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Comparison · MALTA ↔ CARIBBEAN
Head-to-head dossier
Malta vs Caribbean (CBI)Golden Visa, side by side — 2026
🇲🇹Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)
Malta
EU permanent residency, but citizenship is now off the table.
From
€182,000
Time
4–6 months
Citizenship
Not available since 2025
Stay
0 days
🌴Caribbean Citizenship by Investment
Caribbean (CBI)
St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia — passport in 4–8 months.
From
$200,000
Time
4–8 months
Citizenship
Direct (no residency)
Stay
0 days (most programs)
The short verdict
Malta. Malta edges Caribbean (CBI) on the headline metrics most applicants weight first (entry price, speed, path to citizenship and physical presence).
The full picture is below — by the numbers, then category by category.
By the numbers
Headline metrics
| Metric | 🇲🇹 Malta | 🌴 Caribbean (CBI) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Active |
| Headline minimum | €182,000 | $200,000 |
| Processing time | 4–6 months | 4–8 months |
| Path to citizenship | Not available since 2025 | Direct (no residency) |
| Physical presence | 0 days | 0 days (most programs) |
| Tax overlay | Non-dom remittance basis | 0% on worldwide income (most islands) |
| Best for | Families wanting permanent EU status without the relocation, language or citizenship-track requirements. | Frequent travelers, people with restrictive passports, or anyone needing optionality fast. |
Category by category
- 01
Lower entry price
Edge: MaltaMalta starts at €182,000, Caribbean (CBI) at $200,000.
- 02
Path to citizenship
Edge: MaltaMalta offers naturalization in Not available since 2025; Caribbean (CBI) does not provide a clear citizenship track (Direct (no residency)).
Who each one is for
🇲🇹 Malta — best for
Families wanting permanent EU status without the relocation, language or citizenship-track requirements.
- +EU permanent residency — no expiry
- +Visa-free Schengen travel
- +English is an official language
- +Family included: spouse, children, parents, grandparents
🌴 Caribbean (CBI) — best for
Frequent travelers, people with restrictive passports, or anyone needing optionality fast.
- +Direct citizenship — no residency requirement
- +Visa-free travel to 140–150 countries
- +Grenada gives access to US E-2 investor visa
- +Fast: passport often in 4–6 months
The honest tradeoffs
🇲🇹 Malta — working against you
- − Citizenship-by-investment ended after April 2025 ECJ ruling
- − Mandatory non-refundable government contribution + donation
- − Tiny country — limited business ecosystem
🌴 Caribbean (CBI) — working against you
- − All five programs raised minimums to $200k+ in 2024 by regional MoU
- − Increased due diligence — Russians, Belarusians, Iranians excluded
- − EU visa-free status under review (UK already requires ETA)
Read the full dossier