There are about 5 countries in the Caribbean ready to offer you citizenship if you have $100,000 or more. We will see why Antigua ranks No.1 among the 5 nations who are currently running citizenship-through-investment programs. Antigua also tops among the nations with access to number of visa-less travel among those countries running citizenship-by-investment programs (CIP).
1. Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua is the most popular passport program in the Caribbean. Of all the citizenship programs running in the Caribbean, Antigua passport is ranked No.1 in the Caribbean. You have to pay $100,000 non-refundable donation or $200,000 real estate investment in the island, the entire process takes about 3 months. Antigua has no problems, and the passport has visa free travel to UK, EU member states and over 120 countries. No requirement to visit Antigua.
This scheme is the cheapest for families, because you only pay $125,000 as Govt fee + donation for a family of four.
2. St Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts requires just $150,000 (Hurricane relief fund) or $250,000 SIDF donation, plus there are various charges and they will give you instant passport in about 8 months. Saint Kitts is popular but they have lots of problems with Canada and USA. Recently Canada canceled visa waiver agreement with St Kitts citing St Kitts selling passports to Iranians and Syrians. In 2014, US has accused St Kitts of facilitating financial crimes from passports obtained through Citizenship by investment program. You will need a separate visa to visit USA and Canada. St Kitts ranks No.2 of all the Caribbean citizenship programs.
3. St Lucia
St Lucia has launched a newly opened citizenship program in 2016 but they have a strange setup there. Yes the minimum investment amount is $100,000. But here is the catch: You must have net assets worth $3.5 million dollars, only then you can apply for St Lucia passport.
St Lucia is the cheapest for single persons without families
4. Dominica
Dominica has the cheapest citizenship program as it costs only little over $100,000 but it takes over 4 months wait to get the passport. Besides this, Dominica has known reputation, for gambling and casinos, because of this Dominica passport is always viewed with suspicion for money laundering and other financial crimes. Yes it is cheap, same advantages, but many investors prefer other countries such as St Kitts or Antigua as they have a higher reputation than Dominica. You also have to visit the country in person. Of all the citizenship programs running in the Caribbean, Dominica is ranked No.5
5. Grenada
Grenada has a new citizenship by investment program, you have to pay $150,000 non-refundable investment or US$ 350,000 real estate investment to get Grenada passport. Processing time is about 2-3 months. You can visit about 121 countries without visa. You will need a separate visa to visit Canada, USA. No visa required to visit China. Grenada ranks No.4 of the Caribbean citizenship programs.
You have to remember that once you take the donation route with these countries, the money you pay to Government is not-refundable and gone! Waste of money, unless it is a real estate investment where the immovable property can be sold usually after 5 years.
According to 2016 visa restrictions index published by Henley and Partners, Antigua passport ranks 3rd, while Saint Kitts dropped to 4th among the Caribbean nations. The Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom that their citizens enjoy. The top 2 nations (out of 15) have no citizenship by investment programs running.
Antigua tops among the nations running citizenship programs with access to number of visa-less travel countries .
| Caribbean Nation | Access to countries without visa | Citizenship by investment program |
| Bahamas | 141 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Barbados | 140 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 134 | $100,000 (donation) or real estate($400,000) citizenship program |
| St Kitts and Nevis | 132 | $150,000 (donation) or real estate($400,000) citizenship program |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 130 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| St Lucia | 125 | $100,000 (donation) or real estate($300,000) citizenship program |
| St Vincent & Grenadines | 125 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Grenada | 121 | $150,000 (donation) or real estate($350,000) citizenship program |
| Dominica | 119 | $100,000 (donation) or real estate($200,000) citizenship program |
| Belize | 94 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Guyana | 82 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Jamaica | 78 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Suriname | 74 | No citizenship by investment program running |
| Haiti | 48 | No citizenship by investment program running |
