Caribbean and Vanuatu passport visa-free countries
Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship is popular among investors who need a document for travelling the world. Passports of these countries are issued within a few months for investments of at least $100,000. As a result, a new citizen accesses more than 90 visa-free destinations.
Caribbean and Vanuatu passports provide similar opportunities. Learn more about where you can go with them and which passport to choose.
Schengen Area
Caribbean passports are the most inexpensive decision for visa-free travels to Europe: the investment sum for obtaining Caribbean citizenship starts at $100,000.
Caribbean citizens can spend up to 90 days in half a year in the EU and Schengen countries. The period of stay is calculated the same way as for a Schengen visa: 180 days are counted back from the planned departure date, and the days already spent in the Schengen Area are deducted from this period. If you spend 90 days in the Schengen Area, you cannot come to the region within the next 90 days.
The visa-waiver regime between the EU and Caribbean countries is set in international agreements:
Agreement between the European Community and Antigua and Barbuda dated 28.05.2009;
Agreement between the EU and Saint Lucia dated 28.05.2015;
Agreement between the EU and Grenada dated 28.05.2015;
Agreement between the EU and the Commonwealth of Dominica dated 28.05.2015.
Vanuatu used to have a visa-waiver agreement with the Schengen countries. But the European Council announced its partial suspension in March 2022. Starting from May 2022, Vanuatu citizens couldn’t come to the Schengen Area without visas if they got their passports after May 25th, 2015. In November 2022, the European Council completely abolished the visa-free regime with Vanuatu.
Visa-free trips to the UK
Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. If you obtain citizenship of one of those countries, you can visit the UK without visas and stay there for up to 6 months.
One can come to the UK only for tourism, treatment or short-term educational courses. You need a visa to work, study at a local university or get married in the country.
The stay in the UK can be extended with a long-term visa. It can be obtained on solid grounds like falling ill or being unable to leave the country due to closed borders. In these cases, the period of stay might be extended even without obtaining a long‑term visa.
Singapore, Hong Kong, China
The Caribbean or Vanuatu passport allows the holder to visit Asian countries without visas. Our clients are usually interested in Singapore, Hong Kong and China, so let’s talk about them.
Singapore is visa-free if the trip lasts for up to 30 days.
Hong Kong can be entered without a visa for a 90-day trip.
China is visa-free only for Grenada and Dominica citizens: they can stay in the country for up to 30 days.
Which passport has the biggest number of visa‑free destinations?
The program countries’ citizenships offer similar opportunities in terms of popular visa‑free destinations. But if you want to travel the whole world, the number of available countries might be important.
Caribbean and Vanuatu passports visa-free countries
St Kitts and Nevis — 157
Antigua and Barbuda — 151
St Lucia — 147
Grenada — 146
Dominica — 145
Vanuatu — 96
Besides the number of visa-free destinations, obtaining periods, requirements, and investment amounts affect the choice of the second citizenship country.
If you need a second passport as soon as possible, choose the Vanuatu program: investors get passports within 1—2 months. The minimum investment sum is $130,000.
The lowest investment sum for a single investor is in Dominica and St Lucia: applicants contribute $100,000 to state funds to get their passports.
The least expensive investment option for big families is offered by Antigua and Barbuda. A contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund is $150,000 for a family of six. The investment sum for a family of four is the same as for a single investor if contributing to a state fund or purchasing real estate.
To return the invested money in 5—7 years, an investor can choose alternative investment options under Caribbean citizenship programs. For example, to purchase a property.
The minimum investment sum is higher for refundable options than for non-refundable contributions to state funds.
Dominica, Roseau
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Key points about using Caribbean and Vanuatu passports for travel
Caribbean passport visa-free countries are more than 140 destinations, including the Schengen states, the UK and Asian countries.
The Vanuatu passport unlocks 96 visa-free destinations, including Singapore and Hong Kong.
The minimum investment sum to get a Caribbean passport is $100,000. The expenses depend on the country, investment option and family composition.
The money invested in obtaining a Caribbean passport can be returned if the investor purchases real estate or government bonds.
Vanuatu has the fastest citizenship by investment program: you can get a passport in 1—2 months.
Material prepared by Lyle Julien, Investment programs expert
