Comparing citizenship by investment in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is a favorite among yacht owners and sailors as it offers relatively calm seas and diverse islands to explore, warm weather all year long and beautiful scenery. The countries in the Caribbean that offer citizenship by investment are St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. They all have similar requirements but differ in many other features depending on your requirements and needs, and that of your family.

Processing time

The time period from application to approval of the Golden Visa ranges from one month to 6 months.

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada Dominica
Processing time 1 mo. 3 mos. 3 mos. 3 mos. 3 to 4 mos. 4 to 6 mos.

Visa-free travel

The Golden Visa allows the holders the freedom to travel to many countries without the need for a visa.

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Visa Free Travel 156 countries 151 countries 140 countries 146 countries 143 countries
E-2 Treaty None None None None Yes
  • Grenada also includes China, U.K and Singapore and an E2 Investor Visa to the USA.
  • Lucia includes Hongkong.
  • Dominica includes Hongkong, Singapore and Schengen area.

Amount of investment

All the Caribbean countries that offer the Golden Visa except St. Kitts and Nevis require an investment in real estate and a donation to the government.

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Minimum investment US$ 150,000 US$ 200,000 US$ 200,000 US$ 300,000 US$ 220,000
Minimum donation None US$ 100,000 US$ 200,000 US$ 200,000 US$ 150,000
Guaranteed investment Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

St. Kitts and Nevis requires a minimum investment of US$150,000 into a sustainable growth fund for an individual or family of up to four persons OR a US$200,000 investment in property for 7 years or $400,000 for 5 years.

Tax incentives

Each of the countries offer diverse tax incentives.

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Tax incentives Yes Yes Yes Yes
  • Antigua and Barbuda allows several tax benefits like no taxes on global income, on wealth and inheritance, and capital gains.
  • Dominica has several tax benefits that include no personal income tax, corporate tax incentives, and no repatriation of profits restrictions.
  • Lucia has no tax on worldwide income while Grenada has no tax on personal income, on wealth or inheritance tax and offers generous corporate tax breaks.

Family

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Spouse and children Up to 4 Yes Yes Yes Yes
Parents and Grandparents 55 years above 55 years 55 years above 65 years above 55 years

St. Lucia includes not only spouse and children but also parents over 65 years old who are dependents of the visa holder.

Other advantages

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Double citizenship Yes Yes
Physical residency None 5 days / 5 years None None None

Processing fees

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Processing fees US$ 0 US$ 30,000/4 US$ 1,000 US$ 2,000 US$ 1,500
Dependents US$ 15,000 US$ 1,000
Additional Fees US$ 1,000 & 500

Application fees

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Application Fee US$ 250/person US$ 0 US$ 0 US$ 0 US$ 1,500/person

Due diligence

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
Main Applicant US$ 7,500 US$ 7,500 US$ 7,500 US$ 7,500 US$ 5,000
Dependents US$ 4,000 Up to US$ 4,000 US$ 4,000 US$ 5,000 Up to US$ 5,000

Note: Amount differs according to the age of dependents for Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada

Interview

Country St. Kitts and Nevis Antigua and Barbuda Dominica St. Lucia Grenada
None None None None None

Characteristics of the countries that offer citizenship by investment in the Caribbean

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis, two islands located in the eastern Caribbean Sea and known for its mountains and beaches and is a favorite Golden Visa destination. It has the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world. The St. Kitts and Nevis Golden Visa program is perfect for investors who need a second passport for travel and easy access to many countries.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth country comprising two islands and several smaller ones in the Caribbean and has one of the newest citizenship by investment program.

Dominica

Dominica is an island in the Caribbean of endless beaches and has one of the most affordable and flexible citizenship by investment programs.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia is an island of mountainous landscapes with lush vegetation and where there are two volcanic mountains near the beach. Their citizenship by investment program was launched in January of 2016.

Grenada

Grenada is known for its tropical forests, waterfalls and beaches including several submerged volcanoes. It has one of the newest citizenship by investment programs and includes the E-2 treaty Investor Visa signed between Grenada and the United States that allows citizens of Grenada to operate a business in the US and reside there. Investors can first obtain Grenada citizenship, then apply for a US E2 Visa.