Government re-introduces visa requirements for Haitian nationals

The government has, with immediate effect, re-introduced visa requirements for Haitian nationals entering Dominica.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Justice, Immigration and National Security, the restrictions do not apply to Haitian nationals who are holders of a diplomatic or official passport or who are business persons who are holders of the following visas: US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visas.

The ministry advises that people who intend to sponsor Haitian nationals “should be aware of the seriousness and obligations of this responsibility and should ensure that they educate themselves on the relevant laws and procedures involved.”

“Please note that all measures should be taken by members of the public to comply with these instructions,” the ministry cautioned.

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55 Comments

  1. September 26, 2019

    So i read most of comment and i have no personal comment, So i am also someone who intend to come in Dominica, i am Haitian too. So i think that all people on earth must live togheter, so i think also someone who birth in a big country or in a country he can live freely, he get a lot of chance. So i want never leave Haiti, never because i consider it the best place on eart, i already travel as tourist in Dominican Republic, spending time and enjoying with my gf, and come back in my country. But when you are in a country you are making money, good money you are profesional and you ca t have security, stability and infrastructure so i think you must go to have another air. And that is why i choosed to go in Dominica, So it not to come illegally or i am a poor, Whatever, So for all Dominicans dont consider any Haitian like someone who choosed to be in the situation living his home, So Anyone dont like leaving home any. So be wise and try to help them and God will also return in back.

    • Clarisse
      April 1, 2020

      Did you ever get through with Dominican citizenship?
      I’m asking for a friend.

  2. self
    September 15, 2019

    nu tote kai vota pu UWP pasken nu tote sa mon carricom, sor pa emmay Haitians, maysashtay.

  3. September 15, 2019

    It was an anesty program that was in place to many Dominicans were leaving the country Dominica was under with unpopulated country,Now they met they gold for the population to increase.

  4. Biencazeau
    September 15, 2019

    They should give achance to the people who already bougth a ticket to go ,i already bought my ticket for 25 oct

    • Rochele
      September 20, 2019

      Same as my friend. Now what’s going to happen?

  5. Love Haitians
    September 14, 2019

    If our economy was doing well and we had many jobs to spare we could have an open border for the Haitian people. Since Roosevelt Skerrit and the DLP have ensured that this is not our reality, we must curb the immigration flow. This is what Lennox and the UWP were saying and they were branded as “Haitian haters”. The malicious propaganda was spread far and wide by the Labour Party to make themselves look good. Now… DLP has realized the truth in what Lennox was warning us about, so they are reintroducing the visas. If you love people you don’t invite them to your country to be jobless and frustrated. If you love Dominicans you don’t fill our country with unemployed people to put more burden on our services.

  6. Diafish jab
    September 14, 2019

    Are we being genuinely practical or disgracefully racist with the comments? Self respecting Haitians are hard working and prepared to do the jobs that Dominicans turn their noses up as while relying on family and friends overseas. Get real folks. An immigration policy had to be implemented just like in UK, USA and elsewhere! those of you who are prepared to sit and talk will have to find a job that pays. Dominica not free for all anymore! 5 more years to get this right. This government is working and making a difference. Time to change how Opposition members get paid for not doing their job with immediate effect! Performance relate pay!

  7. Bequia Uzoamake
    September 14, 2019

    The answer is the French speaking countries of Africa. They should step up and help repatriate the Haitian people if possible. They have more than enough room. Just like a region of Ghana has been opened up with 5000 free acres to Diaspora Africans. The Haitian people should have our respect and we should find ways to help those who want to be helped. The trauma needs to stop now and the future is the children.

  8. Garvey
    September 14, 2019

    All I can say is what a terrible web we weave when we set out to deceive,and for those who think that the Haitians should come in willy nilly should house feed and cloth them. The hard working people of Dominica running all over the globe to find a better life cannot find it at home because of leaders who lack vision think they can solve some other people’s problems but not theirs good luck.

  9. CARICOM OBSERVER
    September 14, 2019

    So what happened to the CARICOM treaty which provides citizens an automatic 6 months entry into
    another CARICOM country.

    Has Haiti been expelled from CARICOM?

    Just asking

  10. Really
    September 13, 2019

    Check st marteen Jamaicans can go there if they have a US visa

  11. Manba cassav
    September 13, 2019

    Thanks to our goverments

  12. Ibo France
    September 13, 2019

    It’s unfortunate that Caribbean countries have to impose visa restrictions on our fellow Caribbean country of Haiti. We have to be realistic. Many Haitians want to leave their country of birth because of the severe economic conditions. If visa requirements aren’t imposed, Dominica will be overrun with Haitians in a relatively short time. This was easily foreseeable. But, as usual, Skerrit had to be the aberration in the region. This man is indecisive. Just as he has done to his present slate of candidates. No wonder Dominica consistently lags behind in last place in the O.E.C.S. Where there is no vision the people perish. Dominicans have consistently experienced perishing times for the last twenty years. Skerrit and his servile goons MUST GO!

  13. Haitian Dominican
    September 13, 2019

    Between 2001 and 2015 over 30,000 Haitians arrived to Dominica as visitors. However, neither Immigration Department, Central Statistics Office nor Discover Dominica Authority cannot show records of how many of these Haitians have either returned or emigrated elsewhere.

    Neither can they account for how much money have been received received from the Haitians who are required by the Government to pay US$400.00 each on arrival.

    There are no statistical data on Haitian arrivals since 2015 because it is alleged that such data is not yet published.

    Why be so hard of the Haitians… They are our Caribbean brothers and sisters

    • Eddy A
      September 14, 2019

      Jet another area where the accounts are missing. Imagine if that figure of 30,000 is correct. That means 30,000×400=12,000,000. In other words, another US$ 12Million unaccounted for again!!

  14. Ashamed
    September 13, 2019

    After they already flock in and start moving around like they own the place?

  15. Priest
    September 13, 2019

    We all knew you are playing with a numbers game. They are our brothers and sisters, but beside CARICOM eligibility, how on earth do you expect to ABSORB a population of 10 million people with open borders, almost ALL chocked and ready to move into your mere 60,000 population? It has done more harm than good to both sides. Matter of fact you have just suddenly closed your borders to a people most worthy of your respect. Haitians should be RESPECTED, shouldn’t be bounced around this way. We all thought you were following some policy. They are 10 MILLION in number, 10 million. If 0.01% flock your streets poor, as currently happening; we all know you and them in deep sh*t.

  16. Haitian
    September 13, 2019

    This was part of the plan all along. Bring in the Haitian mercenaries to that you can use to steal the elections.
    Now that the quota has been filled to guarantee success, you are closing the immigration worm hole with visa restrictions. The added bonus is that you are playing with the psyche of you base by pretending to finally come to their rescue by stopping a potential Haitian crisis. I don’t blame you anymore. I blame you gullible supporters.

  17. Grateful
    September 12, 2019

    But Haitians are citizens of the OECS. Other countries should treat all those illegal Dominicans living in their country like you all treating the Haitians.

    • Kalinago Justice
      September 13, 2019

      Alas to you ungrateful, don’t even know which islands are members of the OECS! :?: Haiti is for sure not a member of the OECS.

    • Dominican
      September 14, 2019

      Haïti is not a member state of the OECS. It is a member of Caricom. However, citizenship of either organisation does not confer an automatic right of permanent residence or employment in any of the territories. Even Dominica treats Haitian citizens different from other Caricom citizens in that they, exceptionally are required to pay U.S. $.400 upon arrival

    • CORRECTION
      September 14, 2019

      NO Haiti is not part of OECS neither is it a part of CARICOM. Just because an island is in the Caribbean means it’s a part of other Caribbean nations.

  18. Haitian Citizen
    September 12, 2019

    The French officials cracking down on Dominica, so the government cracking down on the haitians. And besides they have enough votes now to win Roseau Central, Salisbury, St Joseph etc so they dont want more… What a dayba that is Layba

  19. Kalinago Justice
    September 12, 2019

    One of the reasons that this one-man corrupt rogue regime decided to reintroduce visa restrictions on the Haitians, it’s because elections are nigh and he wants to impress the populace that they are taking steps to stop the influx of Haitians. I hope the Haitians revolt and turn against these rogues posing as government! :?:

    • Adam
      September 14, 2019

      Hot debate, please! You wanted my reaction, there you have it! After all this is what stupid news is all about to steal your attention, focus, and pollut your mind. As unfortunate as it was…I worked for this idiotic industry 17 years, then I woke up….radio off..tv off, commercials off…And welcome to your new life. A life of happiness without worry or stress and lack. The news industry hss been built to get you to react (almost 99%) in the negative. But a wise man once said: “Circumstances don’t have power over you, if you do not react to them” and that’s how you stop 80% of the negativity in your life. Quit listening and react to this ….!

  20. Bwa-Banday
    September 12, 2019

    A few primary reasons for this long overdue action though very abrupt;

    1. They want Lennox and the opposition to cry foul so they can now say is UWP that want Haitians. Pas la!
    2. They have met theirs called quota in “certain” areas but it appears the Haitians will NOT vote for them because some Haitian leaders in Dca are telling their people to stay out of Dca’s politics because Labour on their way out.
    3. Haitians now demanding their share of the Kool-out money in exchange for vote.
    4. The Haitians are now finding out what we have been talking about for a while now. Things are very tight/ bad in Dca and even at lower wages they can’t find profitable work. Plus it is alleged that “some” their sponsors are subjecting them to slavery in Dca and they can’t do jack about it. Many of them are still stuck in Dca after paying passage money to “boaters” to the French islands.

    Let me conclude by saying my god is not a corrupt Can police officer.

  21. Southcity
    September 12, 2019

    After the minister saw the video of 14 of them leaving to go Martinique big broad day light from lapwet. This govt so dumb, some will stay some will go to a next country because Dominca too slow for them . No other country want Haitians but Dominica 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  22. Ti Garcon
    September 12, 2019

    This visa restrictions should have never been removed in the first place. I have nothing against haitians, its just that the threat of Dominica being ‘colonized’ by Haitians was and is very real. At best there are 60,000 natural born Dominicans currently residing in Dominica, I get the feeling that there is close to 10,000 Haitians currently here. maybe even more. In 5 years the situation was/ is looking very bleak as Haitians could literally outnumber Dominicans. That could be even sooner if haitians find it difficult to make it in Martinique/ Guada and decide to return back to Dominica. And at the rate they are making children- most births in D/ca at by Haitian women- this is a serious problem that may not go away.
    Like it or not, ‘West Indians’ and Haitians are nothing alike- from our cultural, religious, political and language differences to our very basic mannerisms. Not to mention the drain on our economy by their remittances and abuse of our fragile social services.

    • neg maron
      September 14, 2019

      I get that Haitians outnumber Domincans and that it poses a threat etc. But for you to go on saying that ‘West Indians’ and Haitians are nothing alike is straight up BS. Even the fact that you’re trying to differentiate mannerisms & culture implies that you wanna denigrate Haitians because they poor. Perhaps you dont know this, but In the 40s, Haiti’s economy was much better than it’s today and immigration was reversed. Reversed in the sense that west Indians actually considered moving to Haiti. Most of them were Lucians & Dominicans because they could easily integrate into Haitian culture due to similarities in LANGUAGE.
      Also, before Haiti was born, slaves were shipped allover the Caribbeans. This explains why some leaders of Haiti’s revolution were from Grenada and Jamaica.
      You trying to differentiate your culture from Haitians is just like praising that you’re so grateful to have been enslaved by British people.
      To conclude, black unity must prevail and your…

  23. SAM
    September 12, 2019

    and for those who have already bought the ticket for the next month ?? I think the government has to give a delaiy. and after that time everything will be closed

    • September 13, 2019

      i bought my ticket already for 20th october sicne jully i wanna know if i can come?

    • Toto
      September 13, 2019

      Well, that is too bad for the human traffickers and slavemasters that advance them the money to pay back from their miserable wages. They wont see their money now. That is the price of your inhumane business guys. Tough luck.

  24. lookout
    September 12, 2019

    The Dominican landscape is already tarnished by the indiscriminate immigration of these people who just come here and most of them are just aimlessly walking and sitting about

    • ????????????????
      September 12, 2019

      Really lookout! You need to look out more! Poor discriminating people. On judgement day, the Father is not gonna be discrminating! Wow why are you so hateful? You all hate your own. Farless for foreigners! Homework check all the places where Dominicans are? Go back in time or ask Granny which islands our people went to to feed their children. Gaudeloupe, Antigua, St Maarten, St Martin, Martinique, UK, St Thomas almost every where and now you all hating people they are God’s creation like you and me. Lookout and see who are working?? Answer me. They are hard working people. I hardly see them roaming about as you claim. Have we lost our sensitivity and compassion? Didn’t Maria’s intervention on September18, 2017 reminded us to love one another? I am asking! Let us remember lest we forget the numerous nations who came to our rescue. But alas even God we are not thankful for saving our lives – 64 deaths! Do you remember? Hope u realise, I am not talking about visa!

      • Alexa
        September 13, 2019

        Dominicans are so sick of the …. with saying they are xenophobics and racist wrong! Dominicans are a rainbow of color it has nothing to do with their skin color that is so ignorant. The problem is that DR is a poor country as well they don’t need to carry with hiatians misery. It scares the hell out of
        any country by seeing in the way they reproduce themselves outrages! They demand things to be given free medical, education, taxes why? Dominicans pay for these in their country why should Haitians get these for free? They should get it together and build their country and leave DR alone. Nobody wants them Chile, Brasil, Ecuador, Italy a few more have deported them and no one calls them racist. They are #1 off the list to be deported in the USA second country Honduras and third San Salvador yet Haitians are the first on list. Wonder why?

    • Susan
      September 13, 2019

      No most are not aimlessly walking and sitting around. They all work and/or looking for work as they must. They are a majestic people erroneously being taken advantage of, without clear policy.

      • Toto
        September 14, 2019

        Yes, first their own rulers giving them a miserable life and then the traffickers in Dominica shafting them. Be honest, we exploiting them here also so dont give me that crap about brother and sister when we make them pay 400 us dollars cash when they get here. Is no charity that welcome them at the airport is it.?
        We are a bunch of hipocrites.

  25. Real Dominican
    September 12, 2019

    Mass deception. You brought them in droves to register them to vote for you in particularly weak areas. You have them registered to vote without justly meeting to the criteria for voting. Now that you have enough, you put a stop. Deception from Labour.

    Salisbury
    Marigot
    St. Joseph
    Roseau Central

    These are some areas you have deployed them.

    LISTEN, GOD is keenly observing this election and although you beleive that You all have a BIG WIN; God will put a hand.

    Many suprises this elections.

    • Live and love
      September 14, 2019

      Are you Serious. FYI most Haitians reside in Portsmouth where we do not need their vote to win.

  26. victim
    September 12, 2019

    They meet their quota for registration for election smdh :!:

    what a shame of a country :!:

    • block 44
      September 12, 2019

      I guess sweet niky will be looking for his 5%on his investment.sorry state shame

  27. Ex Cop
    September 12, 2019

    This is just crazy. Do Immigration follow up on Haitian Nationals after they have been given time like other territories. Smh

    • ??????????????
      September 12, 2019

      Ex Cop well do just that. Follow up on them nah! Once a cop always a cop!

  28. Concern
    September 12, 2019

    Like seriously? Do you guys just make decisions on instincts or politics? Because which country on earth allow persons to enter their country without any restrictions? Stop playing politics with the Nature Isle and do the right thing minister of dress good. Guess here will be soon come like the Bahamas.

  29. Caraw
    September 12, 2019

    No man. Ah lie you ah tell!

  30. Me
    September 12, 2019

    Not before time.

  31. Frank n Stein
    September 12, 2019

    Well well, between a rock and a hard place. So our “brilliant PM” which piper are you serving now? Do you have enough overseas votes or enough haitians are not qualified to vote so you pretending to “serve the public interest” We know you do nothing that doesnt gain traction for you in the elections. How do you slepp :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  32. weh
    September 12, 2019

    I wonder why the change of heart when they were bringing them in by the planeloads?

    • UKDominican
      September 12, 2019

      I think the French have had enough and read Skerrit the riot act. Don’t say he was not warned.

  33. Lord help this nation
    September 12, 2019

    , the restrictions do not apply to Haitian nationals who are holders of a diplomatic or official passport or who are business persons who are holders of the following visas: US, UK, Canadian or Schengen visas. So what u saying is, if they have other country visa that making it legal for them to enter Dominica? So America and Canada and the UK that setting the standards for Dominica den?

    • Zandoli
      September 12, 2019

      I am not aware of any country that lets in immigrants on basis of having a visa to another country. I may be wrong.

    • SMH
      September 12, 2019

      your comment deserves an award! foolish they foolish. this makes no sense. the GOVERNMENT JUST DOING WHAT THEY WANT. dont worry when the haitians put a spell on Da we will know what time it is

  34. hmmmmmm
    September 12, 2019

    Amen. it was about time.

    • ?????????????
      September 12, 2019

      Time for what? Discrimination? Are you one who hates the haitian? They are also God’s creation. I am sure you would not want others to hate ours like you do in the nations of the world where they reside or earn a living!

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