The Ministry of Home Affairs announces some important changes to our Immigration Policy which will take effect from 1st June 2017. These changes are intended to encourage travel to Anguilla and facilitate ease of entry without compromising border security.
(1) Persons from countries which require an Anguilla visitor’s visa to enter Anguilla, will no longer require that visa, once they have a valid visa or residence permit from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom. On entry into Anguilla, such persons may be allowed to remain for up to three months.
(2) Nationals of St Maarten/ St Martin using a machine readable national identification card will be allowed to enter Anguilla and remain for up to 72 hours (3 days). Likewise, French Nationals who are visiting St Maarten/ St Martin will be allowed to enter Anguilla using a machine readable national identification card and to remain for up to 24 hours (1 day).
(3) Further, unless there are special circumstances which necessitate a shorter time period, all other visitors lawfully entering Anguilla may be given permission at the port to remain for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 90 days.
In addition to these changes, the Ministry reminds the general public of the importance of travelling with the appropriate travel documents if you wish to be identified as a belonger of Anguilla at the ports of entry. It is the duty of the Immigration Officers to deal with each traveler based on the documentation presented by that traveler. Proof of belonger status may include:
– A belonger certificate
– A belonger stamp in any passport including the European/ British passport
– A British Overseas Territories Citizen (Anguilla) passport
Unless these documents are presented, belongers born outside Anguilla with no proof of belonger status will be treated as regular visitors and given permission at the port to remain for a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 90 days.
Please also note the following:
1. Persons born in Anguilla after 1982 and who have no proof of belonger status maybe given permission to enter and remain for up to one year.
2. Persons born in Anguilla prior to 1st January 1983 must have a valid travel document but will not be required to provide proof of belonger status as they are not subject to immigration restrictions.
The Ministry looks forward to the cooperation of the public as we seek to implement these changes.
Honourable Cora Richardson Hodge
Minister of Home Affairs
19th May 2017
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
