ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda is widening its international travel access after signing a series of visa agreements with countries across Africa and the Middle East. Foreign Affairs Minister EP Chet Greene, speaking during the 2026 Budget Debate, told Parliament that new visa arrangements have been concluded with the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Benin, forming part of what he described as a deliberate push to improve mobility for Antiguans and Barbudans.
The agreements, Greene said, are intended to make it easier for citizens to travel abroad while deepening diplomatic and economic links with key international partners.
Although the minister did not outline the specific terms of each agreement, he framed them as practical outcomes of foreign policy measures designed to move beyond symbolism and deliver tangible benefits, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people connections.
Greene also pointed to Japan as part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader diplomatic engagement, noting that arrangements with Tokyo remain active even though no new visa agreement was announced during the debate. He included Japan among countries with which the government continues to strengthen long-standing ties.
The visa agreements come amid a broader reconfiguration of Antigua and Barbuda’s foreign service, which Greene outlined in his budget presentation.
That included new diplomatic appointments, changes to overseas missions, and efforts to expand the country’s international footprint.
Government officials have increasingly framed visa access as a key indicator of diplomatic reach, particularly for small island states, where global mobility can directly affect trade opportunities, educational access, and tourism development.
Greene said the latest agreements reflect the government’s view that foreign policy should translate into everyday advantages for citizens, rather than remain confined to diplomatic communiqués.
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