July 7, 2025
In current Citizenship By Investment programs, applicants do not need to visit the country to obtain citizenship.
A draft agreement between Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, and Nevis, also known as the Caribbean Five, could impose stricter measures on how foreigners receive citizenship in the island nations.
The proposed agreement imposes a “genuine link” to countries for people seeking citizenship. The agreement also requests an annual cap on citizenship applications.
“The Unit or other Competent Authority of a Participating State shall ensure that an Applicant to whom citizenship is to be granted shall be required to commit to establishing a genuine and effective link to the Participating State through the fulfillment of residency and integration obligations,” the draft agreement says.
The proposal will tighten restrictions on Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, which enable foreign nationals to obtain citizenship in a country by making financial contributions to the local economy. These programs provide individuals the opportunity to acquire second or dual citizenship, granting them access to business opportunities and visa-free travel.
The 66-page draft agreement states the regulatory committee will be called “the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (EC CIRA),” and it will be responsible for “regulating and maintaining public confidence in the citizenship by investment programs in the Participating States.”
The proposed agreement stipulates that applicants must be physically present in the territory for a minimum of 30 days at a time during each of the first five years following the receipt of citizenship. Each participating country will report to the EC CIRA monthly, which will approve the maximum number of applicants to receive citizenship each year.
Additionally, applicants will be required to participate in a mandatory civic integration program, where they will learn about the country’s constitution, laws, customs, and history. Applicants who fail to comply may face financial penalties and have their passports potentially revoked.
The potential agreement proposes a two-tier system for CBI-Citizens. New citizens’ passports will initially last for five years and will only be renewed for 10 years after they have completed compliance with residency and integration requirements. This renewal system ensures that citizenship is not treated as a one-time transaction.
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