Dominica and China Sign a mutual Visa-waiver Agreement
The Commonwealth of Dominica, represented by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and China, represented by the new Chinese ambassador to Dominica, Lin Xianjiang, signed a visa-waiver agreement on the 22nd of November 2021, in the Dominican capital of Roseau. The aforementioned agreement gave the citizens of both countries the privilege to travel to the other without the need to obtain a prior visa.
Dominica’s Prime Minister was elated to announce the good news on his Facebook social media account, describing it as a significant achievement between the two countries. The visa-waiver agreement takes effect immediately, meaning Dominica passport holders can now travel visa-free to China and China passport holders can now travel to Dominica without a visa.
Dominica and China have had excellent bilateral relations since 2004 which was further strengthened and deepened when the two countries signed an agreement in 2013 to allow holders of diplomatic passports to be exempted from visas. Over the past years, the country has entered into cooperation in various fields, most notably, culture, education, and health.
After this latest development, the number of countries Dominica passport holders can travel to visa-free, which now stands at more than 140 countries and territories, will increase even more. This includes various sought-after tourist and business destinations, such as the member countries of the Schengen Area, and the UK. On the other hand, China will add Dominica to its current visa-free countries list which stands at more than 70.
The addition of China offers a plethora of opportunities, being one of the most lucrative countries in terms of business with the second biggest economy in the world. It will boost the prominence of the Dominica passport to those who want to acquire it via Dominica citizenship by investment program.