ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua and Barbuda’s foreign minister, E Paul Chet Greene, has welcomed the news that many hundreds of Antigua and Barbuda nationals can more easily travel to Canada, effective today.
The minister said that his government “was very pleased by the announcement of Canada’s minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship of Canada, today, that Antigua and Barbuda is among 13 countries whose nationals can travel to Canada on in its electronic travel authorization (eTA) program.”
Under the eTA program, nationals of Antigua and Barbuda who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air.
Applying for an eTA is done on the Internet, requiring no travel expenses.
Minister Greene said that this decision by Canada is one for which the Antigua and Barbuda government has been working “assiduously”, given the burden that had been placed by the requirement to travel to Barbados or Trinidad to secure a visa.
“We are very glad that our efforts have borne fruit and that this burden has been lifted for many hundreds of Antiguans and Barbudans,” the minister said.
Introducing visa-free air travel will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for Antigua and Barbuda nationals to visit Canada for up to six months for either business or leisure.
Applications for an ETA have to be made at the following Internet website.
Minister Greene pointed out that while persons who have not travelled to Canada in the last 10 years or who do not have a US visa, will still have to apply for a Canadian visa, the majority of the Antigua and Barbuda travelling public qualify for the eTA.
