Visa-free destinations for Caribbean passport holders

Caribbean passports vary in their 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: 

Antigua and Barbuda,
Grenada
Dominica
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia

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 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 authentication (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 are permitted to stay for up to 90 days within a 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 will be required to 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.

Crossing borders with a Caribbean passport

Passports of Caribbean states are strong and allow holders to cross 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 the five countries are members of the CARICOM regional organisation, which means their citizens get Caribbean Community passports. Such 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 those countries to cross certain borders, even if their first passport is weaker and has travel restrictions. For example, let's take an investor with two passports: Egypt and Grenada. Below are the steps dual nationals can take while travelling from Egypt to the Schengen Area, namely, to Germany.

Which passport to use for buying plane tickets? To enter Germany, Egyptian citizens must first obtain a Schengen visa. To apply for it, 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 it, 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 of Grenada, they will get to Germany swiftly without spending time applying for a Schengen visa.

Which passport to travel with? It is better to have all passports on one's person. Therefore, the investor should travel with both Egyptian and Grenadian passports.

Which passport to present at the control while leaving Egypt? The investor exits Egypt with their Egyptian passport. 

Which passport to present while entering Germany? The investor should present their Caribbean passport of Grenada, as it equals 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 ask how the investors obtained a Caribbean passport. It's better to be truthful and say they participated in the citizenship by investment program.

Which passport to present while returning to Egypt? The investor should enter Egypt with their Egyptian passport. 

Interesting 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 like Brazil, China, Russia, Argentina, and Chile.

Visa-free destinations 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
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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 are eligible to 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 compared to 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%.

Requirements for investors to obtain Caribbean citizenship 

An investor is a primary applicant. Investors who apply for citizenship in any Caribbean country must be:

  • over 18;
  • with enough funds to fulfil the investment pledge and cover the associated fees;
  • with no criminal record;
  • with legal income;
  • in good health.

Family members can be added to the Caribbean citizenship program by the investor. Different Caribbean programs have different requirements for the 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Caribbean country is easy to get citizenship of?

Five Caribbean countries allow getting a passport in 2—4 months if you participate in their citizenship by investment programs. Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis are these countries. 

To become a citizen of one of these Caribbean countries, investors don’t have 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 citizenship can not be 100% guaranteed by any Caribbean government, Caribbean citizenship by investment programs is one of the easiest ways to obtain a second passport.

Which Caribbean country is best for getting citizenship?

It depends on what you expect from your second passport.

For more travel mobility — consider Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, or Grenada. 

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis passports provide visa-free travel to 152 and 153 countries, respectively. 

Grenada or Dominica passports allow the holders to spend 30 days in China visa-free. Grenada citizens are eligible for the E-2 visa to the US. 

However, all Caribbean programs are good for cosmopolitans. The number of visa-free countries for Caribbean passports exceeds 145.

For a limited budget — choose citizenship programs of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, or St Lucia. Here minimum investment requirements start at $100,000.

For a big family — look into Antigua and Barbuda or Dominica citizenship by investment programs. There you can add your spouse and children, parents, grandparents, and siblings to the citizenship application.

How many countries can you visit without a visa with a Caribbean passport?

At least 145 countries. The total number depends on the country:

  • Dominica — 145 visa-free countries;
  • Grenada — 146 countries;
  • St Lucia — 147 countries;
  • Antigua and Barbuda — 152 countries;
  • St Kitts and Nevis — 153 countries. 

Citizens can enter the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea visa-free in all five countries. Dominica’s passport grants visa-free entry to China. So does the Grenada passport.

How much does it cost to be a Caribbean citizen?

If you choose to get a Caribbean passport via the citizenship by investment program, the minimum investment amount will be $100,000. Total spending depends on the investment option you pick and the number of family members in your application. You can also get 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. Corporate tax is 25—33%.

Can you visit Schengen countries with a Caribbean passport?

Passports of 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.  

Can you visit the UK with a Caribbean passport?

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. 

Can you visit the US with a Caribbean passport?

Among the Caribbean countries, visa-free travel to the USA is available only to Bahama passport holders, specifically when departing from the 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. Rejection rates for Caribbean citizens are relatively low.  

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Zlata Erlach Caribbean Investment Program Expert
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