Nine Caribbean Nations Keep Visa-Free Access

Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed that citizens of nine Caribbean countries holding ordinary passports may continue to travel to Spain and the wider Schengen Area without a visa for short stays, while travellers from five other CARICOM nations remain subject to visa requirements.

The countries eligible for visa free entry are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Citizens of these nations may stay for up to 90 days within any 180 day period for tourism, business or family visits.

Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Belize and Haiti are not included on the visa exempt list and must continue to obtain a Schengen visa before travelling.

Although the announcement attracted attention across the Caribbean, it does not represent a new immigration policy introduced by Spain. Visa requirements for the Schengen Area are determined through European Union regulations rather than by individual member states. The nine Caribbean countries named by Spain were already included on the European Union’s list of visa exempt nations.

The ministry’s announcement instead serves as an updated confirmation of the existing travel arrangements by publishing a consolidated list of 60 countries whose citizens do not require a visa for short visits to Spain and other Schengen states.

Travellers using the exemption must still satisfy standard border entry conditions. These include holding a passport issued within the previous 10 years that remains valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date, along with proof of accommodation, evidence of sufficient financial resources and, where requested, a return or onward ticket. The exemption does not permit employment within the Schengen Area.

A significant change, however, is expected in the final quarter of 2026 with the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, commonly known as ETIAS.

Under the new system, all visitors from visa exempt countries, including the nine Caribbean nations, will be required to obtain online travel authorisation before boarding a flight to Europe. Officials have emphasized that ETIAS is not a visa but a pre travel security screening system that will generally be processed electronically and remain valid for multiple trips over several years.

The new requirement will also apply to travellers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

The reciprocal visa free arrangement also benefits European visitors travelling to the participating Caribbean nations, an important consideration for tourism dependent economies across the region. While the latest announcement confirms existing travel privileges, the introduction of ETIAS means that visa exempt travel to Europe will soon involve an additional step before departure.

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