Parliament to Debate Extending Permanent Residency Rules to 15 Years

Montserrat’s Parliament is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 27, to debate amendments to the Immigration (Permanent Residence Permits) Regulations which would add seven more years to the residency period required for certain non-nationals seeking permanent residence on the island.

Under existing legislation, non-nationals who have been living in Montserrat before January 1, 2003 are required to have spent five years on the island before becoming eligible for permanent residence. For non-nationals who have been living in Montserrat since January 1, 2003, the current qualifying period is eight years. The proposed amendments would introduce a new pathway based on 15 years’ residence, extending the required period by seven years for those in the latter category.

The proposed changes are contained in the Immigration (Permanent Residence Permits) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, issued as Statutory Rules and Orders No. 2 of 2026, and made by the Governor acting on the advice of Cabinet under section 40 of the Immigration Act.

Under the amendments, a new regulation, Regulation 4A is inserted to set out eligibility and conditions for the granting of permanent residence on the basis of 15 years’ ordinary residence in Montserrat. The regulations also amend Regulation 4 of the principal rules, replacing earlier provisions relating to dates of entry.

To qualify, an applicant must demonstrate continuous and lawful residence over the required period and meet a number of additional conditions. These include proof of gainful employment during the six months immediately preceding the application, and evidence of financial stability during that same period. Applicants must either maintain a savings account in Montserrat with an average monthly balance of at least EC$5,000, or own real property in Montserrat valued at no less than EC$50,000.

The amendments also require applicants to submit a medical certificate from a medical practitioner registered in Montserrat certifying that they are free from notifiable communicable diseases. In exceptional cases, and at the discretion of the Governor acting on Cabinet’s advice, a certificate from a practitioner not registered in Montserrat may be accepted.

Provision is also made for certain dependants. The power to grant permanent residence under the new regulation extends to minor children who have been ordinarily resident in Montserrat and living with the applicant at the time of application, as well as dependants of persons granted economic residence under existing immigration regulations.

Consequential amendments are included to Regulation 6 of the principal regulations to reflect the insertion of the new provisions.

The new regulations were made on January 15, 2026, and will now come before Parliament of Montserrat for debate. If approved, the changes would provide a clearer and more structured pathway to permanent residency for long-term residents, formalising criteria that link length of stay with economic contribution and public health safeguards.