Caribbean citizenship: who can participate in investment programs as a family

Citizenship by investment programs are offered by:

1. Antigua and Barbuda.

2. St Kitts and Nevis.

3. St Lucia.

4. Grenada.

5. Dominica.

A foreigner can obtain a Caribbean passport in just 6—8 months. The minimum investment amount is $200,000.

Investors get second passports from Caribbean states without traveling there, as the entire process can be completed remotely. The only exception is St Kitts and Nevis, where applicants must personally visit the country to receive their Certificate of Registration, though all other steps are remote.

Caribbean citizenship programs do not require residency, except in Antigua and Barbuda, where applicants are required to spend at least five days within five years after obtaining citizenship.

Spouses. All five Caribbean programs allow spouses to be included, provided they are of the opposite sex and legally married, without additional restrictions.

Minors. Children under 18 are automatically eligible.

Adult children. Financially dependent children between 18 and 30 can be included in most programs, except in St Kitts and Nevis, where the maximum age is 25.

Children with disabilities can be included at any age, regardless of financial dependency.

Lyle Julien,

Investment programs expert

If a family member is not included in the initial application, Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia, Grenada, and Dominica allow them to apply later through a family reunification process. The eligibility requirements and costs for adding family members vary by country.

Siblings. Eligibility varies by country:

• Antigua and Barbuda — allowed at any age if unmarried;

• Grenada — allowed if over 18, unmarried, and without children;

• St Lucia — allowed only if under 18;

• Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis — not allowed.

Parents of the main applicant or their spouse are eligible for inclusion, but age restrictions and financial dependency requirements apply. In Antigua and Barbuda, parents must be over 55 years old, while in Dominica, the minimum age is 65.

Grenada does not impose an age limit but requires financial dependency. In St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia parents must be at least 55 years old to qualify.

Grandparents. Not all countries allow their inclusion. In Antigua and Barbuda, grandparents must be at least 55 years old and financially dependent. Dominica sets the minimum age at 65, while Grenada allows grandparents without an age limit as long as they rely on the investor.

Family members who can be included in the application

Country

Children

Parents

Grandparents

Siblings

Antigua and Barbuda

Under 30, financial dependency not required

Over 55, financially dependent on the investor

Over 55, financially dependent on the investor

Of any age, unmarried

Grenada

Under 30, financially dependent on the investor

Financially dependent on the investor

Financially dependent on the investor

Over 18, unmarried, without children

Dominica

Under 30, financially dependent on the investor

Over 65, financially dependent on the investor

Over 65, financially dependent on the investor

Cannot be included in the application

St Kitts and Nevis

Under 25, financially dependent on the investor

Over 55, financially dependent on the investor

Cannot be included in the application

Cannot be included in the application

St Lucia

Under 30, financially dependent on the investor

Over 55, financially dependent on the investor

Cannot be included in the application

Under 18, with parent or guardian’s consent

Each country has a different initial investment value and additional fees. The more one invests, the more expensive the participation. However, this is not the case with the purchase of real estate: for example, by investing $300,000 in real estate in Antigua and Barbuda, the investor will be able to include a family of four or more in the application.

Antigua and Barbuda allows investors to choose between donations, real estate, or a unique university fund option. Investment options include:

1. Non-refundable contribution. A minimum of $230,000 to the National Development Fund for single applicants or families of up to four members.

2. Real estate investment. A minimum of $300,000 in a government-approved real estate project.

3. Donation to a higher education institution. Families of six or more can contribute $260,000 to a local educational facility, which includes one year of tuition for one family member.

Due Diligence fees are $8,500 for the main applicant, $5,000 for the spouse, $2,000 for dependents aged 12 to 17, and $4,000 for those over 18.

Processing fees total $20,000 for a family of four. For additional dependents, an extra $10,000 applies.

Grenada. The National Transformation Fund provides a straightforward route to citizenship with a $235,000 non-refundable contribution for single applicants.

For those seeking a money return, Grenada offers real estate opportunities starting at $270,000, paired with a $50,000 government fee for families of up to four members.

Due Diligence costs $5,000 for each applicant aged 17 and above.

Dominica offers a lower entry point without compromising benefits. Investment options include:

1. Non-refundable contribution. Single applicants can contribute $200,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund, while families of up to four need to invest $250,000.

2. Real estate investment. A minimum investment of $200,000 in a government-approved property, plus state fee of $75,000 for single applicants and $100,000 for families of up to four members.

Due Diligence fee for the main applicant is $7,500, while dependents aged 16 and above are vetted for $4,000 each. Processing fees set at $1,000 per application.

Individual cost calculation for Caribbean citizenship

Get the cost calculation

St Kitts and Nevis. The Sustainable Growth Fund is a popular choice, requiring a contribution of $250,000 for a single applicant and for a family of up to four.

For those interested in real estate, the program offers investments starting at $325,000 in government-approved projects, such as luxury resorts and developments. Alongside the investment, a state fee of $25,000 for the main applicant and $40,000 for a married couple.

The Due Diligence fee is $10,000 for the main applicant, $17,500 for a married couple and $7,500 for dependents aged 16 and older.

For families with three or more children, the Public Good Investment Option, PBO, in St Kitts and Nevis offers a highly cost-effective option. While the standard contribution for a single applicant and families of up to four is $250,000, families with more children will see additional fees for each dependent, but still benefit from the flexibility and financial savings associated with this program.

St Lucia offers multiple investment routes to cater to different investor priorities.

Investment options include:

1. Non-refundable contribution. $240,000 to the National Economic Fund for a single applicant and for a family of up to four members.

2. Government bonds. An investment of $300,000 in non-interest-bearing government bonds, held for five years. A minimum administrative fee is $50,000.

3. Real estate investment. A minimum of $300,000 in a government-approved property, with a state fee of $30,000.

4. Business investment. Applicants can invest in government-approved business projects with a minimum of $3.5 million individually or $1 million as part of a $6 million group. A $50,000 administrative fee applies.

5. Infrastructure project investment. Applicants invest $250,000 in government-approved infrastructure projects in St Lucia, such as ports, bridges, and roads.

The Due Diligence fee for St Lucia is $8,000 for the main applicant and $5,000 for dependents aged 16 and older.

Minimum cost of second citizenship for families

Country

Married couple

Family of four, spouses and two minors

Antigua and Barbuda

$266,200+

$266,800+

Grenada

$253,850+

$258,350+

Dominica

$265,600+

$271,200+

St Kitts and Nevis

$268,822+

$270,144+

St Lucia

$258,100+

$261,450+

Families with three or more children. The Public Good Investment Option in St Kitts and Nevis offers greater cost efficiency for applicants with spouses and three or more children. By investing in the Prime Creative Arts Center, families can benefit from reduced overall costs.

The Arts Center covers all post-approval expenses exceeding $45,000, ensuring significant savings on additional fees for family members, including Due Diligence and processing costs.

Families of six or more children. Investors contribute to the higher education institutions in Antigua and Barbuda. Participation in this option entitles one family member under the age of 29 to a one-year scholarship to attend the university. It is not possible to return the contribution or receive a profit on an investment in the fund.

The minimum number of people in the application is a family of 6.

The total investment required for this option is $260,000. For a family of six, the processing fees are included in the investment. However, for a family of seven or more, an additional $10,000 is charged for each dependent starting from the seventh.

The Due Diligence fees are the following:

• the main applicant — $8,500;

• the spouse — $5,000;

• a dependent aged 12 to 17 — $2,000;

• a dependent over 18 — $4,000.

Also, there is a CIU interview fee of $1,500 per application, and each passport costs $300. A bank commission of $600 applies for each invoice.

High approval rates. Over the past decade, more than 40,000 passports have been granted to investors and their families. In the last five years, Antigua and Barbuda alone has approved over 7,500 applications, including those of spouses, children, parents, and siblings.

Economic contributions. Funds from these programs support infrastructure, healthcare, education, and disaster recovery.

In almost every Caribbean country family reunification allows investors to extend citizenship to additional family members after they and their initially included relatives have already been granted citizenship.

For example, if an investor obtains citizenship along with their spouse and child but later decides to include their parents, they can do so without making a new investment, though additional fees apply.

Lyle Julien,

Investment programs expert

Family reunification in St Kitts and Nevis is the most restrictive among Caribbean programs. Family members can only be added before the main investor’s application is approved. Once the application is processed and citizenship is granted, no additional relatives can be included.

In Antigua and Barbuda, children and parents can be added later, but within 10 years after approval.

In Dominica, most family members can be included later, except for parents and grandparents.

In St Lucia, investors have up to five years after obtaining citizenship to add children, a spouse, and other eligible family members.

In Grenada, the investor’s spouse, parents, and siblings cannot be added to the application after citizenship is granted. After approval, only a newborn child of the applicant or spouse may be added, strictly within 12 months of the main application being approved. Therefore, to ensure all eligible family members receive citizenship, it is advisable to include them in the initial application.

Timeframe and fees for adding family members to CBI programs

Country

Time after investor’s approval

Fee for children

Fee for a spouse

Fee for siblings

Fee for parents

Antigua and Barbuda

Within 10 years

$10,000 for a child up to 5
$20,000 for a child aged 6—17
$50,000 if over 18

$50,000

$10,000 for a child up to 5
$20,000 for a child aged 6—17
$50,000 if over 18

$50,000

Grenada

Within 1 year

$25,000
+ $5,520 of state duty

Not applicable, a spouse cannot be added

Not applicable, siblings cannot be added

Not applicable, parents cannot be added

Dominica

Within 5 years for children

$10,000 for a child up to 5
$15,000 for a child aged 6—17

$75,000 within 1 year after investor’s approval, then $50,000

50 000 $ within 1 year after investor’s approval, then $25,000

Not applicable, parents cannot be added

St Lucia

Within 5 years for children and siblings

$5,000 for a child up to 12 months
+ $1,000 of a processing fee

$35,000 of a state fee
$5,000 of a Due Diligence fee
$1,000 of a processing fee

Not applicable, siblings cannot be added

Not applicable, parents cannot be added

Caribbean citizenship by investment is not only a lifetime benefit for the investor but can also be passed down to future generations. However, the inheritance rules vary depending on the country and the circumstances of birth.

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship is not hereditary. Only children or grandchildren of an Antigua and Barbuda investor can obtain citizenship by birthright, meaning they must be born on the territory of Antigua and Barbuda.

In Dominica, children of the main applicant and dependents born after obtaining citizenship automatically qualify, as do their descendants for future generations.

In St Lucia, only the investor’s children can inherit citizenship by descent. Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or other dependents cannot acquire St Lucian citizenship by descent unless they are born in the country.

If a child is born in St Lucia, they automatically receive citizenship by birthright. In this case, their children, even if born abroad, will be eligible for St Lucian citizenship by descent, as they inherit it from a parent who is a citizen of St Lucia.

Therefore, the descendants of an investor cannot inherit citizenship beyond one generation, unless one of their ancestors was born in St Lucia.

St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada grants citizenship to children under 18 if they have a citizen parent.

1. Visa-free travel to over 140 countries. Caribbean passports grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to destinations like the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Grenada, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda also offer visa-free entry to China.

2. No residency or travel requirements. In most cases, the application can be completed remotely, except in St Kitts and Nevis, where applicants must visit to collect their Certificate of Registration.

Investors are not required to live in the country. The only exception is Antigua and Barbuda, where new citizens must spend five days within the first five years.

3. Financial and tax advantages. Caribbean countries impose no tax on worldwide income, capital gains, inheritance, or wealth, helping investors protect assets and optimise financial planning.

4. Business and investment opportunities. Investors can register businesses, open bank accounts, and access international markets. Grenada’s program also provides eligibility for the US E‑2 Investor Visa, allowing investors to live and run a business in the United States.

5. A secure Plan B. A second citizenship offers stability during political or economic uncertainty. Caribbean nations provide strong legal protections, stable governments, and peaceful environments.

1. All five Caribbean citizenship investment programs allow legally married, opposite-sex spouses to be included in the application without additional restrictions.

2. Most countries permit financially dependent children up to 30 years old, except St Kitts and Nevis, where the limit is 25.

3. Dominica has the strictest age requirement for parents; they must be at least 65. Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia allow parents over 55.

4. Grandparents are allowed in Antigua and Barbuda if over 55, in Dominica if over 65, and in Grenada without an age limit.

5. Antigua and Barbuda citizenship is not inherited; only children or grandchildren born on its territory obtain it by birthright. Similarly, if a child is born in St Lucia, they automatically receive citizenship by birthright.

6. In Antigua and Barbuda, children and parents can be added within 10 years of approval. Dominica allows most family members to be included later, except parents and grandparents. In St Lucia, investors have up to five years to add eligible relatives, while in Grenada, only a newborn child may be added within 12 months.