Four CARICOM States to Implement Full Free Movement by October 2025

Four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations – Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines – will launch full free movement for regional nationals on October 1, 2025, marking a pivotal advancement in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Announced by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, CARICOM’s current chairman, the move fulfills commitments under the 2023 Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, which aims to eliminate work permits and skills certifications for intra-regional travel.

“Progress on the CSME has been too slow – we’re now accelerating implementation,” Holness said, reaffirming Jamaica’s commitment despite delays due to domestic legislative requirements. “We’re streamlining our processes to catch up.”

The October rollout will serve as a key test case for expanding free movement across all 15 member states, supporting CARICOM’s broader 2030 integration agenda focused on economic mobility, shared opportunity, and regional unity.

In a related development, CARICOM expanded the list of recognized skilled professions under the CSME to include aviation personnel. Jamaica proposed three new additions: photogrammetrists, field maintenance technicians, and aircraft maintenance personnel.

Holness also called for modernized governance within CARICOM to ensure faster, more effective decision-making. “Our institutions must be agile and fit for purpose,” he said.

“Efficiency is essential to delivering real outcomes for our people.”

The October launch represents the most significant step yet toward a fully integrated Caribbean community.