Caribbean
citizenship
by investment
programs
Hundreds of wealthy people get Caribbean citizenship by investment every year. Caribbean passports provide the freedom of visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, the UK, and Singapore. Citizens of Grenada and Dominica can enter China without visas too.
Learn moreGovernment-approved citizenship by investment (CBI) programs operate in five Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. These are the fastest CBI programs in the world, as one can get a Caribbean passport within 3 months. The obtaining procedure is remote; the investor doesn’t have to visit the country to obtain a second citizenship by investment.
Differences between Caribbean citizenship by investment programs
The key differences between the five Caribbean CBI programs are expenses, investment options, and time frames.
The minimum investment amounts vary between $100,000 and $250,000. There are two to five investment options. For example, some programs offer investors to contribute to a state fund or buy real estate. In contrast, others have additional options like purchasing government bonds or investing in a local business.
Caribbean citizenship is granted for life. Investors and relatives can live, do business, and study in the Caribbean. They can move to the country of second citizenship anytime, even if its borders are closed for foreigners.
8 main benefits of the Caribbean passport
Fast obtaining
An investor can obtain a Caribbean passport in 3 to 6 months. It makes Caribbean citizenship by investment programs the fastest in the world.
Comparatively low expenses
Investments in the country's economy start at $100,000. The sum is two times lower than the investments required for obtaining residence permits in EU countries, given that a residence permit provides less freedom of visa-free travel.
Remote procedures
An investor doesn't need to come to the chosen Caribbean country to obtain citizenship. Immigrant Invest prepares all required documents, applies on the investor's behalf, receives the passport, and forwards it to the investor at a convenient address.
140+ visa-free destinations
A Caribbean passport allows its holder to visit the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore without visas. Citizens of Grenada and Dominica can freely travel to China.
US visas for 10 years
A Caribbean passport holder can get a US tourist visa in 2—3 weeks. The visa will be valid for 10 years.
Access to education abroad
Caribbean countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Thus, their citizens can get benefits for studying in the UK.
Accounts at European banks
Caribbean citizens can open accounts in European banks to save assets and expedite currency payments.
Beneficial taxation systems
Caribbean citizens don’t pay taxes on income, wealth, inheritance, capital gains or exports.
Why you can rely on Immigrant Invest
Investors apply for Caribbean citizenship only through a licenced agent; one cannot apply by themselves. Immigrant Invest has passed government Due Diligence and got licences to prove it. Thus, we can act on the investor’s behalf during application procedures in the Caribbean.
Immigrant Invest has operated since 2006. We helped 3,000 investors and their family members get Caribbean passports during this time. Thanks to an individual approach to each investor’s task and our preliminary Due Diligence, we have the highest success rate in the industry: 99% of our clients’ applications get approved.
Need help in choosing a status?
Our experts in investment migration will analyse your tasks. Our Compliance Department will carry a preliminary Due Diligence. This approach will help you get the best suitable status.
Financial requirements and time frames for obtaining Caribbean passports
Country | Investment | Time frame | Special conditions |
---|---|---|---|
Antigua and Barbuda |
$100,000+
Antigua and Barbuda
|
3—6 months
Antigua and Barbuda
|
Spend at least 5 days on the islands within the first five years after obtaining citizenship
Antigua and Barbuda
|
Grenada |
$150,000+
Grenada
|
6—9 months
Grenada
|
No
Grenada
|
Dominica |
$100,000+
Dominica
|
3—6 months
Dominica
|
No
Dominica
|
St Lucia |
$100,000+
St Lucia
|
3—4 months
St Lucia
|
No
St Lucia
|
St Kitts and Nevis |
$250,000+
St Kitts and Nevis
|
4—6 months
St Kitts and Nevis
|
The applicant collects their passport in person.
St Kitts and Nevis
|
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship
The Caribbean country's government launched a CBI program in 2013. Investors choose one of the three options: a non-refundable contribution to a state fund, a real estate purchase, or opening a business. Families of six or more people can choose the fourth investment option — a contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents over 55, and siblings.
Grenada citizenship
This Caribbean investment program has been operating since 2013. To become a Grenada citizen, an investor buys real estate or contributes to a government fund. The Grenada CBI programs might be most suitable for those who want to travel to China visa-free and get an E-2 business visa to the USA.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, and siblings.
Dominica citizenship
The CBI program has been operating since 1991. Investors purchase a property or contribute to a state fund to obtain Caribbean citizenship. The contribution is non-refundable, and the property can be sold three years later. However, we recommend keeping the property for five years because it increases the demand: this way, a new property owner will be able to participate in the CBI program too.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 30, parents, grandparents, and siblings under 25.
St Lucia citizenship
The investment program has been operating since 2015. Four options are available to investors: a non-refundable contribution to the National Economic Fund, a purchase of real estate or government bonds, and investments in Caribbean business projects.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 30, parents, and siblings under 18.
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship
The St Kitts and Nevis CBI program is the oldest in the Caribbean: it has been operating since 1984. Applicants invest in real estate or a state fund. The fund contribution is non-refundable.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 25, parents over 65.
Vanuatu citizenship as an alternative to Caribbean passports
Vanuatu is a small island nation in Oceania. The country launched its own citizenship by investment program in 2017. The terms of the Vanuatu citizenship program are similar to Caribbean programs. However, Vanuatu offers only one investment option — a non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund. Besides, applicants must have at least $250,000 on their bank account to prove financial solvency.
The Vanuatu passport can be obtained in the shortest time possible — within 1—2 months.
The Vanuatu passport allows the holder to enter 95 countries without visas. For example, the list includes Singapore and Hong Kong, where Vanuatu citizens can spend up to 180 days a year.
Applicants: an investor and family members ― a spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50.
Which Caribbean citizenship program suits your tasks best?
Investors choose to get a Caribbean passport when their main task is to travel the world without visas. Entrepreneurs often obtain St Kitts and Nevis or Grenada citizenship because passports of these countries are well-known in the business community and don’t raise suspicions.
If a businessman often visits China, they obtain a passport of Grenada or Dominica. Grenada citizenship might also be useful for those who plan to do business and relocate to the USA: Grenada citizens can get an E-2 investor visa and open a company in the States.
St Kitts and Nevis
3 countries
Dominica and St Lucia
3 countries
Frequently asked questions
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:
- $200,000+ ― a purchase of real estate.
- $100,000+ ― a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund.
- $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.
- $400,000+ ― opening a business in the islands.
St Kitts and Nevis offers to choose from two investment options:
- A purchase of a property worth at least $400,000.
- Invest in the country’s economy at least $250,000.
Grenada provides two investment options under the CBI program:
- $220,000+ ― a property purchase.
- $150,000+ ― a contribution to the National Transformation Fund. This investment cannot be returned.
Dominica. Investors choose one of the two available options. They:
- Purchase a property, which value exceeds $200,000.
- 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:
- Buying real estate for $200,000 or more.
- Buying government bonds for $300,000 or more.
- Contributing $100,000 or more to the country’s economy.
- Financing a business or infrastructure project with at least $100,000.
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. Yet, the time frames for obtaining a Caribbean passport slightly differ.
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:
- Investments start at $100,000.
- Citizenship obtaining speed. The minimum application processing time is 90 days.
- 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.
- Beneficial taxation regimes. Caribbean countries don’t have some taxes; for example, there is no capital gains tax.
- 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 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.
Let’s discuss the details
Schedule a meeting at one of the offices or online. A lawyer will analyze the situation, calculate the cost and help you find a solution based on your goals.