Recently, the European Commission released updated statistics on the Citizenship by Investment Program for the five Eastern Caribbean countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, including details on the number of applications and passports issued.
01
Five Eastern Caribbean Countries
Over 100,000 passports issued
Recently, five Eastern Caribbean countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia - responded to the European Commission's request for an updated data report on their naturalization by investment programs.
These countries have implemented the Citizenship by Investment Program, which allows investors to obtain citizenship and passports through a variety of means, including donations, purchasing national bonds, and investing in real estate, with no residency requirements.
As these countries are all members of the Commonwealth and members of the Caribbean Community, holding citizenship of any of these countries offers a number of benefits, including:
Visa-free access to EU member states / Schengen Area countries, tax planning, asset allocation, and international quality education resources for children.
As a result, these citizenship by investment programs are highly sought after by investors worldwide. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of applications for these five Eastern Caribbean countries' Citizenship by Investment Programs has continued to grow and more than 100,000 passports have been issued to global investors to date.
02
per country
Analysis of Applications and Issuance
(i) St. Kitts and Nevis
Between 2014 and June 2024, the Citizenship by Investment Program in St. Kitts and Nevis received a total of 19,753 applications.
From 2015 to 2022, the country issued 35,577 passports through the program. As for the number of passports to be issued from 2023 to June 2024, this has not yet been announced.
▏Methods of investment (choose any one):
① Donation: Donate at least 250,000 USD to the Sustainable Island Countries Donation Program (SISC);
② Investment in real estate: invest at least $325,000 in a local government-approved real estate project or invest at least $600,000 in a local government-approved single-family home and hold the property for seven years.
(ii) Dominica.
Between 2014 and July 31, 2024, Dominica received a total of 20,210 applications for the Citizenship by Investment Program.
And in the period from 2018 to June 30, 2024, the country has issued 49,619 passports, making it the highest number of passports issued among these five Eastern Caribbean countries.
▏Methods of investment (choose any one):
① Donation: Donate at least 200,000 U.S. dollars to the Dominica Government Fund;
② Investment in real estate: Purchase of local properties approved by the Government of Dominica worth more than 200,000 U.S. dollars and hold them for at least three years.
(iii) Saint Lucia
Between 2015 and May 2024, Saint Lucia received a total of 7,315 applications under the Citizenship by Investment Program, although the number of its passports issued is not yet available.
It is worth noting that St. Lucia's Citizenship by Investment program has become hugely popular in recent years, with a significant increase in the number of applications.
Between 2015 and 2022, the average annual number of applications was 252, but by 2023, the number of applications surged to 4,076 for the year. However, in the first half of 2024, the number of applications dropped slightly to 1,226.
? Mode of investment (choose any one):
① National Economic Fund: Contribute at least $240,000 to the National Economic Fund (NEF);
② Real Estate: Invest at least US$300,000 in a local government-approved real estate project such as high-end branded hotels, resorts, and high-end boutique properties, and hold it for at least 5 years.
(iv) Grenada
Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Program received 6,837 applications between 2015 and June 30, 2024.
The country issued 6,479 passports during the period from 2014 to 2022. As for the exact number of passports to be issued between 2023 and 2024, this has not yet been announced.
▏Methods of investment (choose any one):
① Donation: from 235,000 U.S. dollars to the National Transformation Fund;
② Investment in real estate: purchase of real estate projects with a total value of US$270,000 or more that have been approved by the government, plus a US$50,000 non-refundable investment.
(v) Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment program is also showing steady growth. Between 2015 and 2024, the country received a total of 5,143 applications.
Between 2014 and June 30, 2024, 8,594 passports were issued.
▏Methods of investment (choose any one):
① Donation: $230,000 and $30,000 government fee to Antigua and Barbuda's National Development Fund (NDF);
② Investment in real estate: investment in real estate valued at 325,000 US dollars and payment of 30,000 US dollars government fee, the property must be held for five years.
In addition, the report also highlights that for the 2023-2024 timeframe, Chinese investors ranked second in terms of total approvals. This shows the deep interest and high recognition of Chinese investors in the Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Program.
If you are interested in applying for a Caribbean passport, please contact Nebula Sea International and we will provide you with a customized solution.
Cyprus
Turkey
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Greece
