Visa-free destinations for Caribbean passport holders
Caribbean passports vary in terms of travel freedom, with some offering more extensive visa-free access. Notably, the strongest passports in the region often come from countries with citizenship-by-investment programs. These include:
- St Kitts and Nevis — 153 visa-free countries;
- Antigua and Barbuda — 152 visa-free countries;
- Grenada — 148 visa-free countries;
- St Lucia — 147 visa-free countries;
- Dominica — 145 visa-free countries.
The list of visa-free countries is broadly similar across these five passports. Caribbean citizens can typically enter popular tourist and business destinations without a visa. Key areas include the Schengen states, Australia, Singapore, India, and Brazil.
However, visa requirements do vary for certain destinations. A notable example is China, where only Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada passport holders can enjoy visa-free access for up to 30 days.
The accompanying map outlines all countries offering visa-free entry to Caribbean passport holders. It's important to note that the term "visa-free" here also encompasses destinations requiring an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visa upon arrival. These permits are generally quicker and simpler to obtain than traditional visas.
Visa requirements for Caribbean passport holders
Travelling to Schengen countries with a Caribbean passport
Holders of Caribbean passports enjoy the benefit of visa-free access to the Schengen Area for short-term stays. They can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period throughout the region. For example, if a traveller has spent 40 days in France and 20 days in Germany, they would be eligible for an additional 30 days in any other Schengen country.
Currently, Caribbean passport holders can enter any Schengen state without additional travel permits. However, from 2025, they must register with the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before travelling.
ETIAS is a travel authorization system designed for visa-exempt visitors to the Schengen Area. The application process involves a fee of €7 and can be completed within a few minutes.
Visa-free entry to China
China is an attractive region in terms of culture and business. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada are eligible for visa-free entry to China for tourism purposes for up to 30 days.
Passport holders from the three mentioned Caribbean countries are among the 40 nations who can visit China without a visa.
Crossing borders with a Caribbean passport
Passports from Caribbean states are strong and allow holders to cross the borders of more than 145 countries.
Second citizenship is available in the following Caribbean countries: St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Dominica, and Grenada. All five countries are members of the CARICOM regional organisation, which means their citizens receive Caribbean Community passports. These passports provide visa-free access to 15 member states, as well as to other countries around the globe.
Investors can use a passport from one of these countries to cross certain borders, even if their first passport is weaker and has travel restrictions. For example, consider an investor with two passports: one from Egypt and the other from Grenada. Below are the steps dual nationals can take while travelling from Egypt to the Schengen Area, specifically to Germany.
Which passport should be used to buy plane tickets? To enter Germany, Egyptian citizens must first obtain a Schengen visa. To apply for this visa, they need to submit a package of documents, including a booked round-trip ticket, hotel reservation, and proof of funds. If the investor applies for a Schengen visa as an Egyptian citizen, they may be denied, losing time and money.
Grenada citizens can enter the Schengen Area, including Germany, visa-free. If the investor buys plane tickets using their Caribbean passport from Grenada, they will get to Germany swiftly without spending time applying for a Schengen visa.
Which passport should be used for travel? It is advisable to have all passports on one's person. Therefore, the investor should travel with both the Egyptian and Grenadian passports.
Which passport should be presented at the control while leaving Egypt? The investor exits Egypt with their Egyptian passport.
Which passport should be presented while entering Germany? The investor should present their Caribbean passport from Grenada, as it equates to a Schengen visa and allows them to enter Germany. They also need to present their Grenada passport at the border of every other Schengen country should they travel within the Schengen Area.
Border authorities may inquire how the investor obtained a Caribbean passport. It is best to be truthful and state that they participated in the citizenship-by-investment program.
Which passport should be presented while returning to Egypt? The investor should enter Egypt with their Egyptian passport.
Attractive destinations available only with some Caribbean passports
While all Caribbean passports facilitate visa-free travel to over 145 global destinations, access to certain countries varies based on the specific passport held. Unique travel opportunities exclusive to particular Caribbean passports include destinations such as Brazil, China, Russia, Argentina, and Chile.
Visa-free destinations accessible only with selected Caribbean passports
| Destination | Antigua and Barbuda passport | Grenada passport | Dominica passport | St Kitts and Nevis passport | St Lucia passport |
| Angola | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days |
| Argentina | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Belarus | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required |
| Brazil | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
| Chile | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| China | Visa is required | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required | Visa is required |
| Egypt | Visa upon arrival | Visa upon arrival | Visa upon arrival | Visa is required | Visa upon arrival |
| El Salvador | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Eswatini | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 30 days |
| Guatemala | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Honduras | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Israel | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Kiribati | Visa-free for 120 days | Visa-free for 120 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 120 days | Visa-free for 120 days |
| Lebanon | Visa upon arrival | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa upon arrival | Visa is required |
| North Macedonia | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
| Qatar | Visa upon arrival | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa is required |
| Russia | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
| Senegal | Visa is required | Visa upon arrival | Visa is required | Visa upon arrival | Visa upon arrival |
| Serbia | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
| South Africa | Visa-free for 30 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa is required |
| Tonga | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa upon arrival | Visa upon arrival | Visa upon arrival |
| Tunisia | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days |
| Ukraine | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
| United Kingdom | Visa-free for 180 days | Visa-free for 180 days | Visa is required | Visa-free for 180 days | Visa-free for 180 days |
| Uruguay | Visa is required | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa-free for 90 days | Visa is required |
Visa success rates for Caribbean passport holders
A Caribbean passport can be advantageous even if it doesn't grant visa-free entry. It can facilitate the visa obtainment process, making it easier for the applicant.
For instance, while Caribbean citizens require visas for the USA, they benefit from a broader range of visa types and generally face lower rejection rates.
Caribbean passport holders can apply for a US 10-year multiple-entry visitor visa for business and tourism purposes, a privilege not commonly extended to all nationalities. For comparison, citizens of Vietnam, for example, are typically limited to a 1-year visitor visa.
Caribbean nationals tend to experience higher US visa approval rates than many other countries. The rejection rates for Caribbean passport holders are relatively low, ranging from 14% to 25%. In contrast, applicants from countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova face rejection rates exceeding 40%.
USA visa rejection rates
| Caribbean country | Rejection rate as of 2022 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 14% |
| St Lucia | 16% |
| Grenada | 17% |
| St Kitts and Nevis | 17% |
| Dominica | 25% |
How to obtain Caribbean citizenship by investment
An investor is the primary applicant. Investors who apply for citizenship in any Caribbean country must be:
- over 18;
- in possession of sufficient funds to fulfil the investment pledge and cover the associated fees;
- without a criminal record;
- earning a legal income;
- in good health.
Family members can be added to the Caribbean citizenship program by the investor. Different Caribbean programs have varying requirements for family members, but all five countries permit adding:
- a spouse;
- children under 18;
- disabled children of any age.
Learn about detailed requirements for family members, including parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Family members added to a Caribbean program are referred to as dependents. As the name suggests, they must be financially dependent on the investor, and the investor covers their fees in the citizenship program.
Key points about the Caribbean passport visa-free countries list
- Caribbean passport holders, from countries like Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Licia, Grenada and Dominica, enjoy visa-free access to over 145 destinations worldwide.
- Citizens of all the countries mentioned above except Dominica have visa-free access to the UK.
- Passport holders from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Dominica enjoy visa-free entry to China, unlike some other Caribbean nations.
- Caribbean passports also offer visa-free access to the Schengen Area, making them attractive options for investors seeking international mobility and travel convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Five Caribbean countries allow you to obtain a passport within 3—6 months through their citizenship by investment programs. These countries are Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis.
To become a citizen of one of these Caribbean countries, investors are not required to permanently reside there, take language proficiency and history tests, or prove their integration into local cultures. The minimum investment requirements start at $100,000.
While no Caribbean government can guarantee citizenship 100%, Caribbean citizenship by investment programs are one of the easiest ways to obtain a second passport.
It depends on what you expect from your second passport.
For more travel mobility, consider Antigua and Barbuda or St Kitts and Nevis.
Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis passports provide visa-free travel to 152 and 153 countries, respectively.
For visa-free access to China, consider Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica or Grenada. Passports from these countries allow holders to spend 30 days in China visa-free.
For a limited budget, consider citizenship programs from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, or St Lucia, where minimum investment requirements start at $100,000.
For a big family, look into citizenship by investment programs from Antigua and Barbuda or Dominica, where you can add your spouse and children, parents, grandparents, and siblings to the citizenship application.
At least 145 countries. The total number depends on the country:
- Dominica — 145 visa-free countries;
- Grenada — 146 visa-free countries;
- St Lucia — 147 visa-free countries;
- Antigua and Barbuda — 152 visa-free countries;
- St Kitts and Nevis — 153 visa-free countries.
Citizens can enter the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea visa-free in all five countries. Passports from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Grenada also grant visa-free entry to China.
If you choose to get a Caribbean passport via the citizenship by investment program, the minimum investment amount is $100,000. Total spending depends on the investment option you choose and the number of family members in your application. You can also request an individual cost calculation.
After six months of living in the Caribbean country of citizenship, you can become a tax resident. Caribbean citizens don’t pay taxes on global income, wealth, inheritance, gifts, or capital gains. Interest and royalties are taxed at a 10% rate, while corporate tax ranges from 25% to 30%.
Passports from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia allow travelling to the Schengen Area visa-free. This applies only to short visits up to 90 days every 180-day period.
Most Caribbean passports obtained through investment programs offer visa-free travel to the United Kingdom. This privilege extends to passports from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. Citizens of these countries are permitted to stay in the UK without a visa for up to 180 consecutive days.
Among the Caribbean countries, visa-free travel to the USA is available only to Bahamian passport holders, specifically when departing from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau. However, it’s important to note that entry to the USA is ultimately determined by Customs and Border Protection officials, who have the final say on eligibility at the border, and rejection remains a possibility.
Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia need a visa to enter the USA. They can obtain a multi-entry 10-year visitor visa for tourism and business purposes. Rejection rates for Caribbean citizens are relatively low.
Zlata Erlach
Caribbean Investment Program Expert
