Guyanese no longer need visas to travel to Colombia, as the government of Guyana has concluded an agreement with the Spanish speaking country that will allow visa free travel between nationals of either state.
The agreement, dubbed the “Agreement on mutual exemption of visa for holders of ordinary passports” was signed on Wednesday by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, in Cancun, Mexico.
He made the agreement on the side-lines of the 47 Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS). The agreement will allow persons from either country with ordinary passports to not only enter, but stay in the two territories without a visa.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement, however, their stay cannot exceed 180 days total per year. Nationals of either country will be allowed to stay for an initial 90 days, which can be renewed.
The Ministry stated that the agreement becomes effective after “the internal legal procedures for entry into force have been completed by both countries.”
“The conclusion of this Agreement signals a continuation of efforts to advance cooperation between the two countries and the development of friendly relations between their peoples,” the Ministry noted.
Earlier this year, the Arton Capital’s Passport Index ranking international had noted that Guyana’s passport allows its citizens to visit a total of 74 countries without a visa, giving it a ranking of 103 out of 199 countries.
Guyana’s place on this year’s updated list had represented a drop in just one year, as Guyana was ranked at number 99 out of 199 countries in 2016.
Back in 2016, Guyanese citizens did not need a visa when travelling to 73 locations. While Guyana had added one more destination, the country’s drop had indicated the rise of other countries who gained even more visa-free travel destinations. Guyana’s standings are expected to improve on the chart with the agreement in place.
The highest ranked South American nation is presently Brazil. Listed at number 40 with 143 destinations, Brazil jumped three places higher than the 2016 list.
In comparison to Guyana’s continental neighbours, only two other South American nations are ranked lower. These are Bolivia, at number 116 with 67 destinations; and Suriname, at 109 with 70 destinations.
Barbados is the highest ranked Caribbean state, topping the region at number 50 with 132 destinations. Following closely are The Bahamas at 53 with 129 destinations; Antigua and Barbuda, at 56 with 124 destinations and St Kitts and Nevis, at 57 with 123 destinations. Trinidad and Tobago was ranked at 59, with 121 destinations.
