Insights
Caribbean nations are popular tourist destinations because of their warm tropical weather, beautiful beaches, and luxurious resorts. They are also top choices for those seeking business opportunities or second citizenship through investment.
It is important to know that out of the 20 countries in the Caribbean Community, some of them offer Citizenship by Investment programs. If you want to know which one will offer you the most benefit, you will need to conduct a Caribbean Citizenship by Investment comparison.
This article will guide you through these programs and point out the key differences between them so you can select the one that will help you reach the future you desire.
These programs allow you to gain citizenship in some of the Caribbean nations. The investments go toward strengthening the local economy and social projects. More specifically, you will have the following options:
In addition, the Caribbean citizenship by investment programs offer a quicker path to citizenship than naturalization with an average processing time of 9-12 months.
Although there is a cost associated with a citizenship application, you are not actually purchasing citizenship. Instead, you are paying for the government to conduct due diligence and process your application. For Citizenship by Investment programs, you will also be required to make a contribution to the country in some form. This cost ranges from $200,000 to $1,000,000 in the Caribbean nations. Let us examine these investments more deeply to better understand the difference in cost.
First, the Grenada Citizenship by Investment offers two options. You can invest in the following options:
This two-island nation has the oldest investment program with various options, each of them contributing to the country's development. Specifically, real estate investment allows you to contribute to approved development projects or private real estate. Meanwhile, the Sustainable Island State Contribution funds projects throughout the country. Last is the Public Benefit Option, which directly impacts local citizens.
Here are the minimum requirements for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment:
| Investments | Cost |
| Real Estate | $400,000 |
| Sustainable Island State Contribution | $250,000 |
| Public Benefit Option | $250,000 |
St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment is another program with the least and most expensive options. At the lower end, you can contribute to the National Economic Fund. This option does not provide direct returns on investment, but it is a straightforward, one-time, non-refundable expense that does not require ongoing management. On the other hand, if you choose the government bond investment options, you will need to maintain them for 5 years.
Here are details on these investments:
| Investments | Cost |
| National Economic Fund | $240,000 |
| Government Bonds | $300,000 |
Beyond the cost of the investment required for these citizenships, you should also consider the following:
Many Citizenship by Investment programs require main applicants to have no criminal record or communicable disease. You also need not have visa rejections from countries with visa-free treaties.
Yet, when you look at these programs, you will notice slight differences in requirements. For example, St. Kitts and Nevis require references to convince them of your good character. As for St. Lucia, you will have to include your original birth documents.
One common requirement for the programs discussed above is that they do not require a minimum stay. So, you can apply for citizenship without having to reside in these islands.
The timeline of your application will depend on several factors. One of the most important factors is the investment you choose to make since their due diligence process is different.
Another factor that can greatly affect your application process is the completeness and correctness of your documentation. If you require additional documents or the government finds discrepancies in your documents, the process will take longer. Generally, these applications take 9 – 12 months to complete.
Lastly, each of these programs allows you to include family members. However, the specifics of the ages of the children and the type of family members differ. To understand whether these programs would suit your circumstances, examine the following table:
| Family Member | Citizenship by Investment Program | ||
| … | Grenada | St. Kitts and Nevis | St. Lucia |
| Partner | Spouse, Opposite Sex, Clean Criminal Record | Spouse | Legal Spouse |
| Financially Dependent Child | Under 30 | Under 26 | Under 30 |
| Sibling | Over 18, Unmarried, Childless | Under 30, Unmarried, Childless, Financially Dependent | Unmarried, Under 18 |
| Dependent Parent/Grant Parent | Yes | Over 55 | Over 55 |
Moreover, St. Kitts and Nevis allows you to include family members even after you have received your citizenship.
As mentioned earlier, the Caribbean region is well-known for its beautiful scenery, low taxes, vibrant culture, and luxurious tourist attractions. While these countries offer these benefits, it is also true that they each have an area where they excel.
In order to assess the suitability of these citizenship programs, you should examine these stand-out advantages:
Unlike St. Kitts, Nevis, and St. Lucia, Grenada has an E-2 Visa treaty with the US. This visa is for investors. With this non-immigrant visa, you can conveniently travel to the USA. Plus, it is indefinitely renewable so long as you meet the visa's criteria.
Out of all these programs, St. Kitts and Nevis is a paradise for crypto investors. In this country, there are banking services that facilitate investing in cryptocurrencies. As a matter of fact, reports indicate that the government is considering adopting Bitcoin as one of their legal tenders.
Lastly, St. Lucia now has visa-free access to Canada by air. According to reports, the island was part of a list of 13 countries that recently gained this freedom. This will apply to you if you have a US non-immigrant visa or have received a Canadian visitor visa in the past decade.
Instead of the lengthy and expensive temporary residence application process, you will simply use electronic travel authorization.
To ensure a smooth and successful citizenship application, it is important to rely on the expertise of Vancis Capital, an investment migration boutique advisory. You can start by reaching out to one of our global offices to schedule a consultation. During your first meeting, we will help you determine which Citizenship by Investment in a Caribbean program best suits your goals. We will also clearly explain all potential benefits and challenges, allowing you to make an informed decision. Afterwards, we will guide you through each step of the process, providing a clear and straightforward path for a quick and successful application.
St. Lucia is the easiest country in the Caribbean to get citizenship. Through their Citizenship by Investment program, you can contribute $240,000 to the National Economic Fund. This is the most convenient option as you will not need to further involve yourself in this investment after submitting your application.
There is no country where you can legally buy a passport ― even in the Caribbean region. Instead, you can make an investment as part of your citizenship application. The following countries allow you to make this contribution: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia.
Out of all the Caribbean passports, Barbados is the most powerful. Globally, it ranks 19th. The next 4 most powerful passports in the region are the Bahamas (20th), St. Kitts and Nevis (24th), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (25th), and Antigua and Barbuda (28th).
Through this Caribbean Citizenship by Investment comparison, you have learned that Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia have excellent programs. They all have multiple investment options, providing you the freedom to choose how you will contribute to your new country. What differentiates them the most is the specifics of the investments and the advantages the countries offer. Specifically, Grenada has one of the lowest minimum investment: $235,000. Meanwhile, St. Kitts and Nevis is a crypto paradise. Not the least, the Grenadine program allows your grandparents to join your application.
So, carefully consider the above guide to choose the perfect program for you and your family. By using the services of migration experts like Vancis Capital, you will be able to access these benefits with ease.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your citizenship or residency by investment goals. One of our investment migration experts will contact you to discuss your case. With over 16 years of combined experience our team has helped hundreds of families achieve freedom.
