The implementation of the CSME means that persons in Member States have certain rights. These include:

There are core rights and obligations as provided for in the Revised Treaty in respect of persons wishing to travel to Member States.

The permission to enter shall be irrevocable, except for where a Member State can prove that a CARICOM National is “undesirable” or would become “a charge on public funds” wherein the scope of the refusal and the grounds on which it is should be based must be interpreted narrowly and strictly and the burden of proof must rest on the Member of State that seeks to invoke either ground.

The concept of undesirability must be concerned with the protection of public morals, the maintenance of public order and safety and the protection of life and health. While Member States have some discretion when invoking this exception, the scope of the concept of “undesirable persons” is subject to control by the major Community Organs, particularly the Conference, and ultimately by the Court as the Guardian of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Refusal on the basis of undesirability must be based on National law and on Community law but where the former is inconsistent with Community law, the latter must prevail.

A CARICOM Member State is entitled to assess on a strict, narrow, case by case basis whether a visiting CARICOM National may become a charge on public funds during his/her stay in the country. An assessment of whether a CARICOM national is likely to become a charge on public funds rests on whether the national appears to be in a position to support himself/herself during his/her intended length of stay.

In seeking to make such an assessment, a Member State must investigate whether the CARICOM National has sufficient funds for the period he/she intends to stay (as evidenced by the CARICOM National’s return ticket). The relevant factors may include cash, credit cards, access to funds, or being hosted in the receiving country. A Member State shall note that it is not reasonable to require a visiting CARICOM National to show sufficiency of funds for a period of six months if the person does not intend to stay that long.

Immigration officials may, therefore, ask to see the return ticket, as evidence of the intended length of stay. If the CARICOM National does not have a valid return ticket, the national may be given the opportunity to obtain one.

Only passports will be accepted for intra-regional travel (except within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Member States must issue a machine readable CARICOM Passport to their citizens. The CARICOM Passport is a national passport issued in accordance with agreed regional specifications. These specifications relate to the cover and inside pages at this point in time.

Member States are required to have at points of entry lines, which clearly separate CARICOM Nationals from Non-CARICOM Nationals. CARICOM Nationals passing through these lines must be treated in a similar manner as Nationals of the receiving country. They must not be treated differently (National Treatment). Furthermore, CARICOM Nationals should be treated more favourably than Non-CARICOM Nationals (Most Favoured Nation Treatment). This applies to Immigration as well as Customs.

Member States are required to introduce the Common E/D Form, which was adopted before Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007. This form has the Customs data at the back.

CARICOM Nationals travelling to other Member States should be granted a definite entry of six (6) months, irrespective of the reason of their visit, subject to the right of Member States to reject undesirable persons and to prevent persons from becoming a charge on public funds.

All CARICOM Nationals travelling within the Community should enter
the special immigration lines designated for CARICOM Nationals.

CARICOM Nationals travelling within the Community should produce
the following form of identification to the Immigration Officials at the
point of entry:
 A valid passport; or
 The approved Community identification

The Community traveller should present his/her immigration (ED) form indicating the required period of stay.

The Immigration Official, having satisfied him/herself that all security
and other reasonable precautions are taken, shall grant entry for a
period of no less than six (6) months.

A CARICOM national arriving in, transiting or departing a Caribbean Community Member State, and or seeking to exercise a right under the CSME, may have had certain experiences about which he / she wishes to file a complaint with the relevant authorities. The experience(s) may have been at a port of entry, after entry into a Member State, or both.

It is recognized that a CARICOM national should be afforded prompt judicial review of a decision taken under any of the free movement regimes including the right of entry. Prior to making a complaint concerning a decision taken under any of the free movement regimes,
the CARICOM national should seek judicial review of the decision if this is available and it is feasible for him/her to so do. Failure to seek judicial review will not preclude a CARICOM national from filing a complaint.

Under the free movement of skilled CARICOM Nationals within the CSME as set out in Chapter Three (3) of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Article 45 of the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas states that:

"Member States commit themselves to the goal of the free movement of their nationals within the Community".

Article 46 of the Revised Treaty and successive Decisions of the Conference of Heads of Government and various Councils of CARICOM, require Member States to implement a series of legal and administrative measures to ensure that all eligible categories (as agreed by the Council of Trade and Economic Development) of CARICOM Skilled Nationals can exercise their right as wage earners or non-wage earners to seek employment or engage in gainful legitimate economic activity.

Under the CSME, the free movement of persons across the region entails the removal of work permits for all eligible categories of persons (as agreed by Council of Trade and Economic Development). As at 2014, eligible categories are those shown in the adjacent box.

1. University Graduates
2. Media Workers
3. Sports Persons
4. Musicians
5. Artistes
6. Nurses
7. Teachers
8. Artisans
9. Holders of Associate Degrees or Comparable Qualifications
10. Domestic Helpers/ Housekeepers with CVQ

The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), in keeping with its obligations under the Revised Treaty has developed definitions for the ten (10) categories of approved skills for the purpose of facilitating free movement as follows:

Such persons perform the functions of:

• Media managers and administrators
• Editors and sub-editors
• Reporters, producers, announcers and broadcasters
• Camera operators, sound engineering and video technicians
• Production workers in the print and electronic media, etc.
• Graphic artists, cartoonists and photographers
• Editorial staff, programming staff and newsroom staff
• Other related personnel whose functions are not here classified

Such persons perform functions such as, but not limited to:

• Athletes
• Coaches
• Team leaders
• Sports manager
• Sports promoter
• Massage therapists
• Events manager

Such persons perform functions such as, but not limited to:

• Player of musical instrument
• Singer
• Songwriter
• Band/orchestra leader
• Conductor
• Promoter
• Events manager

In order to receive applications of CARICOM Nationals for Free Movement or to execute verifications, the Competent Authority must assign a Department/Desk with the responsibility to administer the application process. The identified Department/Desk must be the only Department/Desk authorised to receive applications and supporting documents from interested CARICOM Nationals.

This Department/Desk will act as the Secretariat of the Free Movement Committee and consult with the Chairman on an on-going basis. Electronic applications via the CSME Document Workflow Management System will be first received and reviewed by this Department/Desk. This Department / Desk will also be responsible for the submission every quarter, of up- to-date statistical information to the CSME Unit of the CARICOM

Secretariat to the extent that these are not directly accessible from the CARICOM Document and Workflow Management System.

I. The establishment of National Accreditation Bodies

A National Accreditation Body must be established pursuant to the Accreditation Act.

A representative of the National Accreditation Body, once established, should be a member of the Free Movement Committee. The Free Movement Committee should request advice from the National Accreditation Body on behalf of the Competent Authority in cases where doubt exists about the qualifications of applicants.

I.

The assigned Minister or Authorized Signatory shall use the recommendation received from the Free Movement Committee as a basis for approval and final release of the Skilled National Certificate for printing and/or electronic verification.

I.

The Immigration Department shall, upon receipt of an approved SNC from the Minister or Authorized Signatory:
a. Affix the signed Skilled National Certificate in the CARICOM National’s passport
b. Grant the CARICOM National “Indefinite-Stay” in the Member State
c. Where necessary, grant the dependents of the CARICOM National “Indefinite-Stay” in the Member State

I.

A skilled CARICOM National shall present the following documents to the Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry:
a. A Valid CARICOM Passport
b. A Skilled National Certificate
c. Birth Certificate of Dependents (where necessary)
d. Marriage Certificate / Affidavit of common-law relationship (where necessary)