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OECS Free Movement - Indefinite Stay

DominicaFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Dominica Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

The right arises under the Free Movement of Persons Regime of the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (ECEU), established on 18 June 2010 by the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre; the regime is limited to the ECEU area of seven Protocol Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

See recorded sources
  • https://oecs.int/en/free-movement-of-persons-in-the-eastern-caribbean
    The Free Movement of Persons Regime in the Eastern Caribbean is limited to the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (ECEU) area. The ECEU was established on June 18th, 2010, through the signing of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre (RTB).
  • https://oecs.int/en/free-movement-of-persons-in-the-eastern-caribbean
    It constitutes a single financial and economic space within which all factors of production including goods, services, capital, enterprises and people are able to move freely throughout the ECEU area which comprises seven (7) Protocol Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

Citizens of Protocol Member States can work in any Protocol Member State without obtaining a work permit. The official source does not state separate conditions for self-employed persons, students, jobseekers or self-funded persons.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state separate conditions for self-employed persons, students, jobseekers or self-funded persons.

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Citizens of Protocol Member States and their family members (spouse and dependants) receive an indefinite stay stamp on arrival at the immigration desks (OECS Free Movement Indefinite Stay Stamp) and can live in any Protocol Member State indefinitely. Citizens of Protocol Member States can travel within the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union with a valid government-issued ID such as a driver's licence, national identification card or voter card. The official source does not state any further registration or residence-document formalities.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state any further registration or residence-document formalities.

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

The spouse and dependants of a citizen of a Protocol Member State, including those of third-country nationality, have equal access to rights with respect to employment, education, healthcare and social protection in the host Protocol Member State when they move to reside and work; the citizen's spouse is entitled to portability of social security benefits.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page says the Contingent Rights Policy is still being fully implemented, so how these rights apply in Dominica today is not confirmed.
  • The page does not define which dependants qualify (age or dependency tests).
  • https://oecs.int/en/free-movement-of-persons-in-the-eastern-caribbean
    Social Security: Citizens of Protocol Member States and their spouse are entitled to the portability of social security benefits.
  • https://oecs.int/en/free-movement-of-persons-in-the-eastern-caribbean
    Contingent Rights: Citizens of Protocol Member States and their spouse and dependent(s) (including those of a third-country nationality) have equal access to numerous rights and freedoms with respect to employment, education, healthcare, and social protection within the host Protocol Member State when they move between Member States to reside and work. These benefits are fully expressed in the OECS Contingent Rights Policy.

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

The long-term right applies from entry: OECS citizens are granted entry for an indefinite period and given an ‘OECS free movement indefinite stay’ stamp to stay and transact personal business. Entry can be denied where the person poses a security risk. The official source does not state continuity, absence or retention conditions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No continuity, absence or retention conditions are stated.
  • https://oecs.int/en/who-we-are/faq
    You will be granted entry into the country for an indefinite period.  You will be given a stamp of ‘OECS free movement indefinite stay’ that allows you to stay and transact your personal business.
  • https://oecs.int/en/who-we-are/faq
    An OECS citizen will be denied entry in circumstances/cases where he or she poses a security risk

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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