Full cost comparison of the Caribbean CBI programmes 2026

1. Executive summary

In 2026, the Caribbean region maintains five active citizenship by investment programmes: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia. Following the fee harmonisation round per the regional memorandum of understanding in March 2024, the common minimum investment threshold was raised from US$200,000, ending a multi-year period of price-cutting competition.

Although entry thresholds have converged, the actual total package costs between programmes still vary by hundreds of thousands of dollars when accounting for all government fees, due diligence fees, processing fees, and dependent surcharges. This report breaks down the full cost components of each programme and investment option, and calculates four standardised family scenarios.

Key findings:

• Single applicant: Dominica via the EDF fund is the cheapest, at a total of US$210,000. The most expensive is Saint Kitts and Nevis at US$260,000.
• Married couple: Grenada via the NTF fund is the cheapest at US$253,000. Dominica loses its advantage in this scenario as the contribution level jumps to US$250,000 as soon as there is one dependent.
• Family of four: Grenada continues to lead at US$257,000, closely followed by Saint Lucia at US$258,000. The gap between the five programmes is the narrowest among the four scenarios.
• Family of four with two dependent parents: The UWIF fund of Antigua and Barbuda is the cheapest at US$285,300, as the US$260,000 contribution level covers a family of six and includes processing fees. Saint Kitts and Nevis is the most expensive at US$382,500.
• Real estate option: Dominica has the lowest threshold (US$200,000) and the shortest holding period (3 years), but government fees for this route are very high (US$75,000 – US$100,000), meaning the total cost is no longer the absolute cheapest. Saint Kitts and Nevis has the highest threshold (US$325,000) along with the longest holding period (7 years).
• Saint Lucia is the only programme in the region with a government bond option (NAB): the bonds are non-interest-bearing and held for 5 years. Calculated based on non-recoverable capital, this is the route with the lowest net cost in the region, starting from US$60,000.

All data is verified directly from the published fee schedules of the five government-level programme management units, retrieved on 11/06/2026.

2. Methodology and data sources

2.1 Data sources

The report uses only fee data from government sources — the official websites of each country's programme management unit:

Passport strength data is taken from the Prosperous Passport Index, retrieved on 11/06/2026. The index measures the total number of destinations citizens can enter without prior visa application, including visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and electronic travel authorisation (eTA). The master data table counts only 199 countries and does not include territories.

2.2 Calculation scenarios

Four family scenarios have been standardised to allow for an equal comparison between programmes:

1. Scenario 1: single applicant.
2. Scenario 2: married couple.
3. Scenario 3: family of four — married couple and two children aged 10 and 14.
4. Scenario 4: family of four with two dependent parents of the applicant, assumed to be 65 years or older to qualify for all five programmes (Dominica requires over 65; the other four programmes require 55 or older).

2.3 Cost scope

The total package cost in the report includes: the investment or contribution, government fees, due diligence fees, application processing fees, interview fees, certificate of naturalisation fees, and passport fees — in accordance with the items published on each country's official fee schedule.

The total cost does not include: legal fees and consultation service fees, notarised translation fees, three-step consular legalisation costs for Vietnamese documents (applicable until before 11/09/2026, when the Apostille Convention takes effect for Vietnam), bank fees, insurance, and real estate transaction taxes and fees. Some minor fees not fully disclosed on government websites are noted separately in each section.

3. Caribbean CBI market context 2026

The 2024 – 2026 period marks the most significant shift in the Caribbean citizenship by investment industry in a decade. In March 2024, regional CBI nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to unify the minimum investment threshold at US$200,000 from 30/06/2024, share information on rejected applicants, and standardise due diligence processes. This harmonisation round ended the promotional discount packages that had previously pushed entry levels below US$100,000.

Pressure from visa-free partners is the primary driver of reform. The European Union amended its Schengen visa-free suspension mechanism, effective from 2026, in which the operation of citizenship by investment programmes was added as grounds for suspension. The United Kingdom ended visa-free access for Dominica citizens from July 2023 and for Saint Lucia citizens from 05/03/2026; the remaining three nations currently still enter the UK using an electronic travel authorisation (eTA).

Regarding the United States, at the end of 2025, the federal government applied several visa restriction measures related to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. This development has not yet directly affected the citizenship issuance process, but it is a factor investors need to monitor when considering travel goals to the United States.

In this context, programmes have strengthened compliance requirements: mandatory interviews for applicants (and dependents from 16 or 17 years old depending on the country), continuous due diligence after citizenship is granted, and fee transparency. Published costs therefore reflect actual costs more accurately than in the previous period.

4. Cost profile of each programme

4.1 Saint Kitts and Nevis

The world's oldest programme, operating since 1984, managed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). Eligible dependents include: spouse; children under 18; children aged 18 – 25 studying full-time and financially dependent; children from 18 with disabilities; parents of the applicant or spouse aged 55 or older, living with and fully supported by the applicant. Processing time to approval in principle is 160 – 180 days. No residency required.

The SISC route does not charge separate government fees. An interview is mandatory for the main applicant; dependents aged 16 and over may be required to attend an interview.

Key point: the US$250,000 SISC level covers a family of four, meaning scenarios two and three have the same total. Conversely, each dependent parent adds a US$50,000 contribution – the most expensive in the region for this group.

4.2 Antigua and Barbuda

The programme has been operating since 2013, managed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), and is notable for its broad family scope. Dependent groups include: spouse; children aged 0–11; children aged 12–17; dependents aged 18–30; and dependent parents aged 55 and over. This is the only programme in the region with a residency requirement: the applicant must visit Antigua and Barbuda for at least 5 days within the first 5 years and take an oath.

Key point: for a family of 6, the UWIF fund is up to US$10,000 cheaper than the NDF because the US$260,000 level includes processing fees for all 6 members. This is the cheapest option in the entire region for scenario 4.

4.3 Dominica

The programme has been operating since 1993, the second oldest in the world, managed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU). Dependents include: spouse; children under 18; children aged 18–30 who are studying and supported; and parents or grandparents over 65 who are significantly supported. Dominica does not accept siblings and has the strictest parental age requirement in the region. No residency requirement.

Key point: Dominica remains the absolute cheapest for a single applicant, but the contribution tier jumps straight from US$200,000 to US$250,000 as soon as there is one dependent. Although the real estate route has the lowest threshold in the region, it carries very high government fees, negating its price advantage in all family scenarios.

4.4 Grenada

The programme has been operating since 2014 under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013, managed by the Investment Migration Agency (IMA). Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI programme with an E-2 treaty with the United States, paving the way for citizens to apply for an E-2 investor visa. Dependents include spouse, children, parents and grandparents (contribution surcharge waived when over 55), and siblings (separate surcharge). Approval within 60 working days from submission. No residency requirement.

Key point: Grenada is the cheapest in the region for a couple and a family of 4. For a family of 6, the real estate route is US$15,000 cheaper than the fund route. This is also the only choice for investors needing an E-2 route to the United States.

4.5 Saint Lucia

The youngest programme in the region, operating since 2016, managed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). Dependents include: spouse; children up to 30; parents and grandparents aged 55 and over who are supported; and unmarried siblings under 18. The official processing target is 90 days; actual market times are significantly longer, with many applications taking over 12 months – the longest in the region. Note: from 05/03/2026, Saint Lucia citizens will require a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

Key note: NEF additional dependant surcharges are the lowest in the region (US$10,000 – US$20,000 per person). The NAB bond option is the only capital-repayment investment route among the five programmes: the bond is non-interest bearing and held for 5 years; in terms of non-refundable capital, this is the lowest net-cost route in the region – in exchange, investors lock up capital without interest for 5 years and bear liquidity risk.

5. Summary comparison table of five programmes × four scenarios

National fund contribution option (total package cost according to government fee schedule):

Approved real estate option:

Note on reading the table: total real estate costs include the original investment – this capital is an asset that can be resold after the mandatory holding period, which is fundamentally different from a non-refundable fund contribution. When compared by non-refundable capital, the Saint Lucia NAB bond option (net cost US$60,000 – US$80,000) and real estate options have a completely different standing than the nominal price list.

6. Secondary comparison axis

Passport strength data is calculated based on 199 countries, excluding territories. Vietnam does not require citizens to renounce their nationality when acquiring a second citizenship under these programmes, and all five countries allow unlimited dual citizenship – Vietnamese investors retain their original nationality.

7. Assessment of options by family profile

Single applicants prioritising cost: Dominica via the EDF fund is the optimal choice at a total of US$210,000, which is US$34,000 lower than the next closest programme. In return, a Dominica passport requires a visa for the United Kingdom and ranks behind Saint Kitts and Antigua in terms of destination count.

Couples and families of four: Grenada via the NTF fund offers the best balance between cost (US$253,000 – US$257,000), processing speed (60 working days for approval), and E-2 benefits. Saint Lucia is close in price, but the long actual processing time is a significant drawback for families needing quick results.

Large families with dependent parents: Antigua and Barbuda has a clear advantage – the UWIF fund is US$285,300 for six people, which is US$24,200 cheaper than the next closest option. Note that parents must be at least 55 years old and the family needs to arrange a 5-day visit within the first 5 years. If parents are not yet 65, Dominica is automatically excluded.

Investors prioritising capital preservation: Saint Lucia's NAB bonds held for 5 years, considering non-recoverable capital, result in a net cost from US$60,000 – the lowest in the region. Real estate options in Dominica (held for only 3 years) and Grenada (with E-2 benefits) are suitable for those who accept liquidity risk to retain assets.

Investors with United States goals: Grenada is the only choice thanks to the E-2 treaty, which allows citizens to apply for an investor visa and reside in the United States while operating their investment business. Conversely, those who need convenient access to the United Kingdom should prioritise Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, or Grenada.

Investors prioritising reputation and passport strength: Saint Kitts and Nevis leads the region in destination count (126) and has over 40 years of operational history. The highest price in the region is the cost of this status; it is suitable for profiles that view a second citizenship as a long-term asset rather than a cost-optimisation exercise.

Every family profile has its own age structure, travel goals, and risk appetite. Prosperous Living Investment recommends that clients undergo a profile assessment before finalising a programme, as a difference of a few thousand dollars on the price list can be completely reversed when changing one dependent member.

8. Appendix: original fee schedules and verification sources

8.1 Government sources consulted (date 11/06/2026)

8.2 Calculation assumptions

• Scenario 3: two children aged 10 and 14 – below the 16/17-year-old due diligence fee threshold of all programmes; Antigua and Barbuda specifically charges US$2,000 for due diligence for children aged 12 – 17.
• Scenario 4: parents of the applicant, aged 65 or older, financially dependent – eligible for all 5 programmes.
• The NTF Grenada surcharge for additional dependents after the third person is set at US$50,000 for those aged 18 and over.
• Exchange rates do not apply – all figures are in US dollars according to the original fee schedule.
• Passport strength is calculated based on 199 countries, excluding territories.
• Total costs do not include: legal fees, consultation service fees, notarised translation, 3-step consular legalisation (Vietnamese documents, applicable until before 11/09/2026), bank fees, real estate transaction and registration taxes/fees, and some minor fees not publicly disclosed.

8.3 Disclaimer

Fee schedules for citizenship by investment programmes may change at the discretion of each government without prior notice. The figures in this report reflect the fee schedules published at the time of consultation on 11/06/2026 and are for reference only. Please contact Prosperous Living Investment to receive a quote updated according to your specific family structure.