Antigua signs new visa agreements with African and Middle Eastern countries

Antigua and Barbuda has expanded its international travel access after signing a series of new visa agreements with countries in Africa and the Middle East, the government has announced.

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Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene disclosed during the 2026 Budget Debate that Antigua and Barbuda has concluded visa arrangements with the United Arab Emirates, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Benin. He said the agreements form part of a deliberate effort to improve global mobility for Antiguans and Barbudans while strengthening diplomatic and economic ties.

According to Greene, the new visa arrangements are aimed at making it easier for citizens to travel abroad and fostering deeper engagement with key international partners. While the minister did not provide specific details on the terms of each agreement, he emphasized that they are intended to deliver tangible benefits rather than symbolic diplomatic gestures.

“These are practical outcomes of foreign policy,” Greene told Parliament, framing the agreements as tools to support trade, investment and people-to-people connections.

Greene also referenced Japan as part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader diplomatic outreach, noting that existing arrangements with Tokyo remain in place, even though no new visa agreement with Japan was announced during the budget debate. He said the government continues to strengthen long-standing relations with the Asian nation.

The visa agreements were outlined against the backdrop of wider changes to Antigua and Barbuda’s foreign service, which Greene detailed during his budget presentation. These include new diplomatic appointments, adjustments to overseas missions and efforts to expand the country’s international presence.

Government officials have increasingly highlighted visa access as a key measure of diplomatic reach, particularly for small island states where international mobility can directly influence trade opportunities, education access and tourism development.

Greene said the latest agreements reflect the government’s view that foreign policy should produce everyday benefits for citizens, rather than remain confined to diplomatic statements.

He did not indicate whether additional visa agreements are expected in the near term but suggested that the government would continue pursuing similar arrangements as part of its broader international strategy.