The European Union has signed short stay visa waiver agreements with Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia,as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This allows citizens of these countries to visit EU Member States that are signatories to the Schengen visa Agreement, for up to 90 days within a six-month period without requiring a visa, as long as the purpose of the visit is not to carry out a paid activity. 

As regards France and the Netherlands, the visa-free travel shall apply only to the European territory of these Member States. The visa regime between the overseas territories, including those in the Caribbean, of these Member States and the countries granted visa waiver status remains subject to bilateral arrangements between the countries concerned or to national legislation. 

The EU Member States that allow visa free access are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. As non-EU Members of the Schengen area, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein also follow the same rules as the EU on the issuance of short stay visas.

The Embassy of France in St. Lucia 
Ambassador Francis Etienne
Address: Nelson Mandela Drive 
Vigie – Castries 
St. Lucia 
Tel: 1(758)455-6060 
Email: frenchembassy@candw.lc
Website: http://www.ambafrance-lc.org

Erasmus+ is the European Union’s education, training, youth and sport flagship programme whose external action dimension aims at cementing links between the EU and the rest of the world. It is also intended to strengthen links through educational exchanges and mobility, and capacity building and peer learning. Erasmus+ funds academic mobility and cooperation projects that involve partners from Programme Countries and Partner Countries throughout the world. It supports activities that are closely matched with the EU's priorities for cooperation policy with partner countries and regions.  As such, Erasmus+ is essential in promoting people-to-people connectivity worldwide, building a positive image of Europe in the world and spreading its fundamental values. Building on the experience and lessons learnt from the past years, the international dimension of the new Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027 follow specific strategies per region which should be aligned with the relevant priorities established in country, multi-country and regionally. By prioritising specific areas, the EU will enhance human development across the different regions and will facilitate EU policy dialogue and public diplomacy actions.

The Erasmus+ international dimension aims to strengthen societal links through enhanced mobility, education exchanges, capacity building, nurturing social resilience, human development, employability, active participation and ensuring regular channels for people-to- people cooperation and a stronger voice for Europe in the world.

The Erasmus+ programme targets young people with a wide range of economic, social and demographic background, making it a powerful and cost efficient tool to reach a new emerging generation.

Preliminary priority areas for cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean include: the green transition and digital transformation; sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, including regional integration; governance, migration, democracy and human rights, peace and security as well as social cohesion, fighting inequalities and promoting human development.

If you are a student, you may have a chance to do part of your studies in Europe through Erasmus+. If you are interested in doing part of your studies abroad, you should contact your university’s international relations office.

Erasmus+ offers the opportunity for higher education institutions to send students and staff abroad to study, teach, or train at participating institutions, as well as to participate in a traineeship. They can also host incoming students and staff from abroad. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMDs) award EU-funded scholarships to Master students from around the world that cover tuition, travel, and a living allowance. The programmes last from one to two years during which students study in at least two different European countries, and obtain a joint, double degree, or multiple degree.