Caribbean Nations Unite to Tighten Laws on Citizenship for Sale

(ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, DOMINICA, GRENADA, SAINT KITTS & NEVIS, SAINT LUCIA) Eastern Caribbean governments moved in lockstep on August 14, 2025, unveiling the toughest overhaul yet of their Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs after months of pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The package, built on a 92‑article regional framework and anchored by a new regulator, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), reshapes how “citizenship for sale” operates and ties new citizens more closely to the countries they adopt.

Officials say the reforms will roll out in stages. On July 1, 2025, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia released the draft agreement. National parliaments are now preparing enabling bills, and ECCIRA legislation is slated for September 2025, pending ratification in all five states. Once active, ECCIRA will set uniform due‑diligence standards, audit compliance across programs, and coordinate enforcement.

Core Policy Changes

The package establishes a common set of rules that every application and every new citizen must meet, regardless of which island issues the passport. The measures respond to international partner concerns about screening quality and the lack of substantive links between investors and their adopted countries.

• Physical presence requirement
  • All new CBI citizens must spend at least 30 days in their country within five years.
  • Time in‑country will be verified through immigration records or biometrics.
  • Enforcement begins after ECCIRA and national ratifications take effect.
• Tougher due diligence
  • A regionally run screening process will deliver stricter background checks and identity verification.
  • Applicants should expect more questions and longer processing times.
• Annual application caps
  • Each program will set yearly ceilings on approvals.
  • Exact cap numbers are pending and will be published after ECCIRA starts.
• Shorter passport validity
  • New CBI passports will be valid five years instead of ten.
  • Renewal will depend on full compliance with program rules.
• Civic integration steps
  • Mandatory interviews, education sessions, and other measures to build basic civic knowledge.
• Expanded revocation grounds
  • Governments may strip citizenship for false statements or failure to meet the physical presence rule.
• Stronger enforcement
  • Breaches can bring financial penalties up to 10% of the investment and passport cancellation.

Additional operational rules:
– Minimum investments now range between $200,000 and $600,000, varying by country and whether applicants choose a government fund or approved real estate.
– Licensed agents remain the only channel to file applications.
– All applicants aged 16+ will face a mandatory interview.

Impact on Applicants and Markets

For investors, the headline change is time on the ground. A one‑month stay within five years is now a requirement, not an option.

• Families planning school schedules and business travel will need to plan visits early.
• Application caps and tougher screening are expected to reduce volumes and make approvals harder to secure.
• Industry analysts (for example, VisaVerge.com) suggest fewer approvals could increase the prestige of successful cases and stabilize program revenues, even if initial filings decline.

Scrutiny will intensify at the start of regional implementation. Applicants should anticipate:
– More document requests and cross‑checks.
– Longer timelines for decisions.
– Higher refusal risk for incomplete or misleading files.

Governments argue these changes protect visa‑free travel and strengthen global credibility. The CBI industry generates billions for small island economies, and regional leaders say the blueprint aims to preserve both income and reputation.

International partners have welcomed the direction but will watch implementation closely. If standards slip, further restrictions could follow — potentially affecting travel privileges for CBI passport holders.

Important: The physical presence rule and many enforcement measures will be actively enforced only after ECCIRA is ratified and becomes operational. Non‑compliance can lead to fines and revocation.

Implementation Timeline and Practical Steps

The schedule is compressed. Parliaments across the five countries are racing toward September 2025 to pass the laws establishing ECCIRA. Governments have committed publicly to the timeline, though commentators warn delays are possible.

Key practical points for applicants:
1. Use licensed agents to file applications as national rules require.
2. Prepare for a mandatory interview if aged 16+ — it may be virtual or in person.
3. After approval, keep meticulous records of trips to the country to verify the 30‑day/5‑year rule.
4. Expect new passports to carry five‑year validity; renewal depends on a clean compliance record.

Other implementation notes:
– Application filing remains under national procedures but will be monitored regionally once ECCIRA launches.
– Several rules will take effect immediately when ECCIRA goes live: tougher due diligence, civic integration, revocation expansion, and enforcement penalties.
– The physical presence rule will be measured over the first five years of citizenship after ratification.
– Detailed annual approval caps will be published after ECCIRA begins operations.

Penalties and Compliance

Non‑compliance carries significant consequences:

• Authorities can levy fines of up to 10% of the initial investment.
• Governments may revoke citizenship, which cancels passports.
• Applicants should:
  • Keep comprehensive records.
  • Respond promptly to information requests.
  • Avoid any misstatements in filings.

Background and Next Steps

The reforms followed two years of talks beginning at a US‑Caribbean roundtable in early 2023. Washington, London, and Brussels warned that weak checks could lead to travel limits for holders of CBI passports. Regional leaders say the shared rulebook is designed to keep travel doors open while reducing risk.

Current and prospective applicants should:
– Plan for tighter screening and longer wait times.
– Budget investments according to the new minimums ($200,000–$600,000).
– Prepare for interviews and schedule travel to meet the 30‑day requirement.

For official regional updates on ECCIRA implementation and government notices, readers can consult the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States: https://www.oecs.int National Citizenship by Investment Units will continue to publish public program notices and application guidance on their government portals.

Key takeaway: Regional oversight under ECCIRA will standardize checks across programs. Compliance, documentation, and early planning will be crucial for applicants to secure and retain CBI status.