The five Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs — St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia — let qualifying applicants obtain a second passport in 4–8 months without ever setting foot on the islands (Antigua requires a 5-day visit). After the 2024 regional MoU, all five share a $200,000 floor.
Who this is for: Frequent travelers, people with restrictive passports, or anyone needing optionality fast.
Investment routes
Single applicant. Sustainable Island State Contribution.
Family of 4. National Development Fund.
Cheapest single-applicant route.
Only Caribbean CBI with US E-2 treaty access.
Deep dive
The 2024 regional reset
Following EU and US pressure on transparency, the five programs signed an MoU in March 2024 setting a minimum donation of $200,000 (single applicant), enhanced due diligence, mandatory interviews, and a real-estate option floor of $300,000–$400,000. This ended a decade-long race-to-the-bottom on pricing.
How to choose between them
St. Kitts has the longest-running program (1984) and strongest brand. Antigua is cheapest for families of 4. Dominica is cheapest for singles. Grenada is uniquely attractive for US-bound investors via the E-2 treaty (lets Grenadian citizens apply for US investor visas). St. Lucia offers a government bond route.
Visa-free risk: the EU and UK
All five passports currently enjoy EU Schengen visa-free access. The European Commission has flagged CBI programs as a security risk and is moving toward visa requirements. The UK introduced an ETA requirement for Caribbean nationals in 2025. Treat visa-free EU access as valuable but not permanent.
In this issue
Caribbean (CBI) Golden Visa Cost in 2026 — Full Breakdown
Every euro, dollar and dirham. Government fees, legal fees, recurring costs and the $200,000 headline number for the Caribbean Citizenship by Investment.
Caribbean (CBI) Tax Guide for Golden Visa Holders (2026)
0% on worldwide income (most islands). How residency, source rules and special regimes interact for Caribbean (CBI) Golden Visa holders.
How to Apply for the Caribbean (CBI) Golden Visa — Step-by-Step (2026)
From initial documents to residence card. The realistic 4–8 months Caribbean (CBI) Golden Visa application process, end to end.
Caribbean (CBI) Golden Visa for Families — Spouse, Children & Parents
Who qualifies as a dependent under the Caribbean Citizenship by Investment, what each costs, and how schooling and healthcare actually work.
Caribbean (CBI) Citizenship Through the Golden Visa — Realistic Timeline
Path to a Caribbean (CBI) passport: Direct (no residency). What naturalization actually requires, and the catches the brochures skip.
The honest tradeoffs
- + 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
- − 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)
Frequently asked
Do I need to live in the Caribbean?+
No. Only Antigua requires a 5-day visit within the first 5 years. The others have zero residency requirement.
Which Caribbean passport is best?+
Depends on goals: St. Kitts for prestige, Antigua for families, Grenada for US E-2 access, Dominica for cheapest single route.
Can I keep my current citizenship?+
All five programs allow dual citizenship. Check your home country's rules separately.