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Buy Citizenship: Programs, Costs & How to Apply

Five Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investment, with costs starting from $200,000 and processing times from 3 to 12 months.

Posted: October 17, 2026
Editor: Tessa Quinn; 7 min read

Contents

What you receive
Caribbean Citizenship by Investment: Programme Comparison
How to Obtain Citizenship by Investment
Risks, Limitations, and Guarantees
Where You Can Buy Citizenship: Active Programs
Sources consulted

Five Caribbean states run legal citizenship-by-investment programmes. Minimum non-refundable contributions start at US$200,000 in Dominica, US$230,000 in Antigua and Barbuda, US$235,000 in Grenada, US$240,000 in St Lucia, and US$250,000 in St Kitts and Nevis[1][2]. Real estate routes begin at US$270,000 in Grenada and US$300,000 in Antigua and Barbuda[2]. Processing ranges from 3 months in St Kitts and Nevis to 10–12 months in Dominica[3]. A single application can include a spouse, children, parents, and grandparents[3]. First step: compare the five programmes against your budget and family composition, then contact the relevant government unit or a licensed agent.

What you receive

A legal second citizenship: Five Caribbean nations offer state-run citizenship by investment programmes: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia [1]. These are not visas or residency permits, but full citizenship granted through a defined legal process.
A passport for the whole family: St Kitts and Nevis allows inclusion of spouse, children, parents, and grandparents in a single application [3]. Other programmes have their own dependent rules, with additional fees for larger families.
A choice of investment routes: You can contribute to a government fund or invest in approved real estate. Fund contributions start at US$200,000 in Dominica [2]. Real estate starts at US$270,000 in Grenada for a share in tourism property [2].
Defined processing timelines: St Kitts and Nevis processing can take as little as 3 months [3]. Dominica's processing time ranges from 10 to 12 months [3]. These are the documented ranges from programme sources.
Regional minimum standards: In September 2025, Saint Kitts and Nevis led a regional effort establishing a minimum investment threshold of US$200,000 across Caribbean citizenship programmes [4]. The agreement also includes administrative penalties, revocations, and strict enforcement measures [4].

Caribbean Citizenship by Investment: Programme Comparison

Country & Route	Minimum Investment	Processing Time	Family Inclusion	Key Restrictions
Dominica – Economic Diversification Fund	$200,000 (non-refundable contribution) [2]	10–12 months [3]	Clarify with programme	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
Dominica – University Donation	$260,000 (for families of 6+; one applicant under 29 studies tuition-free for one year) [2]	10–12 months [3]	Families of six or more [2]	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
Antigua and Barbuda – National Development Fund	$230,000 (non-refundable; amount not affected by number of family members) [2]	Clarify with programme	Amount unchanged regardless of family size [2]	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
Antigua and Barbuda – Real Estate	$300,000 (government-approved shares or properties; resale after 5 years) [2]	Clarify with programme	Clarify with programme	Property must be government-approved; resale permitted after 5 years [2]
Grenada – National Transformation Fund	$235,000 (non-refundable; +$25,000 for fifth child or dependent parent/grandparent over 55) [2]	Clarify with programme	Additional $25,000 per fifth child or dependent parent/grandparent over 55 [2]	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
Grenada – Real Estate (tourism share)	$270,000 (share in tourism property; resale after 5 years) [2]	Clarify with programme	Clarify with programme	Property must be government-approved; resale permitted after 5 years [2]
Grenada – Real Estate (sole ownership)	$350,000 (sole ownership; resale after 5 years) [2]	Clarify with programme	Clarify with programme	Property must be government-approved; resale permitted after 5 years [2]
St Lucia – National Economic Fund	$240,000 (non-refundable; +$10,000 per minor beyond fourth, +$20,000 per adult dependent) [2]	Clarify with programme	Additional $10,000 per minor dependent beyond fourth; $20,000 per adult dependent [2]	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
St Kitts and Nevis – Federal Consolidated Fund	$250,000 (non-refundable; +$25,000 per minor beyond fourth, +$50,000 per adult dependent) [2]	As little as 3 months [3]	Spouse, children, parents, grandparents [3]; additional $25,000 per minor beyond fourth, $50,000 per adult dependent [2]	Regional minimum threshold $200,000 [4]; strict enforcement measures apply [4]
St Kitts and Nevis – Real Estate (condominiums/shares)	$325,000 (government-approved condominiums or shares; resale after 7 years) [2]	As little as 3 months [3]	Spouse, children, parents, grandparents [3]	Property must be government-approved; resale permitted after 7 years [2]
St Kitts and Nevis – Real Estate (private homes)	$600,000 (approved private homes; resale after 7 years) [2]	As little as 3 months [3]	Spouse, children, parents, grandparents [3]	Property must be government-approved; resale permitted after 7 years [2]

How to Obtain Citizenship by Investment

Choose a programme and investment route

Five Caribbean nations offer citizenship by investment: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia[1]. Each programme accepts either a non-refundable contribution to a government fund or an investment in approved real estate. Fund contributions start at US$200,000 in Dominica and US$250,000 in St Kitts and Nevis[2]. Real estate starts at US$270,000 in Grenada for a share in tourism property[2].

Confirm family members and total cost

Most programmes allow you to include a spouse, children, parents, and grandparents in one application[3]. Additional dependants raise the contribution. Grenada adds US$25,000 for a fifth child or a dependent parent over 55[2]. St Kitts and Nevis adds US$25,000 per minor beyond the fourth and US$50,000 per adult dependent[2]. Antigua and Barbuda does not increase the fund contribution based on family size[2].

Prepare documents and submit the application

You will need proof of identity, source of funds, and clean criminal records for adult applicants. Applications go through an authorised agent, not directly to the government. The regional agreement from September 2025 introduced strict enforcement measures, including administrative penalties and revocations[4]. Inaccurate or incomplete files can delay or end the process.

Complete due diligence and wait for processing

Processing time varies by country. St Kitts and Nevis can complete the process in as little as 3 months[3]. Dominica takes 10 to 12 months[3]. The 2025 regional framework set a minimum investment threshold of US$200,000 across Caribbean programmes[4]. This threshold applies to fund contributions, not to real estate routes.

Make the investment after approval

You pay only after the government approves your application in principle. For fund contributions, the payment is non-refundable[2]. For real estate, you buy a government-approved property or share. Antigua and Barbuda allows resale after 5 years[2]. St Kitts and Nevis allows resale after 7 years for private homes[2].

Receive the certificate and passport

Once the investment is confirmed, the country issues your certificate of naturalisation. You then apply for the passport. The certificate is the legal proof of citizenship. The passport allows visa-free travel according to each country's bilateral agreements. Check the issuing government's official portal for current processing status and document requirements.

Risks, Limitations, and Guarantees

All five Caribbean programmes require non-refundable contributions to government funds[2]. If your application is rejected after you submit documents but before approval in principle, you lose processing fees but not the full investment. Once you pay the contribution after approval, you cannot recover it. Real estate investments lock your capital for 5 years in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada[2], or 7 years in St Kitts and Nevis[2]. You cannot sell earlier without losing citizenship eligibility.

The September 2025 regional agreement introduced administrative penalties, revocations, and strict enforcement measures[4]. Citizenship can be revoked if you provided false information, failed to disclose criminal history, or breached programme terms. The regional minimum threshold of US$200,000 applies to fund contributions[4]; real estate routes start higher and carry property-market risk. Approved properties may not appreciate or generate rental income as projected.

Processing times are documented ranges, not guarantees. St Kitts and Nevis can take as little as 3 months[3], but delays occur if documents are incomplete or due diligence raises questions. Dominica's 10–12 months[3] reflects the longest documented window; your case may fall outside it.

Before you apply, confirm the current list of approved real estate projects, dependent inclusion rules, and any bilateral tax treaties with your home country. Check whether the issuing state has signed tax-information-exchange agreements that may affect your reporting obligations. The programmes do not offer refunds, appeals, or compensation for rejected applications.

Where You Can Buy Citizenship: Active Programs

Five Caribbean nations operate active citizenship by investment programmes as of the latest documented update: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia[1]. These are state-run schemes, not private services. Each programme grants full citizenship through a defined legal process, with a passport issued after the investment is confirmed.

The September 2025 regional agreement set a minimum investment threshold of US$200,000 across Caribbean programmes[4]. This threshold applies to non-refundable contributions to government funds. Real estate routes start higher because they involve property acquisition, not a direct payment to the state.

Fund contribution routes are the cheapest entry point in each country. Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund starts at US$200,000[2]. Antigua and Barbuda's National Development Fund starts at US$230,000, and the amount does not change with family size[2]. Grenada's National Transformation Fund starts at US$235,000[2]. St Lucia's National Economic Fund starts at US$240,000[2]. St Kitts and Nevis' Federal Consolidated Fund starts at US$250,000[2].

Real estate routes offer a different risk profile. You buy a government-approved property or share, and you may resell it after a holding period. Grenada's tourism property share starts at US$270,000, with sole ownership at US$350,000[2]. Antigua and Barbuda's approved shares or properties start at US$300,000[2]. St Kitts and Nevis offers condominiums or shares from US$325,000, while approved private homes start at US$600,000[2].

Processing times vary by country and route. St Kitts and Nevis can complete the process in as little as 3 months[3]. Dominica's processing time ranges from 10 to 12 months[3]. These are documented ranges from programme sources, not guarantees for individual cases.

Family inclusion rules differ across programmes. St Kitts and Nevis allows spouse, children, parents, and grandparents in a single application[3]. Grenada adds US$25,000 for a fifth child or dependent parent or grandparent over 55[2]. St Lucia adds US$10,000 per minor dependent beyond the fourth and US$20,000 per adult dependent[2]. St Kitts and Nevis adds US$25,000 per minor beyond the fourth and US$50,000 per adult dependent[2]. Antigua and Barbuda does not increase the fund contribution based on family size[2].

The regional framework from September 2025 also includes administrative penalties, revocations, and strict enforcement measures[4]. This means the programmes are not a loophole. You must provide accurate documents, disclose criminal history, and follow the rules of the specific country you choose.

Before you apply, confirm the current list of approved real estate projects and dependent inclusion rules with the relevant government unit or a licensed agent. The BBC News article on Caribbean citizenship by investment provides a general overview of the five programmes[1]. The official Saint Kitts and Nevis Information Service statement documents the 2025 regional agreement and its enforcement measures[4].

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