Citizens of Antigua And Barbuda Requires Visa To Enter Canada
Reports has it commencing June 27, 2017, all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda will need a visa to visit Canada. From that date, any existing electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) issued to a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda will become null and void, and affected individuals who had previously been issued an eTA will no longer be able to use that eTA for the purposes of travel to Canada, said the CIC news.
The Canadian government believes that the small Caribbean nation, which has a population of less than 100,000, no longer meets the criteria for a visa exemption, but did not elaborate more on this.
However, the country’s citizenship by investment program allows international investors and their families to obtain citizenship, and therefore a passport, for either a contribution of $200,000 USD, or a real investment of $400,000, or an investment into business of $1,500,000, according to reports.
“Canada continues to welcome visitors from Antigua and Barbuda, while protecting the integrity of our immigration system and ensuring the safety of Canadians”, stated by the government in a press release.
Meanwhile, approved visa applicants will receive a multiple-entry visa, allowing them to visit Canada as much as possible, for a period of up to ten years, and for each visit, visa holders may stay up to six months if they wish.
“The government states that most visa applications (about 80 per cent) are processed within 14 days. Individuals with travel arrangements to come to Canada before July 11 will be treated on a priority basis at the visa office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago, the closest visa office to Antigua and Barbuda. Alternatively, applicants may also apply for a visa online as of June 27″, says CIC news.
While citizens in Antigua and Barbuda studying or working in Canada can continue to stay in Canada for as long as they are authorized to do so on their work or study permit as these permits remain valid. But if such persons travel outside and want to re-enter will have to apply for a visa to return to the country.
