Caribbean
citizenship
by investment
programs

Five Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investing in their economies: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. All programs have at least two investment options — a non-refundable contribution of at least $100,000 to a state fund and a real estate purchase for at least $200,000.

The Vanuatu citizenship by investment program is similar to the Caribbean regarding financial conditions and time frames. Vanuatu is an island nation in Oceania. The country’s CBI program has one option — a fund contribution of at least $130,000. An investor can obtain a Vanuatu passport in two months and travel freely to 95 countries, including the UK.

Each Caribbean citizenship by investment program 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. $200,000+ ― a purchase of real estate.
2. $100,000+ ― a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund.
3. $150,000+ ― 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 two investment options:

1. A purchase of a property worth at least $200,000.
2. Invest in the country’s economy at least $125,000.
3. Public Good Investment Option — at least $175,000.

Grenada provides two investment options under the CBI program:

1. $220,000+ ― a property purchase.
2. $150,000+ ― 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, which value exceeds $200,000.
2. Make a non-refundable contribution to the country’s economy in the amount of at least $100,000.

St Lucia has four investment options for CBI program applicants:

1. Buying real estate for $300,000 or more.
2. Buying government bonds for $250,000 or more.
3. Contributing $100,000 or more to the country’s economy.
4. Financing a business project with at least $3,500,000.

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 — 157. 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.

However, the time frames for obtaining a Caribbean passport slightly differ. The fastest program operates in St Kitts and Nevis, where you can get citizenship in two months. Obtaining Grenada citizenship, for example, takes twice as much — at least four months.

Three Caribbean countries have the smallest investment requirements: Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia and Dominica. You need to invest at least $100,000 to get a Caribbean passport in these countries. The investment implies contributing to a state fund. The contribution is non-refundable.

There are other investment options under the Caribbean CBI programs, for example, purchasing real estate. Investments in real estate can be returned, but their amount is twice higher.

The total expenses depend on the investor's family composition regardless of the investment option.

Caribbean citizenship by investment programs stand out with comparatively low costs and speed of passport obtaining:

1. Investments start at $100,000.
2. Citizenship obtaining speed. The minimum application processing time is 60 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 usually is 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 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 quickly obtain an E-2 business visa to the USA.

Your children will get benefits too. Caribbean islands offering citizenship by investment are member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations. Thus, your children will be able to study at some British universities on preferential terms, while you will be able to visit them in the UK for 180 days in a row without 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 program allows the investor to include:

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

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