Citizens of Colombia and Guyana will no longer need to apply for a visa before entering Anguilla.
Kenneth Hodge, minister of home affairs and immigration, in a press release on 1 July said the Executive Council made the decision to remove visa restrictions on 27 June.
“This move is in keeping in with the Government of Anguilla’s commitment to fostering and strengthening the relationship with regional and international counterparts,” he said.
Hodge also said the decision would help to develop a more sustainable migration policy.
“The removal of these visa requirements marks a significant step towards improving bilateral relations, encouraging tourism and facilitating business development,” he added.
The move brings Anguilla in line with the United Kingdom, which removed the visa restrictions imposed on nationals of Guyana and Colombia on 9 November, 2022.
‘One less layer’
In an interview with Keith Greaves on Radio Anguilla on 2 July, Hodge explained that for well over 30 years, Anguilla, as a British overseas territory, has matched the UK’s visa restrictions.
He said that the various governments have conformed to this list, taking time to add or remove countries as required – so the latest change is not unusual.
Visitors from Colombia and Guyana will still have to conform to all of the usual immigration and entry requirements, he stressed, and will not be given any “special incentives”.
“It is simply one less layer for them to get into Anguilla,” he said.
When asked if he could extend the rules to those from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and others, Hodge said at the moment, those countries remain on the UK’s visa list.
