Caribbean
citizenship
by investment
programmes

Five Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investing in their economies: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. All programmes have at least two investment options — a non-refundable contribution to a state fund and a real estate purchase. Minimum investment is $200,000.

The Vanuatu citizenship by investment programme is similar to the Caribbean regarding financial conditions and time frames. Vanuatu is an island nation in Oceania. The country’s CBI programme has two options; the minimum investment is $130,000. An investor can obtain a Vanuatu passport in 2—4 months and travel freely to 107 countries.

Each Caribbean citizenship by investment programme offers different options requiring different expenses. You can choose whichever option suits your tasks and goals best.

Antigua and Barbuda offers four investment options:

1. $300,000+ ― a purchase of real estate.
2. $230,000+ ― a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund.
3. $260,000+ ― a non-refundable contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund. The option is only available to families of six or more members.
4. $400,000+ ― opening a business in the islands.

St Kitts and Nevis offers to choose from three investment options:

1. Purchase of a property worth at least $400,000.
2. Invest in the country’s economy at least $250,000.
3. Invest at least $250,000 in projects that are considered Approved Public Benefit Projects.

Grenada provides two investment options under the CBI programme:

1. $270,000+ ― a property purchase.
2. $235,000+ ― a contribution to the National Transformation Fund. This investment cannot be returned.

Dominica. Investors choose one of the two available options. They:

1. Purchase a property worth at least $200,000.
2. Make a non-refundable contribution to the country’s economy in the amount of at least $200,000.

St Lucia has four investment options for CBI programme applicants:

1. Buying real estate for $300,000 or more.
2. Buying government bonds for $300,000 or more.
3. Contributing $240,000 or more to the country’s economy.
4. Financing a business or infrastructure project with at least $250,000.

It’s hard to say which Caribbean passport is the best as it all depends on your tasks and goals.

For example, if you want to travel the world and forget about visas, the St Kitts and Nevis passport will provide you with the biggest number of visa-free destinations — 153. The list includes the Schengen countries, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. However, if you want to visit China without a visa, the St Kitts and Nevis passport is no help, while the passports of Grenada and Dominica are.

Caribbean islands offer citizenship by investment on similar terms. Applicants prepare personal documents and financial records, pass Due Diligence and get passports without flying to the Caribbean. Yet, the time frames for obtaining a Caribbean passport slightly differ.

Dominica has the smallest investment requirements. You need to invest at least $200,000 to get a Caribbean passport in this country. The investment implies the purchase of real estate or contributing to a state fund. The contribution is non-refundable.

The total expenses depend on the investor's family composition regardless of the investment option. Antigua and Barbuda offers the lowest expenses for a family of four — $230,000.

Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes stand out for the following benefits:

1. Affordability. Investments start at $200,000.
2. Citizenship obtaining speed. The minimum application processing time is 90 days.
3. Possibility to return the invested money. If an investor buys real estate, they will be able to return the investments in several years. The government sets a mandatory ownership period. It is usually 5—7 years.
4. Beneficial taxation regimes. Caribbean countries don’t have some taxes; for example, there is no capital gains tax.
5. Access to services of European banks. It might be easier and faster to open an account with a Caribbean passport. At the same time, such an account might help keep assets and make currency payments.

You will get all the rights of the country’s citizens. A Caribbean passport allows a citizen to freely enter any state with a visa-waiver agreement with your Caribbean country of citizenship. The Caribbean passport visa-free countries list includes the Schengen states, the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Dominica don't need a visa to enter China.

Another benefit is a simplified procedure for getting a US visa. A tourist visa will be valid for 10 years. The Grenada passport allows its holder to apply for an E-2 business visa to the USA.

Your children will get benefits too. As Caribbean countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, they may be eligible for educational opportunities in the United Kingdom. Parents holding passports with visa-free access to the UK can visit them without applying for a visa.

Family members can get Caribbean passports with the investor. The law stipulates the list of qualifying relatives. Thus, each country has its own Caribbean passport requirements for applicants.

Any Caribbean citizenship by investment programme allows the investor to include:

• a spouse if the marriage is registered officially;
• children under 25 or 30, both common and from other marriages;
• spouses’ parents;
• sometimes spouses’ siblings.

Family members must depend on or get financial support from the investor or spouse.

Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investment programmes. Investors obtain Caribbean country passports in at least 4 months by contributing to countries' economies. Investment options include real estate purchase and non-refundable contributions to the funds, and other. Minimum investment varies from $200,000 to $250,000.