The latest Global Passport Index 2025 is more than just a ranking of where a passport can take you; it combines mobility access, quality of life, and investment appeal to demonstrate not just where citizens can go, but their standard of living and economic prospects. The report demonstrated the Caribbean’s resurgence in global mobility. Caribbean passports from Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia climbed several places in the rankings, thanks to a mix of internal reforms, regional cooperation, and unilateral compliance measures.
Strong Rankings, Rising Appeal
With the 2025 Global Passport Index (GPI) going deeper than just visa free access, considering quality of life and investment factors, it showed that Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs remain dominant. According to the 2025 edition of the Index, several Caribbean nations made big moves up the chart:
- The St Kitts and Nevis passport retains the crown of the most powerful Caribbean passport in the Index, strengthening its position by climbing ten places to 45th.
- The Antigua and Barbuda passport jumped an impressive 14 places since 2021 to land at 49th.
- Despite not cracking the top 50 like St Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, the St Lucia passport still managed to climb eight spots to 67.
- Other Caribbean passports also did well. The Bahamas passport remains one of the strongest in the Americas, while the Grenada passport increased its ranking by four to 72nd.
Key Drivers Behind the Improvement
According to Laura Madrid, Head of Research for the Global Intelligence Unit (GIU) at Global Citizen Solutions, “A combination of smart policy reforms and coordinated regional action explains why Caribbean passports climbed sharply in the 2025 Global Passport Index.”
01/ Internal and due diligence reform
Countries offering Caribbean Citizenship by Investment have systematically upgraded their processing and background-check standards. Features include biometric integration, stricter screening of applicants and dependents, and digitalisation of applications.
02/ Regional cooperation and the six principles
A major driver of the Eastern Caribbean’s strong standard in the economic citizenship industry is regional cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding Agreement was signed by all five CBI countries in 2023 to standardize crucial processes and share information, including denial databases, Caribbean citizenship interviews, refused applications from high-risk nationalities, and commit to stronger transparency.
This cooperation sent a clear message to the international community that the programs are credible and managed within progressive and stable political environments.
03/ International pressure
When the United States released its list of 36 countries for a potential travel ban, the Caribbean reacted by forming the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). Changes, such as the introduction of a minimum residency period and engaging in bilateral dialogues, have protected passport power and helped the region maintain its edge in global rankings.
The Dominica passport might not have made the same leaps as others in the Caribbean in this year’s report, partly due to a few visa free rollbacks over the last couple of years, but the island is fighting back. It joined a regional free movement agreement with four other Caribbean nations, as well as added countries, like Tajikistan, to its visa free travel list.
What does it mean in practice?
For individuals seeking second citizenship or improved access, several practical implications come into play:
- Holding a Caribbean passport now offers access to more countries visa free, thanks to improved credibility and diplomatic cooperation. The number of visa free countries is as follows:
- St Kitts and Nevis: 167
- Antigua and Barbuda: 164
- Dominica: 160
- Grenada: 140
- St Lucia: 156
- The value of the passport asset is enhanced not only by mobility but also by the quality of life and investment opportunities it affords. According to World Bank data, Antigua and Barbuda’s GDP per capita has risen by over 40 percent in the past two decades, while options like St Kitts and Nevis real estate citizenship continue to attract global investors, fuelling luxury developments from internationally renowned hospitality brands like the Marriott and Hilton, and sustained tourism growth.
A Look Back at the Progress of Caribbean Passports
Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia’s jump in the 2025 Global Passport Index can be attributed to a strong combination of internal reform, regional collaboration through the Six Principles agreement, and alignment with global compliance standards.
Beyond regional cooperation and compliance, Caribbean countries offer some of the most attractive investment environments—a key factor reflected in the Investment Index rankings of the GPI. Antigua and Barbuda, along with St Kitts and Nevis, are both ranked among the world’s top ten destinations for investment, offering added motivation for investors pursuing Caribbean citizenship.
Curious to see where other countries landed? Check out the full Global Passport Index to compare rankings, track mobility trends, and see how different regions stack up.