The Caribbean is no longer just a place for luxury hotels and cruises. This is the region that laid the foundations for an entire industry by opening citizenship by investment programs in the 1980s. So, Caribbean citizenship has become a benchmark in terms of the thoroughness of its applicants’ vetting process and the variety of investment options available. Local economies receive a significant flow of funds into the budget, and investors receive alternative citizenship. This opens up a new level of visa-free travel around the world. But they are not available to all HNWIs. In particular, the application for Caribbean citizenship at the moment, for example. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Afghanistan and Iran cannot apply.
Caribbean citizenship programs occupy one of the leading positions in the industry, thanks to streamlined processing and remote procedures for submitting and reviewing applications.
US President’s Joe Biden Caribbean Vacation in St Croix on past winter holidays as Caribbean Journal reported. Biden and his wife Jill are spending the holiday in St Croix for the New Year, as he did in 2022 and a number of times as Vice President under former US President Barack Obama. The last sitting US President to visit St Croix was Harry Truman, who came to the USVI back in 1948.
Caribbean citizenship. Dominica
At the end of 2023, Dominica introduced new rules for its citizenship by investment program to address inconsistencies with EU and UK requirements. Let us remind you that the UK has deprived Dominican citizens of the right to visa-free entry in 2023. Thus, perhaps these decisions will return visa-free entry to the United Kingdom to Dominican citizens in the foreseeable future.
Here are some key changes. Investors who have acquired Dominican citizenship can no longer change their name. Moreover, it is specifically mentioned that persons who change their name within five years of obtaining Dominica Investment Citizenship will have it revoked. Additionally, individuals who have been denied a US, UK or EU visa will not be able to apply for Dominican citizenship. Terms and details >>
Mandatory interview. All applicants 16 years of age or over will be required to attend a mandatory interview. Effective since July 2023.
Caribbean citizenship. St Kitts and Nevis
The authorities of St. Kitts and Nevis have doubled the entry threshold for the citizenship by investment program (CIP) to USD 250,000. However, until February 1, 2024, the promotion is valid – a non-refundable contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) is USD 125,000 for the single applicant only. Terms & details >>
Mandatory interview. Applicants must undergo an interview in person or virtually. Effective since July, 2023.
Caribbean citizenship. St Lucia
St Lucia’s CIP has the uniqie bond option for USD 300,000. It is a 5-year return on investment with a bonus. And, according to the new terms, investor may include any number of dependent family members in the application. And also, Saint Lucia in 2023 reduced the threshold for entering the real estate option by a third – to USD 200,000. Terms & details >>
Mandatory interview. Applicants must undergo an interview in person or virtually. Effective since September 1st, 2023.
Caribbean citizenship. Grenada
In 2023, Grenada received highest number of applications through its citizenship program, exceeding its 2022 results. In this regard, the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), taking into account the increased number of applications in the late August 2023, made a special statement about processing time etc. So, from August 29th, 2023, the Turn-Around-Time (TAT) for the issuing of Application Receipt Letters is 72 working hours. Terms & details >>
Mandatory interview. Effective since the 4th of September 2023.
Caribbean citizenship. Antigua and Barbuda
One of the features of the Antigua program is the ability to include several generations of a family in the application. The minimum investment is $100,000 (non-refundable contribution to the government fund). Or you can invest in a branded 5* hotel. For example, in luxurious Hodges Bay where bespoke residences are meticulously designed to make you feel at home. Fully secured fractional share in the Hodges Bay project for USD 200,000. Terms & details >>
Mandatory interview. Applications for Antiguan citizenship submitted after December 15, 2023 will be subject to a mandatory interview. Interviews will be conducted for all main applicants and dependents aged 16 years or older.
Caribbean citizenship. eTA visa to Canada
In June 2023 Canada announced that a number of countries have joined the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program. Among them are 5 states of the Caribbean region. From now on citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenada and Dominica have received visa-free entry to Canada, but with some exceptions. If citizens of these countries have opened a Canadian visa within the past ten years, or currently hold valid US non-immigrant visas, they will be able to apply for an eTA when traveling to Canada by air. The remaining categories of citizens are still required to receive regular visas.
According to the existing rules, an application for Caribbean citizenship by investment can only be submitted through a licensed agent. Such as Apex Capital Partners.
APEX already has experience preparing applicants and their dependent family members for the mandatory Caribbean citizenship interviews. Get a free consultation on this issue.
