PM Warns of EU Visa Risks if NDP Pursues Citizenship-for-Investment Scheme

By Val Matthias. Updated 8:23 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has cautioned that St. Vincent and the Grenadines could face severe diplomatic and travel consequences if the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) implements a citizenship-for-investment program. Speaking at a political rally, Gonsalves argued that such policies would jeopardize the country’s hard-won visa-free access to Europe and the United Kingdom.  

The Prime Minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of the European Union’s “Visa Suspension Mechanism”, a safeguard introduced in 2013 to protect against abuse of visa-free travel. The regulation empowers the EU to temporarily suspend visa exemptions for countries that engage in practices deemed risky, including the sale of passports to individuals with no genuine ties to the issuing nation.  

“The European Union has made it clear that countries selling citizenship are on the chopping block,” Gonsalves told supporters. “If the NDP were to pursue this reckless path, Vincentians could lose the privilege of traveling freely to Europe and Britain. 

The visa suspension mechanism has only been applied once since its creation, in 2024, when the EU temporarily revoked visa free status from a partner country over security concerns. Gonsalves stressed that this precedent shows the EU is willing to act decisively and warned that St. Vincent and the Grenadines could be next if investor citizenship schemes are introduced.  

Currently, Vincentians enjoy visa free travel to the United Kingdom for up to six months and to EU member states for up to 90 days. The Prime Minister emphasized that these arrangements are not available to citizens of several neighbouring Caribbean nations, underscoring the value of maintaining them.  

“Think of the students, the businesspeople, the families who depend on easy access to Europe and Britain,” Gonsalves said. “Selling passports may enrich a few, but it risks isolating the entire nation. We cannot afford to trade away our people’s mobility for short-term gain.”  

Gonsalves revealed that his government is actively negotiating with U.S. authorities to secure similar visa-free arrangements with America, a move he described as part of a broader effort to expand opportunities for Vincentians abroad.  

By linking his government’s diplomatic achievements to the EU’s regulatory framework, the Prime Minister sought to frame the upcoming election as a choice between safeguarding international mobility and risking isolation.  

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