together for a long-term regional integration and well-being of their approximately 16 million citizens. This was the first time the Caribbean Community implemented an agreement that provides unrestricted regional mobility to its CARICOM citizens traveling for non-economic purposes, as previously there was a sixth-month stay limit imposed on them. The agreement plays a vital role in providing better trade and travel opportunities to the citizens and is different from the existing skills regime of CARICOM, which allows only skilled professionals to stay indefinitely in the member states without work permits.
Skerrit’s Official Statement About Caribbean Free Movement
The Prime Minister of Dominica, Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, stated about the agreement that, “Free movement allows us to fill gaps in the critical areas, while giving our citizens greater access to opportunities across the region. It is a win-win for all.” He further addressed the Dominica citizens to accept the change with optimism by saying, “Embrace this change with an open mind as it will bring huge opportunities for your families.”
Significant Benefits of Movement For Dominica Citizenship Investors
Right to Access Healthcare and Education
According to the CARICOM free movement, the nationals of four countries who signed the agreement can access the emergency and primary healthcare, as well as the public and private educational institutions of these four countries. This is significantly beneficial for the families of Dominica Citizenship investors, mainly children, as they can benefit from the free Caribbean healthcare services and can enroll their children in local schools.
Conduct Business without Work Permits
Most businessmen and entrepreneurs need global mobility in their lives to expand their business on a global scale and travel freely for work purposes. Although according to Passport Index, the Dominica passport allows visa-free access to 145+ countries, including the EU Schengen area, but the investors who need to represent their brands internationally and attend business meetings or events in Barbados, Belize, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines can travel to these four member countries under the CARICOM free movement without needing visas and work permits.
Registration Systems and Security Protocols
To keep in view the security standards and to ensure the smooth running of operations under the full free movement, some significant measures were made, which include:
When the citizens of four member states, such as Dominica, Barbados, Belize, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, arrive in any of these four nations, they will receive a stamp or digital record that will demonstrate that they can stay there for an unlimited time.
A registration system is in place to record new arrivals and to make sure the citizens are able to access public healthcare and education.
To keep the nations secure, safety measures are taken which are supported by the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and make sure that the individuals who are a threat to national security or the public are denied entry in any of the four nations. The IMPACS also runs the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), which means the information of traveler's is sent before flights or sea travel.
If travellers face any issue, they can file a CARICOM complaint form. The complaints are reviewed within 2 weeks, and investigations are completed within 8 weeks.
Conclusion
Dominica’s decision to join the Caribbean free movement is a major step for the betterment of citizens, whether it's in terms of business or travel purposes. The combination of Dominica citizenship by investment and free movement provides the investors and global citizens with multiple lifestyle and trade benefits of Caribbean Island in 2025.