St Kitts and Nevis has once again topped the CBI Index ranking of citizenship by investment programmes.
Avril Blanchett, Investment Migration Advisor at Immigrant Invest, explained how the 14 countries ranked.
Results
The 10th edition of the CBI Index was published on October 14th, 2026. Caribbean countries took the top 5 places[1]Source: CBI Index 2026 on the ranking’s official website.
St Kitts and Nevis ranked first with 78 out of 90 points. The country has topped the ranking for the sixth consecutive year, matching its 2025 score. Dominica scored 75 points, Grenada 72, St Lucia 71, and Antigua and Barbuda 65.
Naoero scored 64 out of 90 points and became the highest-ranked country outside the Caribbean. Its score increased by two points compared to 2025.
Experts awarded the programme stability only 3 out of 10 points because it has been operating for a relatively short time. However, Naoero received maximum scores for:
- simplicity of the procedure;
- conditions for family members;
- no mandatory residence requirement.
The Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme was launched in late 2024[2]Source: Official announcement of the Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme launch on the Government of Nauru website. Investors’ money is directed towards economic development projects and improving the island nation’s resilience to climate change.
How citizenship by investment programmes are assessed
CBI Index is an independent annual industry ranking. The first edition was published in 2017.
Experts assess 9 criteria, each on a scale from 0 to 10 points:
- Standard of living in the country.
- Freedom of movement.
- Minimum investment amount and available investment options.
- Requirements for visiting and residing in the country.
- Timeframe for obtaining citizenship.
- Simplicity of the process.
- Quality of Due Diligence.
- Possibility of including family members in the application.
- Stability and predictability of the programme.
The maximum score is 90 points. Official documents, statistical data, and expert research are used in the assessment.
When assessing programme costs, CBI Index considers the minimum investment for a single applicant. Additional expenses for family members are not included in the calculation.
How to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment
St Kitts and Nevis remains one of the most popular countries among investors, despite higher investment thresholds and stricter Due Diligence checks.
The country offers 4 options for obtaining citizenship:
- non-refundable contribution to a state fund — $250,000+;
- purchase of real estate — $325,000+;
- investment in housing projects — $250,000+;
- investment in social projects — $250,000+;
Investors choose St Kitts and Nevis citizenship to travel internationally without visas, diversify assets, and have a backup plan in case of instability in their country of permanent residence.
The process takes at least 4 months. The investor submits documents through an authorised agent, undergoes Due Diligence, and attends an interview.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship by investment programmes. We will help you choose a suitable country based on your goals.
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