If you are looking to acquire a second passport, the Caribbean countries offer advantageous citizenship by investment programs. St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada are two of these countries: in just a few months and in exchange for a reasonably affordable investment, you and your family can obtain a second citizenship. But which one to choose? This article gives you a detailed overview of both Caribbean citizenship programs, so you can find the right one for your family.
Grenada and St Kitts Citizenship Benefits
Grenada vs St Kitts comparison: At a Glance
Program characteristics | Grenada Citizenship by Investment | St Kitts Citizenship by Investment |
Application time | Two to three months | Four months |
Passport Global ranking | 76th. Visa-free entry to EU Schengen States, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, and China, amongst others. | 55th. Visa-free entry to EU Schengen States, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others. |
Qualifying investment | NTF minimum donation: $150,000 (single applicant) / $200,000 (family of four) Real Estate investment: $220,000 minimum Investment routes: National Transformation Fund, real estate |
SISC minimum donation: $250,000 (single applicant) / $350,000 (family of four) Real Estate investment: $400,000 minimum Public Benefit Option (PBO): $250,000 non-refundable contribution Investment routes: Sustainable Island State Contribution, real estate, Public Benefit Option |
Taxes | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax. | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax. |
Residence rule | No stay requirements. | No stay requirements. |
Family eligibility | Inclusion of spouse, dependent children under 30, parents and grandparents, siblings over 18 (unmarried with no children) | Inclusion of spouse, dependent children up to 25, and parents aged 65 and older |
Grenada Citizenship by Investment
Grenada — also called ‘The Spice of the Caribbean’ — is praised for its beautiful nature, tranquility, and relaxed lifestyle. Since 2013, the government has had its very own Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program. This successful immigration scheme grants foreign investors and their families a Grenada passport in exchange for a minimum investment of $150,000 in the country’s economy.
With a Grenada passport, investors are able to travel visa-free to over 140 countries, such as China, the EU, the UK, and Russia. In addition, the passport is also the only Caribbean passport offering the opportunity to apply for the E2 visa in the US – which allows you to enter and work in the US when investing a substantial amount of capital in a US business.
St Kitts Citizenship by Investment
St Kitts and Nevis is a two-island country in the Caribbean Sea. Praised for its pristine beaches and luxury, this is the ideal place for those seeking an exclusive lifestyle. It is also the first Caribbean country to have launched a CBI Program, paving the way for many others. Implemented in 1984, the program grants applicants and their families investment citizenship in exchange for a qualifying contribution of at least $250,000 to the development of the country.
A St Kitts and Nevis passport allows visa-free travel to over 140 countries, such as in Europe’s Schengen zone, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia.
Which one to pick?
Both Grenada and St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship are very appealing and share many similarities, such as a quick application process, affordable and similar investment routes, no-stay requirements, flexible application requirements, and a very attractive tax regime. Both programs require applicants to partake in mandatory interviews, and both countries accept dual citizenship.
However, the programs differ on several crucial points, which can help you choose.
First and foremost, St Kitts and Nevis’s passport ranks 55th and gives you visa-free access to over 140 countries. The Grenada passport ranks in the 76th position, a bit lower. However, it gives access to China and offers the possibility of applying for a US E-2 visa. The E-2 visa permits you to enter and work in the US, provided you’ve invested a substantial amount of capital in a US business. Investors seeking to gain access to the US market are therefore encouraged to apply for Grenada citizenship.
So, if you want more visa-free countries and global mobility in general, St Kitts is better. If you have specific needs, such as access to China or the US E-2 visa, then Grenada may be the best option.
If you are planning to include family members in the application, each program has slight differences that may weigh on your decision. Both accept spouses and children, but Grenada has an upper age limit of 30 years old, whereas St Kitts and Nevis only accepts children up to 25, and between 18 and 25, they must be in education. Grenada accepts siblings over 18 (as long as they are unmarried and have no children), while St Kitts and Nevis no longer accepts siblings or grandparents. Additionally, they only accept parents aged 65 and above, whereas Grenada accepts both parents and grandparents and has no age requirements for either group.
Regarding financial investments, both programs are very similar in investment options with varying minimum investment amounts, which may sway your decision one way or the other depending on your personal circumstances.
Finally, for applicants who are in a hurry, Grenada offers a faster application process by one month. As per new regulations announced 27 July 2023, St Kitts and Nevis no longer offers an Accelerated Application Process, which allowed applicants to have their applications processed and approval letters received within 60 days of submission at an extra cost.
In conclusion, both programs are very appealing for similar reasons, and your decision should be based on your long-term goals and specific circumstances. Is your priority global mobility? Access to the US? Passport ready in a short time? Family reunification? If you need help figuring out which program is right for you, do not hesitate to contact us.
Why work with Global Citizen Solutions?
- Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
- 100 percent approval rate. We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
- Independent service and full transparency. We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
- An all-encompassing solution. A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family’s mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
- Confidential service and secure data management. All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Caribbean citizenship application, click here.
Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean comparison articles:
- Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide
- St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship
- St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica Passport
- Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
- St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship
- Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship
FAQs:
What is the Grenada Citizenship by Investment program?
The Grenada Citizenship by Investment program is a successful immigration scheme launched in 2013, which grants investors and their families a Grenada passport in two months in exchange for investing in the country a minimum of $150,000. All applications to the CBI program are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
What is the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program?
This program is the oldest Caribbean citizenship by investment scheme. Launched in 1984, it grants qualifying investors and their families a St Kitts and Nevis passport in just two months in exchange for investing at least $250,000 in the country. All applications to the CBI program are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
Grenada vs St Kitts citizenship: which program to pick?
Both Grenada and St Kitts citizenship are very appealing. The strength of having a St Kitts passport is that you can travel visa-free to over 140 countries. With a Grenada passport, you can apply for the US E-2 visa, which allows you to stay in the US in exchange for a qualifying investment.