Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison 2026: All Five Programmes Side by Side

Caribbean citizenship by investment in 2026 costs from USD 200,000 in Dominica, USD 230,000 in Antigua and Barbuda, USD 235,000 in Grenada, USD 240,000 in St Lucia and USD 250,000 in St Kitts and Nevis. The St Kitts passport reaches 157 destinations visa-free, Antigua 154, Grenada 147, Dominica 145 and St Lucia 144, and none of the five requires you to live there.

This guide compares all five Eastern Caribbean programmes on what genuinely separates them: entry price, family pricing, real estate, travel access, official timelines and the rules in force today. Every figure comes from the Mirabello Immigration Intelligence data backbone, checked against the official government pages in October 2026.

How do the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes compare in 2026?

The five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes compare closely on price, ranging from USD 200,000 (Dominica) to USD 250,000 (St Kitts and Nevis) for a single applicant's government contribution, and differ mainly on travel access, family pricing and presence rules. St Kitts and Nevis leads on visa-free access with 157 destinations; Dominica is the lowest entry point.

All five programmes grant full citizenship and a passport, not a residence permit, and all five allow you to include your spouse and children on one application. The table below shows the headline numbers.

The donation figures are the government contribution only. Due diligence, processing and passport fees are added on top, as are professional and legal costs, so always compare the all-in budget rather than the headline number.

What is each Caribbean citizenship by investment programme?

Each Caribbean citizenship by investment programme is a government scheme that grants citizenship by law to an applicant who makes an approved economic contribution or investment and passes due diligence. The five Eastern Caribbean programmes share a model, but each is run by its own national unit and has its own laws, fees and options.

What is the Dominica citizenship by investment programme?

Dominica's programme, launched in 1993 and run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), grants citizenship from a USD 200,000 contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund or USD 200,000 in approved real estate. Every applicant aged 16 or over attends a mandatory interview, usually held virtually. See our Dominica citizenship by investment guide.

What is the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment programme?

Antigua and Barbuda's programme, launched in 2013, grants citizenship from a USD 230,000 National Development Fund contribution, the same amount for a single applicant or a whole family, or from USD 300,000 in approved real estate. New citizens must spend 5 days in the country within their first five years. Read our Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment guide.

What is the Grenada citizenship by investment programme?

Grenada's programme, run by the Investment Migration Agency (IMA), grants citizenship from USD 235,000 through the National Transformation Fund, or USD 270,000 to USD 350,000 in approved real estate. The IMA states that applications are approved within 60 business days of submission, and siblings can be included. See our Grenada citizenship by investment guide.

What is the St Lucia citizenship by investment programme?

St Lucia's programme, launched in 2015, grants citizenship from a USD 240,000 National Economic Fund contribution for an applicant with up to three dependants, with alternative routes through real estate from USD 300,000 and the National Action Bond from USD 300,000. Read our St Lucia citizenship by investment guide.

What is the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme?

St Kitts and Nevis runs the world's oldest citizenship by investment programme, in place since 1984. Citizenship starts from a USD 250,000 Sustainable Island State Contribution covering a main applicant or a family of up to four, or from USD 325,000 in an approved development. Read our St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment guide.

Which Caribbean citizenship by investment programme costs the least in 2026?

Dominica is the lowest-cost Caribbean citizenship by investment programme for a single applicant in 2026, from a USD 200,000 Economic Diversification Fund contribution. For a family of four, however, Antigua and Barbuda's USD 230,000 National Development Fund contribution and Grenada's USD 235,000 National Transformation Fund contribution are lower than Dominica's USD 250,000 family figure.

The ranking changes with family size because each programme prices dependants differently. Antigua and Barbuda charges the same USD 230,000 contribution whether you apply alone or with a family of five or more; what increases is the government processing fee, which is USD 10,000 for a single applicant, USD 20,000 for a family of four, and a further USD 10,000 per dependant from the fifth onwards. St Kitts and Nevis charges USD 250,000 for a main applicant or a family of up to four, then USD 25,000 per additional dependant under 18 and USD 50,000 per additional dependant aged 18 or over. Dominica charges USD 250,000 for a main applicant with up to three dependants, then USD 25,000 per additional dependant under 18 and USD 40,000 per dependant aged 18 or over.

Government fees vary by programme and are revised from time to time, so treat any all-in figure older than a few months with caution. Our guide to the fastest and most cost-effective second passports sets these Caribbean figures against programmes elsewhere in the world.

Is the donation or the real estate route better value?

The donation route is usually better value for applicants who want the lowest total outlay and no asset to manage, because the contribution is the whole investment. The real estate route suits investors who want a tangible asset in the Caribbean and accept a higher entry price, a mandatory holding period and the risk that resale value differs from purchase price.

The gap between the two routes differs by island. In Dominica both routes start at USD 200,000, and the approved property must be held for at least three years from the grant of citizenship (five years if it is sold to another citizenship by investment applicant). In Antigua and Barbuda the property route starts at USD 300,000, against USD 230,000 for the National Development Fund. In Grenada approved real estate starts at USD 270,000 in a tourism project or USD 350,000 otherwise, against USD 235,000 through the National Transformation Fund. St Lucia's real estate and National Action Bond routes both start at USD 300,000, and the bond route carries a non-refundable administration fee of USD 50,000. In St Kitts and Nevis an approved development starts at USD 325,000 and is resaleable after seven years, while a private single-family home starts at USD 600,000.

Many approved developments are sold in shares, sometimes described as fractional ownership: you own a defined share of a hotel or resort rather than a whole unit. Shares meet the minimum at a lower ticket but limit your control over the asset and your exit. Full ownership costs more but gives you a property you can use, let or eventually sell on the open market. Whichever you choose, check that the project is on the government's current approved list, that title passes properly, and that the developer has a record of completing projects. Government fees on the real estate route can also be higher than on the donation route, which narrows any apparent saving.

Which Caribbean passport offers the strongest travel access?

The St Kitts and Nevis passport offers the strongest travel access of the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 157 destinations. Antigua and Barbuda follows with 154, Grenada with 147, Dominica with 145 and St Lucia with 144. All five passports open the Schengen Area visa-free.

The headline counts are close, so the destinations that matter to you count more than the total. The clearest difference is the United Kingdom. Holders of Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada passports can visit the UK without a visa, using an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Dominica passport holders have needed a UK visitor visa since 19 July 2023, and St Lucia passport holders since 5 March 2026. If regular travel to London matters to you or your family, that single point can outweigh a lower entry price.

All five passports give visa-free entry to Hong Kong SAR and Singapore according to our data backbone, which is relevant for investors with business in Asia; mainland 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 policies are set by destination countries and change, so confirm your key routes before you choose. You can check any destination on the official UK government visa checker.

Which Caribbean passport gives access to the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa?

Grenada is the only one of the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes whose citizens are eligible for the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa, under a treaty in force since 3 March 1989 according to the US Department of State treaty countries list. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia have no E-2 treaty.

The E-2 visa is for nationals who invest a substantial amount in a business they direct in the United States. It is not granted with citizenship: it is a separate application, and since 23 December 2022 US law requires an applicant who acquired treaty nationality through a financial investment to have been domiciled in that country for a continuous period of at least three years before applying. Plan for that condition if the E-2 route is part of your reason for choosing Grenada.

How long does each Caribbean citizenship by investment programme take?

Grenada publishes the clearest official timeline among the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes: approval within 60 business days of submission, subject to satisfactory due diligence and receipt of funds. St Lucia states about 90 days from acceptance for processing to the grant of citizenship, and Dominica says applicants should expect at least three months to approval in principle.

Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis do not publish a fixed official processing time, so we do not quote one here; in our experience the timeline depends heavily on how complete and well documented the file is when it is submitted. Across all five programmes the most common causes of delay are the same: missing or inconsistent source-of-funds evidence, documents that need re-certification or translation, and complex family structures. A well-prepared file is the single biggest factor you control.

After approval you still need to complete the investment, receive your certificate of registration and apply for your passport, which adds further weeks. Our CBI passport renewal guide explains what happens once the first passport is issued.

Do any of the five Caribbean programmes require you to live or visit?

Only Antigua and Barbuda has a presence requirement in force among the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes: new citizens must spend at least 5 days in the country within the first five calendar years after obtaining citizenship. Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia have no presence requirement, and St Kitts and Nevis has none but requires in-person biometric enrolment.

Antigua and Barbuda's rule is light but binding: the official programme site states that failure to meet it can result in deprivation of citizenship. A bill proposing 30 days has been tabled but is not law. St Kitts and Nevis launched national biometric enrolment on 14 April 2026, and existing citizens by investment must enrol by 31 July 2027 to keep a valid travel document. Dominica's CBIU confirms you do not have to reside in Dominica before or after citizenship is granted, and Grenada's IMA states you do not need to visit before, during or after the application.

For a full country-by-country view of presence, biometrics, interviews and due diligence as they stand today, see our guide to Caribbean CBI rules in force in 2026.

What would ECCIRA change for the five programmes?

ECCIRA, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, is a planned regional regulator for the five programmes; it was established in December 2025 with an office in Grenada but is not yet operating. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank expects it to begin operating later in 2026, and no start date has been announced.

The agreement creating ECCIRA was signed in September 2025, and operations were originally targeted for April 2026. Reforms discussed at regional level, and not in force today, include a presence requirement of 30 days within the first five years (with at least 5 days in the first year), a 5-year initial passport upgraded to 10 years, and mandatory regional biometrics. If these proposals are adopted, the five programmes would become more alike on obligations, and the remaining differences would be price, family pricing, real estate options and travel access. Our ECCIRA explainer tracks what has and has not happened.

The practical point for comparison today is simple: choose on the rules actually in force, and plan for the possibility of a short presence obligation in future rather than relying on a programme having none forever.

Which Caribbean programme is best for families?

Antigua and Barbuda is often the strongest Caribbean citizenship by investment choice for larger families, because its USD 230,000 National Development Fund contribution stays the same for a family of five or more. Grenada suits families who want to include siblings, and St Kitts and Nevis or Grenada suit families who value UK visa-free travel.

Family composition changes the answer more than any other factor. A couple with two young children pays USD 230,000 in Antigua and Barbuda, USD 235,000 in Grenada, USD 240,000 in St Lucia and USD 250,000 in either Dominica or St Kitts and Nevis, before fees. Add adult children or parents and the differences widen, because additional dependant charges and due diligence fees for those aged 16 or over vary considerably. Each programme also sets its own rules on which relatives qualify as dependants, such as age limits for children, financial dependency and the treatment of parents and grandparents, so check eligibility for every family member before comparing costs.

Which Caribbean programme suits which investor profile?

The right Caribbean citizenship by investment programme depends on what you need the passport for: the widest visa-free access points to St Kitts and Nevis, the lowest single-applicant entry to Dominica, larger families to Antigua and Barbuda, the clearest published timeline and sibling inclusion to Grenada, and flexible investment routes to St Lucia.

No single programme is best for everyone, and the right weighting depends on your travel, family and business plans. We compare these trade-offs across every programme worldwide in our ranking of the best citizenship by investment programmes for 2026.

Does Caribbean citizenship change your tax position?

Caribbean citizenship by investment does not by itself change where you pay tax, because most countries tax on residence rather than citizenship. Acquiring a second passport from any of the five programmes leaves your tax residence where it is until you actually move, so tax planning has to be built on residence, not on the passport.

Banks may ask about any second citizenship when they collect tax information, so disclose it accurately, and take independent tax advice in your country of residence before you act.

How do the Caribbean programmes compare with Vanuatu and residence programmes?

The Caribbean programmes are citizenship programmes that issue a passport, while golden visas such as Portugal's or the UAE's grant residence permits that do not. Vanuatu is the other main citizenship by investment option, with a lower entry price than the Caribbean but 90 visa-free destinations and a UK visa requirement since 19 July 2023.

If your goal is a second passport with strong travel access, the five Caribbean programmes remain the reference point. If your goal is the right to live in a particular country, a residence programme such as the Portugal golden residence permit or the UAE Golden Visa may serve you better, bearing in mind that a residence permit leads to citizenship only after years of lawful residence and, where required, language and integration conditions. For citizenship options, see our Vanuatu citizenship by investment guide and the full citizenship by investment programmes hub; for residence options, see the golden visa programmes hub.

How do you apply, and what does due diligence involve?

You apply for any of the five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes through a government-authorised agent, who submits your file to the national unit; direct applications are not accepted. Every adult applicant undergoes background due diligence, and you pay the investment only after approval in principle in most programmes.

The process follows the same broad sequence everywhere:

1. Eligibility and planning: confirm every family member qualifies and choose the route and programme.
2. Document preparation: passports, civil documents, police certificates, medical reports and, most importantly, evidence of the lawful source of the funds you will invest.
3. Submission and due diligence: the unit commissions background checks on the main applicant and adult dependants; Dominica adds a mandatory interview, usually virtual, for every applicant aged 16 or over.
4. Approval in principle and investment: once approved, you make the contribution or complete the property purchase.
5. Certificate and passport: the certificate of registration is issued and passports follow; in St Kitts and Nevis, biometrics are captured in person.

Due diligence fees are set by each government. St Kitts and Nevis, for example, charges USD 10,000 for the main applicant and USD 7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or over. Our rules in force guide sets out the current requirements for each island.

What mistakes should you avoid when comparing Caribbean programmes?

The most common mistake when comparing Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes is ranking them on the headline contribution alone. Family pricing, government fees, real estate holding periods, UK visa status and the presence or biometric rules in force can each reverse a ranking based on the minimum figure.

• Using out-of-date figures: contributions and fees have been revised several times since 2024, and many published comparisons still quote old numbers.
• Treating proposals as law: regional reforms under discussion are not in force, and national bills are not law until passed.
• Ignoring the UK point: a lower price can cost more in practice if your family needs frequent UK travel.
• Underestimating source-of-funds work: the quality of your evidence drives both approval and timing.
• Overlooking future family changes: adding a spouse or child later is a separate application with its own cost.

Mirabello Consultancy has guided more than 250 citizenship by investment cases with a 99% approval rate, in 11 languages from Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong SAR. Official programme information is published by each government: Antigua and Barbuda CIU, St Kitts and Nevis CIU, Dominica CBIU, Grenada IMA and St Lucia CIP.