On June 6, 2023, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser, who is visiting across Canada, announced a new announcement in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, that passport holders of 13 countries and regions will be allowed to enter the Electronic Travel Authorization eTA without the need to apply for a tourist visa.
According to Immigration Canada, citizens of these countries have a prerequisite for electronic visa entry into Canada if they have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or currently have a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.
The 13 new visa-free countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Costa Rica, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
In the Caribbean, Antigua once allowed visa-free entry to Canada, a policy suspended in 2018. St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Antigua in the Caribbean are now allowed visa-free entry to Canada, which is more convenient for applicants holding Caribbean passports.
• What are the requirements for obtaining a passport for a small Caribbean country?
The application conditions for island passports are simple and relaxed, without any language requirements, no immigration supervision, fast approval speed, except for Antigua, there is no need to land on the island to take fingerprints and oaths, the whole family can obtain passports and identities in one step, the specific requirements are as follows:
1. The applicant is at least 18 years old and has no criminal record;
2. Provide identity documents and asset documents according to the requirements of investment naturalization;
3. Complete the investment required by the government of the applicant country;
4. You can bring your spouse, children, parents, etc. to apply together.
● Why do high net worth families need a Caribbean island passport?
1. Travel freely in more than 100 countries/regions
With passports of St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Antigua, Dominica and other island countries, you can travel freely to more than 100 countries and regions around the world, the European Union, Singapore and most other countries in the world, including the visa-free UK for up to 6 months.
2. Solve wealth management needs
Caribbean island countries do not have personal income tax, capital gains tax, net worth tax, overseas income tax, inheritance tax, gift tax, etc., and are a non-global taxing country, which can use island citizenship for global asset allocation and wealth inheritance.
3. Solve the listing needs of enterprises
The local offshore financial industry in the Caribbean was developed earlier, offshore finance is developed, and there are various professionals who can provide customers with various legal or fiscal services, and communicate efficiently. Applying for an island passport is one of the most direct, convenient and secure shortcuts for entrepreneurs to achieve overseas listing.
4. Help children in international education
The Caribbean island country is a Commonwealth country, from primary school to high school enjoy free British education, can easily study in domestic and international schools as a foreigner, and obtain low-score admission to key domestic universities.