Caribbean Passport power rankings

 

Often when choosing a particular Caribbean citizenship by investment program, investors will stumble upon one or other of the “Passport Rankings.” Various think-tanks and commercial groups produce global rankings of countries according to the freedom of travel that their passports afford. This is measured in terms of visa-free travel, visa on arrival.

These ranking lists compare around 200 passports according to the number of countries their holders can travel to visa-free. This is not always a decisive factor for choosing a particular country for Caribbean citizenship, but for the feeling of freedom of movement, the number of visa-free countries is usually an important part of the analysis.

Rankings are sometimes biased, and most people realistically only want to travel to key countries like the USA, Canada, Europe and the UK. So, by all means study the rankings as part of your research, but don’t be swayed too much by them.

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• Below is a snapshot of the best passports as of 2024-2025 in the Caribbean

   RANKING      COUNTRY                  VISA-FREE DESTINATIONS

   26th           St. Kitts & Nevis               147

   30th           Antigua & Barbuda          143

   32nd           St. Lucia                          139

   34th            Grenada                          137

   37th            Dominica                         133

The conclusion? Caribbean passports are strong travel documents. These countries are actively signing new visa-free agreements with other countries.

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Investment Options for Caribbean Citizenship by Investment

The Caribbean is a region that includes a group of many island nations. As we already covered above, it is difficult to overestimate the advantages of Caribbean citizenship by investment programs – in a short time and with relatively small investments, you and your family members will receive a second passport that opens many borders of the world… you will gain a “Plan B” in case of unforeseen circumstances… and you will be able to optimize taxes for yourself by being firmly in control of your identity and future.

Availability of programs: 

• Antigua & Barbuda

• Dominica

• Grenada

• St. Kitts & Nevis

• St. Lucia

With a reasonable investment, you and your family can become Caribbean citizens and passport holders in a few months.

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Caribbean Investment Options

Donating to a government fund or NGO
This is one of the easiest and most attractive ways to acquire Caribbean citizenship by investment. All money received through the fund is used for the development of the country’s infrastructure, medicine, tourism, health, education, and other social services. St Kitts and Nevis for example offers the “Public Benefit Option” allowing you to choose more specifically hope your donation is channeled and to receive certain in-kind incentives from the beneficiary organization such as hotel nights, virtual office services, or even the right to participate in a movie! Alternatively, there is an opportunity to contribute to the University of the West Indies Educational Fund in Antigua & Barbuda. This route of investment is particularly relevant for families with 6 applicants or more.

Purchasing Real Estate, in government-approved developments (hotels, resorts, private homes, etc.)
This option is also very popular among investors, as they can resell the property or their shareholding interest after some years and recover most or all of their original investment. St Kitts and Nevis is unique in that it also has the option to invest in any real estate in the open market, rather than just specifically “approved” projects.

Other alternative investment options
It is currently possible to invest in a business of choice in two of the countries (Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia). It’s worth noting that other islands are also generally open to granting citizenships for substantial business investments that create jobs for locals, even if their legislation does not specifically allow for it. As a large foreign investor, you can sit down and negotiate your own programme with the government.

Investing in Government Bonds
Non-interest bearing with redemption of the principal at maturity – this option currently exists only in St Lucia.

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Procedure for obtaining Caribbean Citizenship by Investment

 

The day when you decide to opt for the Citizenship by Investment program has come. What should you do, and what steps must be taken to obtain the coveted passport and citizenship?

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What is the minimum amount an applicant must invest to obtain a Caribbean citizenship?

For the exact information ; citinaviglobal@gmail.com 

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Antigua & Barbuda

​    I. GOVERNMENT DONATION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (NDF)

• To qualify for this route of investment, the applicant makes a non-refundable contribution to the government-controlled National Development Fund (NDF). This non-profit fund is subject to parliamentary oversight to allow for transparency and accountability and will also be audited by an internationally recognized accounting firm.

• DONATION AMOUNT:

• Single applicant: US$ 230,000

• Family of up to 4 members: US$ 230,000

• Family of 5 and up: US$ 230,000

• PROCESSING FEES:

• Single applicant: US$ 10,000

• Family of up to 4 members: US$ 20,000

• Each additional dependent from the 5th: US$ 20,000 plus US$ 10,000 per person                                                                                                                                                                                                            II. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

• To qualify, the investor must enter a contract to purchase government-approved real estate. Important: The property may not be sold within five years from the grant of citizenship.

• INVESTMENT FEES:

• Minimum investment: US$ 300,000

• PROCESSING FEES:

• Single applicant: US$ 10,000

• Family of up to 4 members: US$ 20,000

• Each additional dependent from the 5th: US$ 20,000 plus US$ 10,000 per person

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• III. UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES (UWI) FUND​

The UWI Fund is an innovative government-backed initiative designed to fund the prestigious University of the West Indies’ new campus, a leading higher education institution in the Caribbean. A notable benefit of this option is that it offers one family member a one-year scholarship for tuition at the University of the West Indies. This means that by investing, you secure your family’s future and contribute to the progress of higher education in the region.

CONTRIBUTION:

Family of 6: US$ 260,000

Family of 7 and more: US$ 260,000

PROCESSING FEES:

Family of 6: fees are included in contribution amount

Family of 7 and more: US$ 10,000 per each dependent

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• IV. BUSINESS INVESTMENT

Antigua & Barbuda offers a fourth option of direct investment into an authorized business on the islands. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) recommends Cabinet approval of businesses – whether existing or proposed – for investment in business under the Citizenship by Investment Program.

INVESTMENT AMOUNT:

Family up to 4 members: US$ 1,500,000

Joint application of minimum 2 investors:

US$ 5,000,000 or more (each investor needs to contribute at least US$ 400,000)

PROCESSING FEES:

Single applicant: US$ 10,000

Family up to 4 members: US$ 20,000

Family of 5 and more: US$ 20,000 plus US$ 10,000 per person

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• DOMINICA 

• I. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION FUND (EDF)

• The Economic Diversification Fund under the Dominica citizenship program was established as one component of a national capital mobilisation portfolio towards the government’s ultimate goal: national development for the Commonwealth of Dominica.

• To qualify for citizenship under the Economic Diversification Fund investment option, there are more categories with different minimum contribution amounts. How much you have to invest to qualify for citizenship depends upon the number of dependents included in the application. Exact US dollar amounts to qualify for Dominica Citizenship by Investment are as follows:

• Main applicant only: US$ 200,000

• Main applicant and up to three dependents: US$ 250,000

• Each additional dependent under 18: US$ 25,000

• Each additional dependent aged 18 or over: US$ 40,000µ

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• II. REAL ESTATE

Tourism is a fuel for the island’s economy. In a move designed to increase tourism-related development, the Commonwealth of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme allows investors to qualify for citizenship by buying into approved real estate developments in any part of the island.

To qualify under the real estate option, the investor (or family) must enter into a contract to purchase real estate worth US$ 200,000 or more.

Investment for a family of 4 with two children under the age of 16: US$ 200,000

GOVERNMENT FEES:

Main applicant only: US$ 75,000

Family of 4 members, with main applicant and up to 3 dependents: US$ 100,000

Any additional dependent under the age of 18: US$ 25,000

Any additional dependent aged 18 years and above: US$ 40,000

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GRENADA

• I. GOVERNMENT DONATION TO NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION FUND (NTF)

DONATION AMOUNT:

Main applicant and up to three family members 

– except for siblings, parents, and grandparents under age 55: US$ 235,000

Additional dependent after the third: US$ 25,000/50,000 per person

Additional sibling: US$ 75,000 per person

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• II. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

To qualify, the investor must enter a contract to purchase government-approved real estate.

Important: The property may not be sold within five years from the grant of citizenship.

INVESTMENT FEES:

Minimum investment amount: US$ 270,000*

*US$ 270 000 investment refers to shared ownership in real estate.

The real estate holding period for US$ 270 000 investment option is five years. For sole ownership the investment amount must be US$ 350 000+.

GOVERNMENT FEES:

Family of four

– except for siblings, parents, and grandparents under age 55: US$ 50,000

Application fee for family of four: US$ 6,000

 

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St. Kitts & Nevis 

• I. SUSTAINABLE ISLAND STATE CONTRIBUTION (SISC)

Main applicant of a family of up to four persons: US$ 250,000

Each additional dependent under 18: US$ 25,000

Each additional dependent aged 18 or over: US$ 50,000

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• II. REAL ESTATE

Minimum investment: US$ 325,000

GOVERNEMENT FEES*:

Main applicant: US$ 25,000

Spouse: US$ 15,000

Each additional dependent under 18: US$ 10,000

Each additional dependent aged 18 or over: US$ 15,000

*Real Estate Investment & Application Fee is due post application pre-approval.

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• III. APPROVED PRIVATE HOME OPTION

This permanent investment option allows you to invest US$ 325,000 in a condominium or US$ 600,000 single-family dwelling house designated by the Program as “Approved Private Home’. The full purchase price will be placed in an irrevocable escrow account.

Approved private homes – resaleable after 7 years – with a minimum investment of:

US$ 325,000 in a condominium

US$ 600,000 in a single-family dwelling house

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• IV. PUBLIC BENEFIT OPTION (PBO)

Investment amount: US$ 250,000

Government; Due diligence and Other fees apply the same way as at the Real Estate Investment option.

*PBO Investment & Application Fee is due post application pre-approval.

 

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SAINT LUCIA

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• I. NATIONAL ECONOMIC FUND

Main applicant with up to three dependents: US$ 240,000

Each additional applying dependent under the age of 18: US$ 10,000

Each additional applying dependent above the age of 18: US$ 20,000

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• II. REAL ESTATE

Minimum investment: US$ 300,000

ADMINISTRATIVE FEES:

Each additional dependent under 18: US$ 10,000

Each additional dependent aged 18 or over: US$ 20,000

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• III. NATIONAL ACTION BOND

*Applicants and qualified citizens must hold the bonds for a minimum of 5 years and then they can recoup their initial investments. This makes this option one of a kind among all the others. 

Investment for main applicant and unlimited dependents: US$ 300,000

Government Fee for any number of applicants: US$ 50,000

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• IV. ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT

There are currently no enterprise projects open for investment.