Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programmes Compared 2026

Antigua and Barbuda

Established: 2013 Investment options:

• National Development Fund (NDF) donation: $230,000 covering a main applicant and up to three dependants (a family-inclusive price, not per-person — strong value for families)
• Real estate: $300,000 in approved development; minimum five-year hold
• Business investment: $1.5 million in an approved business; or joint investment of at least $400,000 per investor

Processing time: Four to six months Visa-free access: Approximately 150 countries, including Schengen, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore Unique feature: The NDF donation covers a main applicant plus up to three dependants at a single flat price — strong value for families. The five-day presence requirement is minimal but worth noting — one visit of five days is required at some point in the first five years of holding citizenship. Best for: Families seeking value; investors who do not want the additional complexity of real estate

Dominica

Established: 1993 (one of the oldest Caribbean CBI programmes) Investment options:

• Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) donation: $200,000 (single), $250,000 (family of four)
• Real estate: $200,000 in approved development; minimum three-year hold

Processing time: Two to four months Visa-free access: Approximately 140–145 countries, including Schengen and UK Unique feature: Dominica consistently scores well in transparency rankings and has invested heavily in programme credibility. The Nature Isle's small size and eco-tourism focus gives it a distinctive brand. Dominica citizenship can be held by descendants indefinitely. Best for: Budget-conscious single applicants; those who prioritise programme reputation and due diligence standards; those who value speed

Grenada

Established: 2013 Investment options:

• National Transformation Fund (NTF) donation: $235,000 (single applicant or family of up to four, at a flat rate)
• Real estate: $270,000 in approved development; minimum five-year hold

Processing time: Three to six months Visa-free access: Approximately 145 countries, including Schengen, UK, China Unique feature: E-2 Investor Treaty with the United States. This is Grenada's primary differentiator. Grenadian citizens can apply for a US E-2 non-immigrant visa, which allows investment in and management of a US business. No other Caribbean CBI country offers this. For investors with US business interests or a desire to eventually live and work in the US without the complexity of the EB-5 investor immigration visa, Grenada CBI is the logical choice. Grenada also has visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to China — useful for business travellers. Best for: Investors who want US E-2 treaty access; business travellers to China; investors willing to pay a slight premium for the US angle

St Kitts and Nevis

Established: 1984 — the world's first citizenship by investment programme Investment options:

• Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC): $250,000 covering a single applicant or a family of up to four (St Kitts bundles the main applicant and first three dependants at one price; additional dependants are charged per person)
• Real estate: from $325,000 in an approved development (e.g. a condominium unit); minimum seven-year hold — verify current options and pricing tiers

Processing time: Three to six months standard; 45 days via Accelerated Application Process (AAP) for an additional $25,000

Visa-free access: Approximately 156–157 countries, including Schengen, UK, Russia, and many others Unique feature: The original and, by most rankings, the most prestigious Caribbean CBI programme. St Kitts has maintained a strong visa-free relationship with the UK and Schengen area throughout its four decades of operation. Its rigorous four-tier due diligence process — conducted independently of the approval authority — sets an industry benchmark. The SKN passport is well-received internationally, and in our experience, St Kitts passport holders encounter fewer questions or complications when travelling than holders of some newer programmes. Best for: Investors who prioritise prestige and reputational strength; those who want the most robust due diligence process; investors for whom the extra cost versus Dominica is justified by the programme's track record

St Lucia

Established: 2016 Investment options:

• National Economic Fund (NEF) donation: $240,000 (single applicant or main applicant with up to three dependants)
• Real estate: $300,000 in approved development; minimum five-year hold
• Government bonds: $300,000 in government bonds; minimum five-year hold
• Enterprise investment: $3.5 million

Processing time: Three to four months Visa-free access: Approximately 145 countries, including Schengen and UK Unique feature: St Lucia offers a government bond option that is relatively rare among Caribbean programmes — the investment is technically repayable (though returns are minimal). Unlike the donation route, where the funds are gone once paid, the bond route returns the principal at maturity, which is why it appeals to investors who want a second passport without treating the full cost as a sunk expense — the trade-off is a longer minimum hold and the opportunity cost of capital tied up at a below-market return in the meantime. The donation tier is competitively priced alongside the other harmonised programmes. St Lucia is a newer programme with a growing reputation. Best for: Those interested in the bond option for quasi-refundable investment; those comparing between Dominica and St Lucia on price (similar cost, comparable outcomes)

Caribbean programmes are notable for permitting extended family inclusion — one of their advantages over EU programmes, which typically restrict eligibility to immediate family members.

Parents and grandparents: Most programmes allow the main applicant's parents and sometimes in-laws to be included for an additional fee. Grenada is among the most generous, allowing dependent parents and grandparents of any age (subject to a financial-dependency test rather than a fixed minimum age). Most other programmes — including Dominica, Antigua, St Kitts and St Lucia — require parents to be over a specified age, commonly 55 following recent reforms. This is particularly valuable for investors who want to provide family members with a second citizenship.

Dependent adult children: Most programmes include dependent children up to age 25 or 26 if in full-time education, and some allow adult children with disabilities regardless of age.

Siblings: Dominica allows the main applicant's unmarried siblings for an additional fee — unusual even within the Caribbean market.

Visa-free access is subject to change by bilateral agreement and is not guaranteed in perpetuity. Programme rules, investment thresholds, and fees change; verify current terms before applying. Caribbean CBI passports give visa-free travel for short stays — they do not give the right to live and work in Schengen countries. Investments can fall in value as well as rise. This is not legal or financial advice.