CIU / CBIU

In plain words

A CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit, sometimes CBIU) is the government agency that administers the citizenship by investment programme in a particular country. It accepts applications, organises the due diligence check, approves or rejects, and oversees compliance with the programme’s rules. In essence the CIU is the “owner” of the programme on the state’s side.

Every Caribbean country with CBI has such an agency: Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua and St Lucia each have their own. The applicant does not deal with the CIU directly: under the rules, documents can be filed only through a licensed agent accredited with the agency. The agent prepares and files the file, and the CIU checks it and makes the decision.

The conclusion for the applicant: the quality of the work with the CIU largely determines the outcome. The agency values clean, complete and transparent files and deals strictly with contentious applications. Understanding the requirements of the particular CIU — what it checks, which documents it expects, where it is exacting — helps get through first time, without requests and delays.

Where working with the CIU matters

What the CIU does

How working with the CIU goes

1. 01Preparing the file through an agent
2. 02Filing with the CIU
3. 03Due Diligence
4. 04The CIU’s decision
5. 05Passport

What you need to know

• The CIU administers the state’s citizenship programme
• It accepts applications, checks and approves
• Every Caribbean country with CBI has one
• Filing is possible only through a licensed agent
• It values clean and complete files

Common mistakes

• ✕Trying to file with the CIU directly, bypassing an agent
• ✕Filing an incomplete or contentious file
• ✕Not accounting for the particular CIU’s requirements
• ✕Concealing an episode — the check will find it
• ✕Underestimating the strictness of the agency’s check

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