Which is the Best Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Program?
Are you considering applying for a second citizenship and looking for the best Caribbean Citizenship by Investment program for you and your family? 5 island nations in the Caribbean currently operate citizenship by investment programs. While the programs are relatively similar in terms of costs, benefits and application processes, there are differences. So, which is most cost-effective? Which is the easiest passport to get? Which is the best Citizenship by Investment Program in the Caribbean overall? The answers to those questions depends very much on your personal priorities. To help you make a decision and determine which program is best for you and your family, below we compare the 5 existing programs and take a look at which are best for a variety of circumstances.
Which is the best Caribbean Citizenship by Investment program? Find out in our comparison guide.
Contents
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison
Most Cost-Effective
Best for Visa-Free International Travel
Best as a Route to the USA
Minimal Residency Requirement
Best for Fast-Track Citizenship
Find Out More
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison
Currently five island nations in the Caribbean operate Citizenship by Investment programs: Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucia. All these programs allow qualifying applicants to acquire citizenship in exchange for a major investment in the country in question.
All five countries in the Caribbean currently operating Citizenship by Investment programs have similar benefits. For example, all five offer full citizenship for life with the ability to pass on citizenship to future generations and the right to live and work in the country. All five countries in the Caribbean operating Citizenship by Investment programs also permit dual citizenship and therefore do not require successful applicants to give up their existing citizenship. There are however also some differences between the programs so which program would be best for you..?
Most Cost-Effective Citizenship by Investment Program
Is cost your priority? If so, you will want to understand which program requires the lowest level of investment.
Financial Contribution Route
In the case of the financial contribution route, the programs in Antigua & Barbuda, Dominican and St Lucia are the least costly for a single applicant, with a required investment of $100,000 (plus government fees for processing and due diligence).
In the case of a family with 2, 3 or 4 members (i.e. main applicant plus 1 to 3 dependants – spouse and/or children), the Antigua Citizenship by Investment Program is least inexpensive, with a required investment of $100,000 (plus government fees for processing and due diligence). Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship program therefore offers best value for a family.
Which Caribbean citizenship by investment program is most cost-effective?
Real Estate Investment Route
In the case of the real estate investment route, the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program requires an investment of $200,000 in an approved real estate project, which is the lowest level of investment for a single applicant.
Applicants can also qualify with an investment of $200,000 for the programs in Antigua & Barbuda and St Kitts & Nevis, but only as a joint investment with another applicant where the total investment amounts to $400,000.
- Search Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment real estate
- Search Dominica Citizenship by Investment real estate
- Search Grenada Citizenship by Investment real estate
- Search St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment real estate
Which Caribbean citizenship by investment program requires the lowest level of investment in real estate?
Best for Visa-Free International Travel
If your priority is acquiring citizenship with a second passport offering enhanced freedom to travel without a visa, it is important to understand which Caribbean passport opens the most doors. So, which passport allows the holder to travel to the largest number of countries visa-free?
In fact, all 5 Caribbean passports offer extensive visa-free travel worldwide. Holders of passports from Dominica and Grenada may travel visa-free to approximately 140 countries and territories, while holders of passports of Antigua & Barbuda, St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucia may travel visa-free to approximately 150 countries and territories worldwide.
Which Passport is Best for Visa-Free Travel in North America?
All 5 passports provide extensive visa-free access to the islands of the Caribbean and Central American countries including Belize, Costa Rica and Panama.
Which Passport is Best for Visa-Free Travel in Asia?
All 5 passports allow visa-free travel to destinations including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
Which Passport is Best for Visa-Free Travel in Europe?
All 5 passports allow visa-free travel to the EU and the UK.
Which Passport is Best for Visa-Free Travel in the Middle East?
All 5 passports allow visa-free travel to Middle Eastern countries including Israel and Jordan.
Holders of passports from Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis can also enjoy visa-free access to Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey.
Enjoy greater freedom to travel internationally with a Caribbean passport
Route to the USA
Are you looking for a citizenship by investment program offering a potential route to the USA? If so, Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Program might be your best option.
Grenada is the only country operating a Citizenship by Investment program which also holds an E-2 Visa Treaty with the USA. As a consequence, Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Program uniquely offers a route to applying for the US’s E-2 Investor Visa program.
The US’s E-2 Investor Visa allows qualifying individuals making a substantial investment in a new or existing business in the USA to enter and work in the USA for a period of 3 months to 5 years (and can be extended indefinitely).
This represents a unique advantage of Grenada’s program.
Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Program offers a route to apply for the USA’s E-2 investor visa
Minimal Residency Requirement
4 of the 5 Citizenship by Investment programs in the Caribbean have no residency requirement whatsoever. This means that successful applicants are not required to become resident, either before or after citizenship is granted.
Only Antigua & Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Program has a residency requirement. In Antigua’s case, successful applicants must reside in the country for 5 days within 5 years of acquiring citizenship.
Antigua requires successful applicants to be resident in the country for 5 days within 5 years of receiving citizenship
Best for Fast-Track Citizenship
So which Caribbean Citizenship by Investment program is best for getting fast-track citizenship? If you are looking to acquire a second citizenship within a fairly rapid time frame, all 5 programs allow successful applicants to complete the process within 2 to 4 months.
Of the 5 programs, the St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program can be the quickest option. St Kitts & Nevis operates an Accelerated Application Process (AAP) which provides for fast-track applications with an accelerated 60 day (2 month) processing period.
In Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia the average processing time is approximately 90 days (3 months) while, in the case of Antigua & Barbuda, you can typically get your new passport within 90 to 120 days (3 to 4 months).
St Kitts & Nevis Accelerated Application Process (AAP) Fees
To qualify for the St Kitts & Nevis Accelerated Application Process (AAP), applicants are required to pay the following application, due diligence and processing fees (including the application and processing of the St Kitts & Nevis passport) which are more costly than the standard fees:
- Main Applicant: US $25,000
- Dependent above 16 years: US $20,000
St Kitts & Nevis offers a fast-track 60 day Accelerated Application Process
Find Out More About Citizenship by Investment in the Caribbean
We would be delighted to discuss your options further and provide additional details on all the Citizenship by Investment programs in the Caribbean so please contact 7th Heaven Properties, the Luxury Caribbean Property Specialist.
For details on approved investments throughout the islands, browse Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Real Estate options on our website.
We look forward to helping you find the perfect program for you and your family in the Caribbean.