A visa-free waiver to allow Dominican citizens to travel to European states is now in effect.
This, as the formal signing of the agreement between Dominica and the European Union took place on Thursday 28 May 2015 in Brussels. Senator Francine Baron, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and CARICOM affairs signed on Dominica’s behalf.
This visa-free waiver is for a maximum period of ninety (90) days in any 180-day period.
Among the Schengen Member States are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit expressed gratitude to the European Union for this decision.
He said as a result of the approval of the proposal and following the formal signing of the agreement, it would mean therefore that holders of Dominican passports; whether diplomatic service or ordinary, would be able to travel to the Schengen states without requiring a visa.
“I believe this is great news for all Dominicans, it would certainly facilitate our ability to travel and we want to thank the European Union for this and certainly it demonstrates the level of relationship which we have with the European Union,” Mr Skerrit said.
A similar agreement was signed for the islands of Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.