Canada has long enjoyed a good relationship with Antigua and Barbuda. This is due to a significant Caribbean diaspora in Canada, long-standing regional commercial links, and a long history of Canadian support for the region.
There exists several agreements between the two countries, including a Social Security Agreement (1994) and an Agreement regarding the sharing of Forfeited Assets and Equivalent Funds (1999). Approximately 10,000 Canadian tourists visit these islands annually.
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force take part in Canada’s Military Training Assistance Program. Information technology has been an important part of the program. The Canadian Armed Forces have had close cooperation with the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, which has helped raise the level of computer literacy substantially within the Forces.
In terms of Canada’s trade relationship with Antigua and Barbuda, bilateral merchandise trade totalled $9.9 million in 2017. Merchandise exports to Antigua and Barbuda amounted to $9.6 million and included fish, meat products, and machinery. Also in 2017, Canada imported $282,000 worth of merchandise from Antigua and Barbuda, which mainly included foodstuffs.
- As of June 27, 2017, Antigua and Barbuda removed from the list of countries requiring an electronic travel authorization. As of June 27, 2017, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda require a temporary resident visa for travel to Canada. They are no longer eligible for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada by air, unless they are lawful permanent residents of the United States. The program delivery instructions have been updated to remove Antigua and Barbuda from the list of countries requiring an eTA.
- On June 27, 2017, Canada revoked visa waiver and imposed visa requirements to Antigua and Barbuda citizens, citing concerns over the CIP scheme.
Canadian Government said in their website
The Government said Canada continues to welcome visitors from Antigua and Barbuda, while protecting the integrity of our immigration system and ensuring the safety of Canadians.
In 2018 Canadian PM Trudeau said on restoring visas said, “we have pretty high expectations of countries that do not require visas to come to Canada. We will always ensure Canadians stay protected and if countries like Antigua and Barbuda make the significant improvements and changes necessary to their programmes, we could then look at lifting the visa requirements. I’m just not going to compromise Canadian security.”
In 2018 Budget Speech, PM Browne said,
In June 2017, Canada revoked visa -free access for Antiguan and Barbudan passport holders. At the time, we were the only OECS jurisdiction with visa-free access to Canada. Following this development, the number of CIP applications fell across all options but particularly, the National Development. The decline in revenues from the Citizenship by Investment Programme, following the withdrawal of visa free entry to Canada, and the effect on revenues of Hurricane Irma, neither of which had been anticipated.
Canada just announced to increase security on immigration matters, as of 31 Dec 2018, Canada to collect biometric data for visitor visas, work permits, study permits and permanent residence applicants, who must appear in person at the embassy for biometrics.
Canada further informed that Biometrics-based information to be shared with the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom will further support the integrity of Canada’s immigration system, in a manner that respects Canada’s privacy laws, civil liberties and human rights commitments, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Source: Canada.ca
