Caribbean CBI Rules 2026: The Obligations That Apply Today, Country by Country

Caribbean CBI rules in 2026 are set by each country, not by a regional body. Antigua and Barbuda requires 5 days in the country within 5 years of citizenship; St Kitts and Nevis requires biometric enrolment, with a 31 July 2027 deadline for existing citizens; Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia have no presence rule. ECCIRA's proposed 30-day rule is not yet law.

The distinction matters because a large share of what has been published about Caribbean citizenship by investment over the past eighteen months described regional reforms as if they had already taken effect. They have not. Below, we set out the obligations that national law imposes today, the measures that remain proposals, and what each means for your timing, your family and your travel. For programme costs and a side-by-side view, see our comparison of all five Caribbean programmes; for the wider field, see the best citizenship by investment programmes.

What Caribbean CBI rules are actually in force in 2026?

The Caribbean CBI rules in force in 2026 are national rules: investment minimums, government due diligence, mandatory interviews, Antigua and Barbuda's 5-day stay obligation within the first 5 years, and St Kitts and Nevis biometric enrolment launched on 14 April 2026. No regional regulator currently licenses agents, approves projects or imposes a presence rule.

Each of the five Eastern Caribbean programmes (Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia) is governed by its own Citizenship by Investment Act and regulations and administered by its own unit or agency. In practical terms, the rules that apply to your application today fall into five groups:

• Investment thresholds set by each government, published on the official unit websites.
• Due diligence carried out by each unit, with fees paid per applicant and per adult dependant.
• Interviews, now standard in every one of the five programmes, usually held virtually.
• Presence rules, which today exist only in Antigua and Barbuda.
• Biometrics, captured at application and, in St Kitts and Nevis, through a national enrolment programme for all citizens by investment.

Which Caribbean CBI rules are proposed but not yet law?

The proposed Caribbean CBI rules come from ECCIRA, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, established in December 2025 with an office in Grenada. ECCIRA is not yet operating. Its proposals, a 30-day presence rule, a five-year first passport and mandatory regional biometrics, have no start date and do not bind applicants today.

The agreement creating ECCIRA was signed by the five participating governments in September 2025 and the Authority was established in December 2025. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, which has coordinated the project, expects the Authority to begin operating later in 2026; an April 2026 start was originally targeted, and no new start date has been announced. The Authority's own website (eccira.org) states that documents will be published once approved by the Authority, and no operational notice has appeared.

The main measures proposed under the regional framework are:

• A presence requirement of 30 days in the first 5 years after citizenship, with a minimum of 5 days in the first year.
• A shorter first passport: an initial passport valid for 5 years, upgraded to a 10-year passport afterwards.
• Mandatory regional biometrics, building on the national biometric collection already in place.

Two national bills mirror the proposed presence rule. Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill 2026, tabled on 14 July 2026, proposes 30 days; it is not law, and the 5-day rule still applies. Grenada's Amendment Bill 2026 proposes 30 days within the first 5 years, including at least 5 days in the first 12 months, with commencement deferred until ECCIRA is ready. Neither has started. When either measure does begin, the change is expected to apply to new citizens from a stated date, and we will update this guide. For the full background on the Authority, read our full guide to ECCIRA.

Do you have to live in or visit the country to keep Caribbean citizenship?

Only Antigua and Barbuda attaches a stay obligation to Caribbean citizenship by investment today: at least 5 days in the country during the first 5 calendar years after citizenship. St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia set no residence or visit requirement before, during or after the application, according to their official programme pages.

Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment Unit states that citizenship may be removed if the citizen does not spend at least 5 days in the country in the five calendar years after obtaining it. The days need not be consecutive, and there is no residence requirement before or during the application. The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit states on its Sustainable Island State Contribution page that there are no mandatory travel or residency requirements. Dominica's unit says in its official FAQ that you do not have to reside in Dominica before or after citizenship is granted, and Grenada's Investment Migration Agency confirms that no visit is needed before, during or after the application.

In practice, if you choose Antigua and Barbuda, build a short visit into your first five years; a family holiday satisfies the rule. For the other four, national law today requires no travel at all.

Are interviews mandatory for Caribbean citizenship by investment?

Interviews are mandatory in all five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes in 2026. Dominica interviews every applicant aged 16 or over for USD 1,000 each, Grenada charges USD 1,000 per person for its online interview, and St Kitts and Nevis interviews every main applicant, with dependants aged 16 or over included where the unit requires.

Interviews became standard across the region between 2023 and 2024. St Lucia began its Applicant Interview and Identity Verification Process for applications received from 4 September 2023, and Antigua and Barbuda introduced mandatory interviews for applicants aged 16 and over from December 2023. St Kitts and Nevis states that interviews are conducted by an independent professional firm commissioned by the unit, or by unit officials, either virtually, in person in the Federation, or at another approved location.

An interview is part of due diligence rather than a test of knowledge. Expect questions on your identity, family, career, the origin of the funds you are investing, and your reasons for applying. The answers must match your documents, so the best preparation is a file whose source of funds trail has been reviewed before submission.

What biometric rules apply to Caribbean CBI citizens in 2026?

Biometric rules in 2026 are national. Every programme collects biometrics with the application, and St Kitts and Nevis goes further: its National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme, launched on 14 April 2026, requires every citizen by investment to enrol in person by 31 July 2027 to keep a passport accepted for travel.

The St Kitts and Nevis biometrics programme applies to all new applicants from 14 April 2026 and to every existing citizen by investment, including spouses, children, parents and siblings who were added as dependants. Enrolment is in person (fingerprints, facial image and signature) and costs USD 2,500 for the first adult aged 16 or over, USD 2,000 for a second adult in the same family and USD 1,300 for a child under 16. A 10% reduction applies to appointments booked and completed between 20 July and 31 December 2026. Citizens who miss the 31 July 2027 deadline remain citizens, but only biometric-enabled passports are accepted for travel after that date.

If you already hold a St Kitts and Nevis passport through investment, the enrolment deadline is the single most time-sensitive obligation in the region. Appointments are booked through an authorised agent, and enrolment now flows directly into passport production. Our CBI passport renewal guide explains how renewals work in each country.

How does due diligence work in Caribbean citizenship by investment?

Due diligence in Caribbean citizenship by investment is carried out by each national unit, which screens the main applicant and adult dependants for criminal records, sanctions, adverse media and the source of funds. Fees are set nationally: St Kitts and Nevis charges USD 10,000 for the main applicant, Dominica USD 7,500 and Grenada USD 5,000.

Each unit commissions background checks from independent international firms. Applicants from some nationalities face enhanced checks or are not accepted, and the lists differ by country and change over time; St Kitts and Nevis, for example, has suspended applications from nationals of Russia and Belarus.

Due diligence is also where most delays and refusals originate. Incomplete source of funds evidence, inconsistent addresses or employment dates, and undisclosed past refusals elsewhere are the usual causes. A refusal in one Caribbean programme is generally disclosed in any later application, so it pays to get the first file right.

Not sure which rules apply to your family? Mirabello Consultancy reviews your situation against the current law in each country and tells you, before you spend anything, which programme fits and what it will ask of you. Book a free, confidential consultation.

Who can submit a Caribbean CBI application, and are agents licensed?

Caribbean CBI applications can only be submitted through an authorised agent licensed by the national unit of the country concerned; applicants cannot file directly. Agent licensing is national in 2026. ECCIRA's proposed regional licensing of agents and marketers is not yet in operation, so each unit's own register remains the reference.

Authorised agents are local licensed professionals who lodge the application and liaise with the unit; international advisers prepare the file and strategy alongside them. Before you engage anyone, ask which licensed authorised agent will submit your file and verify that agent on the unit's official list. St Kitts and Nevis, for example, states that applications cannot be submitted directly to the unit and must go through an authorised agent.

Be wary of any intermediary that claims to be licensed or approved by ECCIRA, or that presents itself as a designated public benefactor without the unit confirming it. No regional licence exists yet, and a claim of that kind is a reason to look elsewhere.

Which Caribbean passports still give visa-free UK visits in 2026?

Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada can visit the United Kingdom without a visa in 2026, holding an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Citizens of Dominica have needed a UK visit visa since 19 July 2023 and citizens of St Lucia since 5 March 2026, as have citizens of Vanuatu since 19 July 2023.

The UK changes were national immigration decisions by the British government, not part of any Caribbean reform, and they apply to every citizen of the country concerned, however citizenship was acquired. You can confirm the current position for any nationality on the UK government's visa checker. For clients with ties to London, this is now a deciding factor between programmes. Clients comparing a Caribbean passport with Vanuatu should note that Vanuatu also requires a UK visa.

All five Caribbean passports continue to offer visa-free short stays in the Schengen Area, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore according to our programme data; China is visa-free for Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica passports, while St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia nationals need a Chinese visa. Visa-free counts range from 157 destinations for St Kitts and Nevis to 144 for St Lucia.

What are the Caribbean CBI rules in each country?

The Caribbean CBI rules differ by country in four ways that matter to applicants: presence (only Antigua and Barbuda requires 5 days in 5 years), biometrics (only St Kitts and Nevis runs a mandatory re-enrolment, by 31 July 2027), UK travel (visas for Dominica and St Lucia) and interview fees (USD 1,000 in Dominica and Grenada).

Antigua and Barbuda

What is Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment? Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment grants citizenship to applicants who make a USD 230,000 contribution to the National Development Fund, the same amount for a single applicant or a family, or who invest in approved real estate. The National Development Fund route carries a government processing fee of USD 10,000 for a single applicant and USD 20,000 for a family of up to four.

The rules in force: at least 5 days in Antigua and Barbuda in the first 5 calendar years after citizenship, mandatory interviews for applicants aged 16 and over, and biometric collection. Approved real estate cannot be resold within 5 years of purchase unless the proceeds go into another approved project. The 30-day Amendment Bill is pending and not yet law. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders count 154 visa-free destinations and visit the UK with an ETA.

St Kitts and Nevis

What is St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment? St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment, running since 1984 and the longest-established programme in the world, grants citizenship from a USD 250,000 Sustainable Island State Contribution covering a main applicant or a family of up to four. The unit advises within 120-180 days of acknowledging an application whether it is approved in principle, denied or delayed.

The rules in force: no travel or residency requirement, an interview for every main applicant, due diligence of USD 10,000 for the main applicant and USD 7,500 per dependant aged 16 or over, and the national biometric enrolment programme with its 31 July 2027 deadline for existing citizens. St Kitts and Nevis citizens hold the strongest passport of the five, with 157 visa-free destinations, and visit the UK with an ETA.

Dominica

What is Dominica citizenship by investment? Dominica citizenship by investment grants citizenship from a USD 200,000 Economic Diversification Fund contribution for a single applicant, or USD 250,000 for a main applicant with up to three qualifying dependants, and remains the most cost-effective entry point among the five Eastern Caribbean programmes.

The rules in force: no residence before or after citizenship, a mandatory interview for every applicant aged 16 or over at USD 1,000 each and usually virtual, and due diligence of USD 7,500 for the main applicant and USD 4,000 per dependant aged 16 or over. Dominica citizens need a visa to visit the UK and count 145 visa-free destinations.

Grenada

What is Grenada citizenship by investment? Grenada citizenship by investment grants citizenship from a USD 235,000 National Transformation Fund contribution for a family of four. The Investment Migration Agency states that applications are approved within 60 business days of submission, subject to satisfactory due diligence and receipt of funds.

The rules in force: no visit before, during or after the application, a mandatory online interview at USD 1,000 per person, and due diligence of USD 5,000 per person, with children up to 16 excepted, as published by the Investment Migration Agency. Grenada hosts the ECCIRA office, but the Authority is not yet operating and the Amendment Bill's 30-day proposal has not commenced. Grenada citizens visit the UK with an ETA and count 147 visa-free destinations.

St Lucia

What is St Lucia citizenship by investment? St Lucia citizenship by investment grants citizenship from a USD 240,000 National Economic Fund contribution for an applicant with up to three qualifying dependants, with real estate and government bond routes also available. St Lucia's unit states that citizenship is granted approximately 90 days after the authorised agent is told the application has been accepted for processing.

The rules in force: no residence or visit obligation listed on the official programme pages, and an applicant interview and identity verification process for applications received since 4 September 2023. St Lucia citizens have needed a UK visit visa since 5 March 2026 and count 144 visa-free destinations.

How do the 2026 rules affect real estate, families and passport renewals?

The 2026 Caribbean CBI rules leave real estate, family and renewal rules with each country. Real estate routes still require government-approved projects and minimum holding periods, families are still priced nationally (Dominica's family of four costs USD 250,000), and renewals follow national passport offices, with St Kitts and Nevis requiring biometric enrolment first.

Real estate. Every real estate route uses projects approved by the national government, and each country sets its own holding period and resale conditions. Before you commit, confirm the project's approval with the unit and read the resale conditions.

Families. Family pricing differs sharply. Antigua and Barbuda's National Development Fund contribution of USD 230,000 is the same for a single applicant or a family, while the St Kitts and Nevis contribution of USD 250,000 covers up to four people. Grenada's USD 235,000 also covers a family of four, and the programmes treat parents, grandparents and siblings differently. Adding a spouse or child after citizenship is a separate application with its own due diligence.

Renewals. Passports are renewed through each country's passport office or its overseas missions. The proposed regional move to a five-year first passport is not in force. For St Kitts and Nevis citizens, enrolment in the biometric programme now leads straight into passport production.

What do the rules mean for tax, CRS reporting and privacy?

Caribbean citizenship by investment does not change your tax residence by itself. Banks report accounts under the OECD Common Reporting Standard according to where you are tax resident, not your passport, and the OECD publishes a list of investment migration schemes it considers high-risk for CRS purposes, which prompts banks to ask for proof of tax residence.

The OECD guidance on residence and citizenship by investment is a tax transparency tool, not a judgment on a programme's legitimacy. US citizens remain subject to US tax filing whatever other citizenship they hold. On privacy, each unit keeps its own records of applicants under national law; the regional applicant database discussed under the ECCIRA proposals does not yet exist.

Should you apply for Caribbean citizenship now or wait for ECCIRA?

Applying now means applying under the national rules in force today, which are known and published: fixed contribution minimums, set due diligence fees and, outside Antigua and Barbuda, no presence obligation. Waiting for ECCIRA means waiting for rules that have no start date and may add a 30-day presence requirement for new citizens.

We do not recommend rushing a decision because of a deadline you may have read about: several dates circulated in 2026 (30 June, 1 July and September among them) were never official. Equally, there is no advantage in waiting. If a Caribbean passport fits your family's plans, the sensible course is to prepare a complete, well-evidenced file and apply when it is ready. For how the five programmes rank on cost, travel and family fit, see our 2026 ranking of citizenship by investment programmes.

How does Mirabello Consultancy keep your application compliant?

Mirabello Consultancy keeps applications compliant by checking every rule against the official unit source before advising, preparing source of funds evidence to due diligence standard before submission, and working only through licensed authorised agents. Our team is ACAMS certified, Mirabello is an IMC member, and we advise in 11 languages from Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong SAR.