The Complete Guide to Caribbean Citizenship by Investment

Share:

What is Citizenship by Investment (CBI)? Which Caribbean countries run CBI programmes? Discover all the essential details in our complete guide to Caribbean Citizenship by Investment.

Defining Citizenship by Investment

CBI is the second half of Residency and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI). Where Residency by Investment requires you to invest in a country in return for a residence permit, CBI is another level up. In exchange for your investment, you receive citizenship of the country and become eligible to apply for a passport.

There are many reasons you might want a second passport. You may want to improve your global mobility if the passport from your home country requires you to apply for additional visas. Or, as an American, you could feel more comfortable visiting certain countries with an Antigua and Barbuda passport, say, rather than a US one.

Caribbean CBI Programmes

5 balmy, palmy Caribbean countries offer Citizenship by Investment. They are all in the tropical Eastern Caribbean region comprised of 11 members. Geographically and politically, these 11 islands extend from Antigua and Barbuda, noted for its rainforests, in the north to Grenada, dubbed the Spice Isle thanks to its numerous nutmeg plantations, in the south.

The 5 Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment countries in question are the following:

1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Dominica
3. Grenada
4. St Kitts and Nevis
5. St Lucia

1.) Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

The following Caribbean Citizenship by Investment options are available to you as an Antigua and Barbuda CBI applicant:

A.) Donate to the National Development Fund (NDF)

The NDF funds government-backed initiatives, including public-private collaborations and sanctioned charity projects. This investment option requires a one-off $100,000 contribution that rises to $125,000 for a family of four.

B.) Purchase Real Estate in Approved Areas or Development Projects

Buying property in Antigua and Barbuda is another way to gain Citizenship by Investment. The minimum requirement is a $200,000 slice of real estate in Antigua’s Nonsuch Bay area or Moon Gate Hotel & Spa, for example, or Coco Point in Barbuda.

C.) Make a Business Investment

Invest at least $1.5 million in an approved Antigua and Barbuda business. Currently, there are 11 companies for you to choose from.

D.) Contribute to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund

This investment option finances UWI’s fourth campus. Families of 6 or more will pay $150,000. In return, they obtain citizenship and one family member receives a one-year, tuition-only scholarship.

Payment Guide

As well as the basic investment amounts, you’re liable to pay the extra fees:

• $30,000 processing for a family of up to 4 with incremental payments of $15,000 for each extra dependant
• Due Diligence charges of $7,500 for you, $7,500 for your spouse, $2,000 per dependant aged 12-17, and $4,000 per dependant 18+,  plus a $1,500 interview fee
• $300 passport processing

Permitted Family Members

You can add dependants to your application, including:

• Your spouse
• Children or stepchildren aged 0-30 years of age who are financially dependent on you
• Physically or mentally handicapped children aged 18 years or above living in the family home and fully supported by you
• Your parents, parents in law, grandparents, or grandparents in law aged 55+ who are financially dependent on you
• Unmarried siblings or siblings in law
• Your future spouse for an extra $50,000
• A future spouse of your dependent children if they are financially dependent on you
• A future child of your dependent children for an additional $10,000 if under 6 and $20,000 for those aged up to 17

Necessary Documentation

You must include the following paperwork with your Antigua and Barbuda CBI application:

• Medical certificate with original results of HIV test dating from the past three months for you and every dependant
• Certified coloured copy of your present passport
• Certified coloured copy of your national identity card
• Original or certified copy of your birth certificate
• Original police certificate for your home country and countries where you have lived for 6 months or more over the past 10 years

Nationality Restrictions

Antigua and Barbuda does not process applications from Russian nationals. It also insists that you must have left the five countries on its Restricted Countries List before the age of majority and/or permanently lived elsewhere for a minimum of 10 years. You can’t have kept any economic connection with the following countries either:

• Afghanistan
• Iran
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

2.) Dominica Citizenship by Investment

The following Dominica Citizenship by Investment options are open to you:

A.) Contribute to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF)

The EDF supports public and private educational, health, sporting, and touristic projects in Dominica. This is a basic $100,000 if you’re a solo applicant. The amount increases to $150,000 if you apply with a spouse and $175,000 for you and a maximum of 3 dependants. Extra dependants under 18 cost $25,000 and those over 18, $50,000.

B.) Buy into Approved Real Estate Projects

Purchasing property in Dominica is the only other route to Citizenship by Investment in Dominica. Make at least a $200,000 commitment to one of a selection of 8 sanctioned developments. You’re then liable to government fees of $25,000 for you, $35,000 for you and a maximum of 3 dependants, and $50,000 for you and up to 5 dependants. Additional dependants cost $25,000 each.

Payment Guide

As well as the essential investment amounts, you’re responsible for these additional fees:

• $1,000 processing
• Due Diligence charges of $7,500 for you, $4,000 for your spouse, and $4,000 per dependant aged 16+, along with a $1,000 interview fee for you and dependants aged 16 and above
• $250 Certificate of Naturalisation charge
• $1,200 express passport issuing per person

If you’re from Iran, you have to pay further due diligence fees of:

• $25,000 for you
• $15,000 for your spouse
• $15,000 for dependent children aged 16 and above
• $10,000 for dependent children from 12-15

Permitted Family Members

You’re able to add dependants to your application, including:

• Your spouse
• Children or stepchildren under 18
• Children or stepchildren aged 18-30 who attend a recognized institution of higher learner and who you substantially support
• Unmarried daughters or stepdaughters under 25 who live with you and who you fully support
• Mentally or physically challenged children aged 18 or above who you substantially support
• Parents, parents in law, grandparents, or grandparents in law over 65 who you substantially support

Necessary Documentation

You must include the following documents with your Dominica CBI application:

• Medical Questionnaire and Certificate supplied by a licensed medical practitioner
• Colour copies of all passports
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Police Record from the country of birth, country of citizenship, country of residence, and any country where you and dependents 16+ have resided for more than 6 months in the past 10 years for each dependant aged 16 and above
• Colour copy of driving licence
• Colour copies of all IDs
• Colour copies of documents relating to source of funds
• Evidence of residential address
• HIV test results for you and dependants aged 12 and over
• 12 months’ worth of bank statements.

Nationality Restrictions

If you’re originally from North Korea or Sudan, you can’t have resided there for 10 years, done business there, or maintain assets in either countries. Dominica does not accept applications if you’re from the following: 

• Belarus
• Northern Iraq
• Russia
• Yemen

3.) Grenada Citizenship by Investment

Viable Grenada Citizenship by Investment avenues are:

A.) Make a donation to the National Transformation Fund (NTF)

The NTF subsidizes agricultural, green energy, and touristic projects in Grenada. $150,000 is the minimum investment required for single applicants. This rises to $200,000 if you apply with your spouse or as a family of four, with every additional dependant liable to a $25,000 charge.

B.) Invest in Approved Real Estate Projects

Presently there are 19 government-authorized real estate projects for you to consider in Grenada. Acquire a minimum $220,000 share in one of these developments or buy a $350,000 unit outright. There’s a $50,000 government fee to pay for you and up to three fellow family members with an additional $25,000 for extra dependants aged under 18 and $50,000 if aged over 18.

Payment Guide

In addition to the essential investment amounts, you’re responsible for these additional fees:

• $1,500 application fee per person
• Due diligence charges of $5,000 for you, $5,000 for your spouse, and $5,000 per dependant aged 17 and above, along with a $1,000 interview fee for you and dependants aged 17+
• $1,500 processing fee person over 18 and $500 for those under 18
• $1,200 express passport issuing per person

Permitted Family Members

You’re able to add dependants to your application, including:

• Your spouse
• Dependent children or stepchildren up to the age of 30
• Parents or parents in law aged 55 and over who are dependent on you
• Unmarried and childless siblings

Necessary Documentation

Required paperwork for your Grenada CBI application includes:

• Authenticated health certificates for you and your dependents concluding an exam by a registered medical practitioner and signed by a licensed physician or physician’s assistant
• A police clearance certificate (original or certified copy)
• Certified ID Card copy
• Original of marriage certificate or certified copy
• Original or birth certificate or certified copy
• Statement of source of funds

Nationality Restrictions

Grenada does not accept applications from applicants from the countries listed below:

• Belarus
• Iran
• North Korea
• Russia

4.) St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

The established routes to St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment avenues are:

A.) Commit to a Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)

SISC helps St Kitts and Nevis produce more local food, switch over to green energy, diversify the economy, promote sustainability, evolve the Creative Economy, recover from the pandemic, and look after society’s most vulnerable members. Investments start at $250,000 and rise to $300,000 for you and 1 dependent and $350,000 if you include up to 3 dependants. Factor in an extra $50,000 for each additional dependant up to the age of 17 and $75,000 for extra dependents aged 18+.

B.) Buy an Approved Development Property

This designated real estate unit will cost you no less than $400,000. You must maintain ownership for a minimum of 7 years before you can sell.

C.) Purchase an Approved Private Residence

Invest a minimum $400,000 or $800,000 in a family home. You must hold on to the property for at least 7 years before it becomes sellable.

D.) Become an Approved Public Benefactor

Invest in a project that employs a local workforce and transfers all real estate to the St Kitts and Nevis government when finished. This option begins at $250,000.

Payment Guide

In addition to the essential investment amounts, you’re responsible for these additional fees:

• For the non-SISC options, you must pay $25,000 when your application is approved in principle, along with $15,000 for your spouse, $10,000 for dependants under 18, and $15,000 for those aged 18+
• Due diligence charges of $10,000 for you and $7,500 for dependants aged 16 and above

Permitted Family Members

You’re able to add dependants to your application, including:

• Your spouse
• Dependent children or stepchildren up to the age of 18 residing in the family home
• Children or stepchildren aged from 18-25 enrolled at an institution of higher learning full-time
• Mentally or physically disadvantaged children of any age
• Parents or parents in law aged 65 and over who you fully support

Necessary Documentation

You must include the following documents with your St Kitts and Nevis CBI application:

•  Medical Certificate including original results of an HIV test taken within the last 4 months
• Certified copy of current passports
• Certified copy of current national identity cards
• Original or certified copy of birth certificates
• Original police clearance certificates from country of citizenship and from any country where you have lived more than 1 year over the past 12 years
• Original or certified copy of marriage certificates

Nationality Restrictions

St Kitts and Nevis will not accept your application if you’re a national of:

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Iran
• Iraq
• North Korea
• Russia

5.) St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

The final Caribbean Citizenship by Investment is the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme and its options are:

A.) Become a National Economic Fund (NEF) Investor

Help develop St Lucia’s economy. Investments begin at $100,000, rising to $140,000 if applying with a spouse, and $150,000 for up to two other qualifying dependant. Extra qualifying dependents to add to a family of four cost $15,000 and each additional qualifying dependant of any age costs $25,000.

B.) Invest in National Action Bonds (NAB)

No matter how many dependants you are applying with, these non-interest-bearing government bonds will set you back $300,000. You are liable for a non-refundable administration fee of $50,000 and you must maintain ownership of the bonds for at least five years after you’ve issued with them.

C.) Select the Real Estate Option

Invest no less than $200,000 in a government-approved high-end touristic development. There’s a non-refundable administration fee of $30,000 to pay if you’re applying alone and $45,000 if a spouse accompanies you. Each qualifying dependant aged 18+ is liable for a $10,000 charge that reduces to $5,000 for those aged under 18. If you’re applying with your spouse and more than 4 dependants, there’s an additional fee of $10,000.

D.) Fund an Enterprise Project

Invest in speciality restaurants, cruise ports and marinas, or ago-processing plants. Other sanctioned projects include pharmaceutical products, infrastructure, research institutions, and social development initiatives.

Within this option, there are three options. You can apply alone and make a minimum investment of $3.5 million and pay an additional, non-refundable administration fee of $50,000.

Secondly, you can contribute at least $1 million to a joint venture amounting to a minimum $6 million with an additional, non-refundable administration fee of $50,000.

The third and cheapest option is to invest at least $100,000 which increases to $150,000 if you include up to 3 dependants. This is liable to an additional, non-refundable administration fee of $15,000.

Payment Guide

In addition to the investment amounts already outlined, you’re liable for these extra charges:

• A non-refundable processing fee of $2,000 for you, $1,000 for a spouse, and $1,000 for every qualifying dependant
• Due diligence charge of $8,000 for you and $5,000 for you and each eligible dependant

Permitted Family Members

You can include the following dependants in your application:

• Your spouse
• Dependent children or stepchildren under 31
• Siblings who are under 18 and dependent upon you
• Dependent parents and parents in law aged at least 55
• Mentally or physically challenged children, stepchildren, or parents of any age

Necessary Documentation

The required St Lucia CBI paperwork includes:

• Certified birth certificate copy
• Certified passport copy
• Police certificates from your country of birth and from any other country in which you have resided for at least one year during the past 10 years for you and all dependants over 16
• Evidence of residential address
• Curriculum Vitae for you and all dependants aged 18+
• Bank Reference Letter from internationally-accredited bank from the last 6 months
• Certified national ID card copy
• Marriage certificate
• Military records (if any)

Nationality Restrictions

St Lucia does not process applications from nationals of

• Belarus
• Iran
• Russia

Which Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Suits You Best?

While there are broad similarities between the various Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programmes, there are subtle differences. We can help determine which particular programme meets your specific needs. So, don’t delay and contact RIF Trust today.