Eastern Caribbean Sees 12% Surge in CBI Applications

Five Eastern Caribbean nations—Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, and St Lucia—are offering citizenship to foreign investors who buy approved real estate starting at $200,000. These Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs provide visa-free access to up to 150 countries and tax benefits such as no capital gains or inheritance tax. Applications have surged 12% since late 2024, with most demand coming from the US, Ukraine, Turkey, Nigeria, and China, largely driven by US political instability. Most applicants keep their original nationality and use the second passport for mobility, asset protection, and estate planning. In Antigua, estate agencies report that up to 70% of buyers are now motivated primarily by the citizenship benefit. The region's stable politics, common law legal systems, and absence of taxes on foreign income further enhance its appeal to investors.