St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda sign visa waivers with Azerbaijan
Both Caribbean states signed agreements in New York covering every passport type, including the ordinary passports held by citizens by investment.
ReadAntigua and Barbuda has signed visa waiver agreements with four countries in a single week: Ghana, Kenya and Benin in Africa, and the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf. All four were signed in New York on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the annual gathering of world leaders, and announced on September 26, 2025.
A visa waiver agreement is a treaty in which two countries agree that some or all of each other's citizens can visit without applying for a visa in advance. The details matter, particularly which passports are covered and when the agreement takes effect, so it is worth looking at each one.
The four agreements
- Ghana. Signed by Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene, and Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the agreement covers ordinary, service and diplomatic passports, so it applies to every citizen, not only officials.
- Kenya. Signed with Dr Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
- Benin. Signed with Benin's Foreign Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.
- United Arab Emirates. Signed with Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, the UAE's Minister of State for International Cooperation.
The public statements on the Kenya, Benin and UAE agreements did not specify which passport types are covered, how long visitors may stay or when each agreement will come into force. International agreements of this kind usually need to complete domestic approval steps in both countries before travellers can rely on them, so the UAE agreement in particular should be read as signed rather than in force until the two governments confirm a start date.
Why Africa, and why now
The three African agreements reflect a wider push by CARICOM, the Caribbean Community of 15 member states, to build closer ties with Africa. Minister Greene spoke of shared history and common purpose between the two regions, saying the agreements "symbolise our commitment to building bridges across the Atlantic" and could open opportunities in trade, investment, education and culture.
In his meeting with Ghana's foreign minister, Greene described relations between Africa and the Caribbean as "family ties rooted in history and culture". The two ministers also agreed to look at direct travel links, since journeys between West Africa and the Caribbean currently pass through third countries that can require transit visas. Antigua and Barbuda also invited all three African partners to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which it is due to host in 2026.
The UAE connection
The agreement with the UAE was signed in the presence of Antigua and Barbuda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Walton Webson. Greene called the signing a major step in diplomatic relations and said it showed "the abiding bonds of friendship between our two countries". The government presented it as a way to remove travel conditions between the two countries and to support business and investment ties with the Gulf state.
What it means if you hold or are considering Antiguan citizenship
Citizens who qualify through the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment program receive the same ordinary passport as any other citizen. Any agreement that covers ordinary passports, as Ghana's does, applies to them in full.
The UAE agreement deserves particular attention from our clients. Many people who acquire a Caribbean citizenship also hold, or plan to hold, residency in the UAE, and some run their business through a UAE free zone company. A visa waiver between Antigua and Barbuda and the UAE, once it takes effect, would make short visits simpler for Antiguan citizens who have not yet taken up UAE residency, for example while they set up a company or look for a home. It does not replace a residence visa for anyone who wants to live or work in the UAE.
For anyone comparing Caribbean programs, agreements like these are a reminder that a passport's reach changes over time, through steady diplomatic work as much as through headline announcements. We help clients apply for citizenship and residency, set up company structures in jurisdictions including the UAE, work with our local team in each country, and quote our fees in writing before any work begins.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice.
