How many countries can one visit visa-free with a Caribbean passport?
Holders of a Caribbean passport can travel freely around more than 140 countries, including the Schengen zone, the UK and Singapore. The passport of Grenada allows visa-free entry to China. In some cases, a Caribbean passport helps to enter a country of choice even if its borders are closed.
Grenada citizenship gives additional opportunities for visa-free travel and living in the USA: investors can get the E-2 business visa for themselves and their family. This visa allows to enter the country unlimited amount of times, live and work in the States, send children to study in American schools and universities. Holders of the passport of Grenada are given the E-2 visa to the USA for up to 5 years.
Citizenship of the Caribbean countries also allows to get a US visitor visa faster and for 10 years. The visa can be obtained in a US consulate for 2 or 3 weeks. For comparison, foreigners can wait for half a year or longer to get a US visa.
Other benefits of Caribbean citizenship
In addition to the freedom to travel visa-free, the investor gets a lot of new opportunities:
- move to another country under unforeseen circumstances;
- obtain citizenship immediately for the whole family;
- register a company and do business in another country;
- optimize taxes;
- quickly open an account with an international bank;
- give children a prestigious British education. Citizens receive benefits when applying to some UK universities as Caribbean countries are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
How to obtain Caribbean citizenship
Caribbean citizenship can be obtained in various ways, e.g. by naturalisation or by marriage with a citizen. But the fastest path is by investment.
The minimum investment sum depends on the chosen program and investment option. For example, Dominica and Saint Lucia offer the lowest investment amount for single investors: they can get citizenship for a contribution of $100,000 to a state fund.
Investor’s family members can obtain citizenship under one and the same application: a spouse, children, parents, grandparents and siblings. The cost of their participation in an investment program also depends on the country and investment option.
The investor and his family doesn’t need to hold an exam on language or history, get a residence permit or visit the country to receive passports. The only exception in Antigua and Barbuda: investors are to visit the island state for at least 5 days during the first 5 years. The programs of all the countries imply passing a mandatory Due Diligence check.
Step-by-step procedure of obtaining citizenship in the Caribbean
Participants of the Antigua and Barbuda program pass another step before obtaining citizenship: the investor and all the adult family members take an oath during a video conference, in a consulate or when visiting the country.
How much to invest to get a Caribbean citizenship
Citizenship in the Caribbean can be obtained for at least $100,000 and in 3 to 6 months. This way is fast and inexpensive: for comparison, to become a citizen of Malta, investors spend €690,000+ and hold a residence permit for 1 to 3 years.
Comparison of program conditions in Caribbean countries
| Country | Program conditions | Investment options |
| Dominica | From 3 to 6 months | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | From 3 to 6 months | |
| Saint Lucia | From 3 to 4 months | |
| Grenada | From 4 to 6 months | |
| St Kitts and Nevis | From 3 to 6 months |
Until 30th June 2023, there is a Limited Time Offer for participants of the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program: the investment amount is reduced by $25,000. All applications under this offer qualify for the accelerated procedure with a processing timeframe of 60 days instead of 90 with no additional fee. From 1st July 2023, the minimum investment amount will be $150,000.
Participants of the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program can invest in business less if there is a collective investment of more than 5 mln dollars. In this case, each investor gives at least $400,000 instead of $1,500,000.
Kiran and Dasya are brothers and professional brokers. They applied to Immigrant Invest to obtain second citizenship to travel visa-free around the world. They were familiar with conditions of purchase and sale of bonds, so they chose to buy Saint Lucian government bonds.
Investors understood that they could have invested a smaller sum to get a Caribbean passport. But their expenses would have been cut in half only in case of a non-refundable contribution which meant a loss of money.
Covid-19 Relief Bonds are interest-free but an investor can return the money in 5 or 7 years depending on the purchase sum. The return is guaranteed: the state is to buy out the bonds after the ownership period expires.
An investor additionally pays state and administrative fees, cost of Due Diligence and services of documents preparation. Expenses differ depending on the program, number of applicants and their age.
Let’s see an example of cost calculation for participation in the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program.
If an applicant chooses a contribution to the state fund, fees will amount to $30,000 for a single investor and a family of up to four people. Each additional family member will cost $15,000.
Due Diligence fee is $7,500 for the spouses, $2,000 for each kid from 12 to 17 years old, $4,000 for each family member older 18. Administrative fees amount up to $600 for each applicant.
Example of cost calculation for participation in the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship program
| Expenses | Family of four: spouses and kids of 6 and 13 years old | Family of six: spouses, kids of 7 and 19 years old, investor’s parents |
| Investment | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| State fee | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Due Diligence | $17,000 | $31,000 |
| Administrative fees | $2,400 | $3,600 |
| Total | $149,400 | $244,600 |
How to invest in Caribbean real estate and get the money back in 5 years
To obtain Caribbean citizenship, one can invest in government-approved real estate. Typically, applicants are asked to buy shares or apartments in hotel complexes.
The exception is the St Kitts and Nevis program: the country’s government allowed investors to buy any housing but only until the 1st of November, 2022. The cost of real estate beyond the list of approved projects must be not less than $400,000.
Examples of Caribbean real estate
A share in Caribbean real estate may be in a physical object, trust or in bonds. Prices on shares range between $200,000 and $400,000. Apartments cost more, up to several millions of dollars. A square meter of an apartment in a hotel costs $5,000—8,000.
Under the terms of citizenship by investment programs, real estate must be owned for 3 to 7 years. After that, it can be sold with the investment returned.
Dominica allows to sell real estate after 3 years of ownership. But such real estate cannot be bought by other investors: an object can re-enter the program only after 5 years. That’s why in practice investors sell real estate in Dominica after 5 years as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Citizenship by investment in the Caribbean can be obtained in Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia. The citizenship will be granted in 2 to 6 months, the period depends on the program of a particular country.
To travel visa-free around the world. With a Caribbean passport, you can travel without visas to the Schengen countries, as well as to the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. Passport of Grenada also allows visiting China without a visa, as well as apply for an E-2 business visa to the United States. To optimize taxation. The Caribbean countries provide beneficial taxation. For example, Grenada has no taxes on inheritance, gift, capital gains and income earned abroad. In addition, if an investor becomes a tax resident of a Caribbean country, it is easier for him to open accounts with European banks and conduct international business. To study in the UK. The Caribbean countries are a part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. This opens up additional opportunities for the investor’s children: they can study at British universities on preferential terms. At the same time, parents will be able to visit them whenever they want and stay in the country for 180 days in a row without additional documents.
It is possible to invest in real estate or the country’s state fund. Usually the amount of a contribution is lower than the value of property, but it cannot be refunded. The property can be sold in 5 to 7 years and the investment can be returned. Some states offer additional options. For example, the Saint Lucia program allows for investment in a business or the purchase of government bonds. To get an Antigua and Barbuda passport, one can invest in a business.
Investment program costs vary by country. The minimum investment amount starts from $100,000 in Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and from $150,000 in Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis. The investor also bears additional costs: state and administrative fees, Due Diligence and paperwork.
Investments will be profitable in case of purchasing real estate or developing a business. Investments can only be made in those real estate objects that are approved by the government, usually these are hotel complexes. The investor receives a share of the rental income corresponding to his share in the property. It is convenient: the management company is engaged in the maintenance of the hotel and current affairs, the investor himself does not need to deal with anything. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, an investor can also buy any home worth from $400,000. But you can use this option only until November 1, 2022. To return the investment, an investor has to wait for 3 to 5 years, depending on the country.
