Is Caribbean Citizenship the New Luxury Passport?
Posted: July 29th 2025.
Over the last few years, a quiet trend has been heating up — and it’s got everything to do with dual citizenship, island real estate, and global mobility.
According to a recent post by @wickedjab (via @withregram), five Caribbean nations — Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia — are offering citizenship through investment programmes starting from as little as $200,000 USD. The offer? By purchasing property, investors not only acquire real estate, but also receive a passport granting visa-free access to up to 150 countries, including the UK and the Schengen Zone in Europe.
And for high-net-worth individuals or globally mobile entrepreneurs, the appeal runs even deeper: no taxes on capital gains, inheritance, and in some cases, personal income, with the added bonus of being allowed to maintain dual citizenship.
But is this just a marketing tagline, or a real opportunity?
Let’s break it down.
1. Dominica
Dominica offers property-based citizenship investment starting at $200,000 USD. This route is backed by their Economic Diversification Fund or select government-approved real estate projects. Successful applicants gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 140+ countries and are not taxed on global income, capital gains, or inheritance — a major draw for location-independent professionals.
2. Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda's real estate investment minimum stands at $300,000+. However, families can opt for a National Development Fund donation starting at $230,000, which may be what the original post referenced. Dual citizenship is welcomed, and the tax regime is favorable — with no personal income tax for residents or non-residents.
3. Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia
All three of these island nations have citizenship programs that allow investment in government-approved real estate projects. However, the starting point is usually $235,000 to $250,000 USD, not $200,000. Their passports provide access to roughly 140–155 countries visa-free, and they offer strong tax incentives (like no capital gains, no inheritance tax, and no foreign income tax for non-residents).
Why It Matters for the Diaspora
For Caribbean entrepreneurs, remote workers, and global investors, these CBI programs offer far more than a fancy passport. They are a wealth mobility tool, a hedge against global instability, and a pathway to investing in the Caribbean without needing to give up your current citizenship.
This is particularly powerful for members of the Caribbean diaspora who want to reinvest in their heritage or build intergenerational wealth without traditional geographic limits.
Things to Consider
✔️ You’ll need to go through government-approved agents — this isn’t a “DIY” process.
✔️ Processing times vary but generally take 3 to 6 months.
✔️ Real estate options are typically pre-vetted developments, not open market homes.
✔️ Fees, due diligence, and background checks are mandatory and can cost $30K–$100K+ on top of your investment.
What do you think? Does this represent a strategic long-term options for those ready to diversify their lifestyle and financial future?