Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison guide

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Whether you’re looking to retire in the Caribbean, own a second home in paradise, start a profitable business, or simply own a second passport without the commitment of living in the Caribbean, look no further. St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis all offer citizenship by investment. While the programs are relatively similar, there are key differences, which is precisely why we’ve developed this Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison guide.

Gain clarity in our Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison guide, so you can choose the most suitable passport program for yourself and your family.

Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison

If you’re seeking a peaceful abode to retreat to, be it for holidays, retirement, or residency, then consider the Caribbean.

There are currently five Caribbean citizenship by investment programs in operation, offering lucrative incentives to investors looking to diversify their assets and protect their wealth. When thinking about which Caribbean citizenship by investment to pick, consider factors like timeline to acquiring a passport, best value for your money, visa-free travel, and investor requirements.

St. Kitts and Nevis: Quickest path to Caribbean citizenship

St. Kitts and Nevis by far offers the quickest route to Caribbean citizenship. Its special fast-track application option enables investors to obtain a St. Kitts and Nevis passport within 45-60 days. No other Caribbean country offers such an excellent expedited feature in their program.

In addition to getting a St. Kitts and Nevis passport quickly, you can count on this island nation for its:

An abundance of sun and mesmerizing beaches
Fast-growing economy
Platinum standard reputation in the global marketplace of citizenship by investment programs
Quality offshore banking and a range of insurance services in a tax-friendly environment
Guarantee of financial privacy for offshore businesses

Antigua and Barbuda: Best value for family

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment by far offers the cheapest value for a family of four. The main applicant that applies with a spouse and two children must donate at least $100,000 to the National Development Fund to acquire Antigua and Barbuda passports. This equates to $25,000 per family member, not a bad deal if you ask us.

Why Antigua and Barbuda?

Unlock visa-free travel to over 130 countries, including the UK and the European Union
The application and approval process takes around 90 days
Stable democracy with a British parliamentary system
Dual citizenship is recognized, lifetime citizenship is protected
Outstanding lifestyle in the tropics with year-round sunshine

Dominica: Cheapest Caribbean citizenship by investment for an individual

Dominica offers the cheapest Caribbean citizenship by investment for a single applicant. The cheapest option to qualify for a Dominica passport is to donate $100K to a government fund.

That’s not all.

For the fourth year in a row, Dominica citizenship by investment was ranked first by the CBI Index — the most prestigious study of citizenship by investment programs in the world.

What makes Dominica’s citizenship program so attractive?

A minimum donation of $100,000 in Dominica’s Economic Diversification Fund will get you a Dominica passport
You can also choose to invest $200,000 in pre-approved real estate, granting you a passport and a second home in the tropics
There are no stay requirements
The whole family is eligible to apply

Grenada: A route to the USA

Do you have a desire to live and work in the US? Acquiring Grenadian citizenship is a viable first step toward securing your goal. In fact, Grenada is the only Caribbean citizenship by investment program which holds an E-2 Visa Treaty with the USA. What this means is, if you hold a Grenadian passport, you can apply for a US non-immigrant visa and take this opportunity to relocate your family to the USA.

Grenada’s an excellent option if you:

Want to relocate to the USA
Want visa-free access to China (only Caribbean program offering this)
Want your family to benefit from the program too — you can include a spouse, children under 30, unmarried siblings aged 18 and over, parents and grandparents of the main applicant, and spouse
Prefer to own a passport without the commitment of living in Grenada — there’s no minimum stay requirement

St Lucia: Diverse investment options available

St Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Program has a competitive edge over its Caribbean rivalries purely in terms of the breadth of investment options on the table.

Pick from four investment routes to citizenship:

Purchase real estate valued at least $300K from an approved real estate development. The property must be held for at least 5 years
Partake in an approved enterprise project with a minimum contribution of $3.5 million, plus the generation of no less than three fixed jobs
A donation of $100K to the National Economic Fund
Invest in non-interest bearing government bonds, which must be held for five years. This must be valued at $500K. Note, this amount can be reduced to $250K if applying under the COVID-19 Relief Bond available until 31 December 2020

Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison table

Caribbean citizenship by investment programs are very attractive and cost-effective, with minimum investment requirements and excellent visa-free travel and tax benefits.

These programs are only getting more popular, particularly among high net worth families and individuals, and it’s easy to see why. Citizenship by investment enables you to live or own a second home in an exotic country, while still pulling income on the side. What’s not to like about that?

We’ve developed a Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison table below, enabling you to compare each country against numerous criteria.

Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison criteria	Antigua & Barbuda	Dominica	Grenada	St. Kitts & Nevis	St. Lucia
Timeline to passport	3-4 months	2-3 months	3- 4 months	3 months or 45-60 days if fast-track application (extra fee)	3-4 months
Visa-free travel countries	140: EU, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong	127: EU,UK, Singapore, Hong Kong	131: EU, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, China	156:EU & UK, Singapore, Hong Kong	132: EU, Singapore, Hong Kong
Investment cost [single applicant]	$100,000 *	$100,000	$150,000	$150,000	$100,000
Investment cost [family of 4]	$100,000 *	$200,000	$195,000	$195,000	$190,000
Family eligibility	Spouse, children, dependent parents, grandparents	Spouse, children, dependent parents, grandparents	Spouse, children, dependent parents, grandparents, siblings	Spouse, children, dependent parents, grandparents	Spouse, children, dependent parents

Caribbean citizenship benefits

There are plenty of Caribbean citizenship benefits, making for a convincing case to apply for one of the Caribbean’s five citizenship by investment programs.

Top five Caribbean citizenship benefits include:

No taxation on international income in nations like St. Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda

Little to no residency requirement, meaning you don’t need to relocate

Attractive investment opportunities in the bustling tourism sector

Turquoise blue waters offering an idyllic lifestyle under the sun

Visa-free travel to over 150 destinations

How to get a Caribbean passport?

While how to get a Caribbean passport depends on what citizenship by investment program you apply for, generally speaking, all five Caribbean nations request the following:

You must prove you have the capital to make the investment
You must pass a detailed background check
Be in good health and have a good character
You must make the qualifying investment and prove you’ve made it with the necessary paperwork
You must swear an oath of allegiance

Pick a Caribbean citizenship program that suits you best

Depending on your personal needs, requirements, and family situation, Global Citizen Solutions can consult you on the most suitable program. There are a myriad of choices; every Caribbean passport has its own advantage. Choose what’s most important to you, and we’ll help guide you onto a successful path toward citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison

What is the best Caribbean citizenship to acquire?

While the best Caribbean citizenship program depends on your individual needs and objectives, generally speaking, Dominica offers the best citizenship program in terms of its low investment threshold, timeline to a passport, and high-standing international reputation.

St Lucia vs Dominica passport: what’s better?

When comparing the merits of a St Lucia vs Dominica passport, St Lucia ranks 37th in world passport rankings while a Dominica passport ranks in 41st place. St Lucia also offers visa-free travel to 132 nations, while Dominica offers visa-free travel to 127 destinations. If opting to invest in real estate, then Dominica is still the cheapest option, with the required investment threshold at $200K, while in St Lucia it’s $300k.

St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica passport: what’s better?

When comparing the St. Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica passport, St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment is more expensive than Dominica’s passport program.

How to get a Caribbean passport?

How to get a Caribbean passport depends on the program you pick. Generally speaking though, you must prove you have the necessary funds to make the respective investment, you must pass a detailed background check, be in good health and of good character, as well as make the qualifying investment and prove you’ve made with the required documentation.

What Caribbean citizenship by investment countries exist?

At present, the Caribbean citizenship by investment countries are St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis.

What’s the best Caribbean passport in terms of global ranking?

The best Caribbean passport by far is St Kitts and Nevis, ranking 26th in the world for its visa-free travel access to 156 countries.