Updated
GL-C-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
CBI - citizenship in exchange for investment in a country's economy
A program under which a foreigner receives a country passport in exchange for an investment: a contribution to a fund, a real estate purchase, or a deposit. Available in Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia, Turkey, and Vanuatu.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- A full passport of a country in exchange for an investment in its economy
- Where it applies
- The Caribbean (Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia), Turkey
- Cost
- From $200,000 as a fund contribution (Caribbean)
- Duration
- Usually 4-8 months (Caribbean)
- Can you prepare
- Yes: choose a country and assemble a source-of-funds file for due diligence
02 / In plain words
What CBI means
CBI (citizenship by investment) is a programme under which a foreigner receives a full passport of a country in exchange for an investment in its economy. There are three types of investment: a non-refundable contribution to a state fund, the purchase of approved real estate, or a deposit. In return you and your family become citizens — with all the rights that entails, including passing citizenship on to your children.
By immigration standards it is fast: you do not need to live in the country for years or sit language exams. Everything turns on the check (due diligence) and making the investment. The classic Caribbean programmes — Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia — cost from $200,000 to $250,000 as a contribution and usually take 4-8 months. There is currently no direct EU passport by investment: Malta's programme (MEIN) ended on 24.07.2025.
Why people do it: visa-free travel to 140-155 countries, a fallback option for the family, access to the US E-2 visa (through Grenada), calm tax planning. The passport stays with you and your children for good, even if you sell the real estate investment a few years later.
In Vanuatu, citizenship by investment comes through two programmes: a state contribution (DSP) from $130,000 and the fund (CIIP) - $165,000 for a family of up to four, of which the fund buys back $50,000 after 5 years. It usually takes 2 months, 3 at most.
A case from practice
A family of four chooses Grenada. The non-refundable NTF contribution is about $235,000 for the whole family, plus government fees and check fees for each adult. From gathering documents to passports in hand takes about six months. The father then opens a business in the US on an E-2 visa — a right that comes precisely with the Grenadian passport.
Why people choose CBI
- Visa-free travel to 140-155 countries
- A second passport and a “plan B” for the family
- Access to the US E-2 visa (through Grenada)
- Tax planning
- Passing citizenship to children
- Freedom of movement without a residence requirement
03 / What it covers
What CBI gives
Who receives it
- Principal investor
- Spouse and children
- Parents and grandparents (in some programmes)
Investment options
- Non-refundable fund contribution
- Approved real estate
- Government bonds or a business
What the passport gives
- Visa-free access to 140+ countries
- Second citizenship
- Freedom of movement
Outlook
- Passed on to children for good
- Tax planning
- US E-2 visa (Grenada)
04 / How it works
How to obtain citizenship through CBI
Choosing the country and option
The country for your goal: visa-free access, price, timeline, family.
Due diligence check
Preliminary check first, then the state check.
Investment (contribution or real estate)
Fund contribution or purchase of approved property.
Filing and approval
Decision by the citizenship unit.
Oath and passport
Oath and passports for the family.
05 / Cost and timelines
What CBI costs: contributions by country
01Dominica
from $200,000
A non-refundable contribution to a state fund (EDF). The most affordable entry in the Caribbean.
02Antigua and Barbuda
from $230,000
A contribution to the national fund (NDF), covering a family of up to 4.
03Grenada
from $235,000
A contribution to the fund (NTF). The only Caribbean passport with access to the US E-2 visa.
04Saint Lucia
from $240,000
A non-refundable contribution to the national fund.
05Saint Kitts and Nevis
from $250,000
A contribution to the fund (SISC). The oldest CBI programme in the world (since 1984).
06Turkey
from $400,000
A property purchase with an obligation to hold it for 3 years. Not the EU, but a large economy.
07Malta
closed since 24.07.2025
The programme was discontinued; new applications are not accepted.
The figure shown is the minimum contribution to the state fund for the principal applicant or the family. On top come government fees, the mandatory check (due diligence) for each adult and legal support. The real estate option costs more at entry, but the property can be sold after the holding period. We calculate the exact budget for your family composition.
Timelines
- Processing time
- Usually 4-8 months (Caribbean); Malta — a year or longer
- Who carries it out
- The country’s government, through an authorised agent
- What it depends on
- The country, family composition, depth of due diligence
- Residence
- Not required in the classic programmes; Malta has a residence period
06 / Key facts
What you need to know
01How it works
Investment in exchange for a passport
A non-refundable fund contribution, approved real estate or a deposit. No residence or language test required.
02Caribbean programmes
From $200,000 as a contribution
Grenada, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Saint Lucia raised the minimum in 2024. Usually 4-8 months.
03Vanuatu
From $130,000, about 2 months
A state contribution (DSP) or the fund (CIIP) at $165,000 for a family of up to four, with $50,000 bought back by the fund after 5 years.
04EU passport
Not available now
Malta's programme (MEIN) ended on 24.07.2025. There is currently no direct EU citizenship by investment.
Common mistakes
Applying without checking the source of funds
Build the file before applying: a due diligence refusal does not refund the check fee.
Hiding episodes in your background
Disclose and explain sensitive points in advance: the check will find them anyway.
Selling the property too early
Hold the property for the whole required period, or the basis is lost.
Choosing on price alone
Compare visa-free access, timeline, family rules and the programme's reputation.
07 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Before filing, decide on the goal (travel, the US, taxes or a “plan B”), choose the country and the option (a fund contribution or real estate), and assemble the source-of-funds and source-of-wealth file in advance — that is what decides the outcome of due diligence. Then the check passes first time, and the non-refundable contribution is not wasted.
What we do for you. We take you through CBI from the first conversation to the passport in your hands: we choose the country for your goal (travel, the US, taxes), prepare the source-of-funds file in advance so that the check passes first time, and keep the timeline under control at every stage.
Anna KovalevskayaExpert in Caribbean citizenship by investment programs
08 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
No. The classic programmes do not require physical residence — that is their point. It is enough to pass the check and make the investment; some programmes ask for one short visit for biometrics or the oath.
A fund contribution is usually cheaper and simpler: you pay once and that is it. Real estate costs more at entry, but the property can be sold after 3-7 years and part of the outlay recovered.
No. Once the mandatory holding period (usually 3-7 years) has been observed, you sell the property and the citizenship stays with you and passes to your children.
Dominica — from $200,000 as a contribution to the state fund. The difference between the Caribbean programmes today lies more in visa-free access and reputation than in price: their minimum threshold has been agreed.
There is no direct EU passport by investment at present: Malta’s MEIN programme was discontinued on 24.07.2025. Caribbean passports are not EU passports, but they open visa-free entry to the Schengen area for up to 90 days.
The spouse, children and often parents and grandparents — the exact family composition depends on the programme. The check (due diligence) is paid separately for each adult applicant.
Yes: in 2024 the Caribbean countries agreed a minimum contribution of $200,000. Thresholds are reviewed regularly, so a favourable window is best not postponed.
CBI gives a passport and citizenship straight away. A Golden Visa is only a residence permit: a passport may come later, through naturalisation and actual residence in the country.
Related terms
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