Top Citizenship By Investment (CBI) Programs To Consider In 2024 – Investment Immigration

In this article, we give our reviews and picks
of:

• Countries with the most valuable citizenships in
  2024,




• CBIs that offer the best value for Single Persons and
  Families




• Passport that offers the most benefit when you become a
  holder.

What are the Benefits of Acquiring a New Passport via
Citizenship by Investment Programs?

In today’s unpredictable geopolitical shifts, many investors
consider acquiring additional citizenship through investment as a
contemporary form of insurance. These supplementary citizenships
often provide heightened mobility, granting access to a much
broader range of destinations. This is particularly favorable
during times of urgent necessity.

Individuals seeking retirement in tax-friendly, cost-effective
destinations with a superior standard of living also look to these
programs as they offer additional family benefits such as access to
world-class education and healthcare services.

In the eyes of our clients, such opportunities present one of
the trusted and effective means to diversify assets and mitigate
liabilities. For some, CBI represents a more efficient avenue to
participate in the flourishing tourism industry and real estate
market of the Caribbean where many of these programs operate.

Which Programs are Considered the Top Citizenship by Investment
Programs?

The five Caribbean programs—Antigua & Barbuda,
Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia—are
widely regarded as some of the most appealing options. The
combination of affordability and efficiency in processing makes the
Caribbean programs stand out in the realm of CBI programs.

Which of These Caribbean Programs Offers the Best Value via
Donation?

The lowest outlay option among the Caribbean programs is
invariably the government fund donation pathway. The following
table demonstrates the costs for single applicants under each
program, with Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Lucia
offering the lowest pricing.

In contrast, as shown in the next table, bringing immediate
families may incur higher donation amounts. Notably, Antigua &
Barbuda remains the lowest cost for families pursuing citizenship
in the Caribbean—the donation sum stays the same as for
single applicants and permits up to 3 dependant-beneficiaries
(spouse and children).

Which of These Programs Offers the Best Value via Real Estate
Investment?

Real estate is another common investment regime among the
Caribbean programs. As illustrated, investors prefer Dominica for
its combination of the lowest investment threshold¹ and
the shortest holding period of three (3) years, which is followed
by Antigua & Barbuda and St. Lucia with the same investment
amounts but at two (2) extra years.

Another intriguing option under the broad category of real
estate investment is the purchase of equities in approved
commercial real estate, such as that offered under the Grenada
program. Some developers even offer a competitive 3-4% guaranteed
return in addition to a full buy-back at 100% of the original value
after a 6-year holding period.

Application Processing Time

Although it may vary, application processing time for these
programs typically ranges between 3 to 6 months.

Our Recommendation

All Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs, as previously
illustrated and explored, share several positive similarities.
Firstly, unlike many countries where permanent residents are
required to maintain residence for a substantial period each
calendar year to retain their green cards, these destinations
impose minimal to no requirements on maintaining long-term physical
presence. Moreover, these programs have minimal requirements
regarding applicants’ educational and professional backgrounds,
linguistic capabilities, and more. Lastly, passport holders of
these countries can enjoy significant tax benefits.

While all these programs allow applicants to hold multiple
passports, one of the most attractive features is the excellent
mobility offered by Caribbean passports. Holders benefit from
visa-free and visa-on-arrival treatments in hundreds of countries
and destinations globally. For instance, as of the current writing,
an Antigua & Barbuda passport provides visa-free access to 165+
countries and territories. Even with the least, a Grenada passport
offers an impressive 140+ destinations visa-free or on-travel,
allowing holders to apply for an E-2 treaty investor visa and
relocate with their family to the United States. Another benefit is
that holders of these Caribbean passports are also offered the
opportunity to live, work, and settle in any other member of the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) states.

In terms of the pricing aspects, Dominica, St. Lucia, and
Antigua & Barbuda offer the lowest investment amount for a
single applicant, which are some of the lowest requirements of any
program worldwide. However, Antigua & Barbuda is the preferred
option for those who may want to apply with their family or
additional dependents, as the program has the same low basic
donation amount of 100,000 for up to 4 dependents.

Among the Caribbean CBI programs explored, however, St. Lucia
has the unique offer of 4 different investment options: donation,
real estate investment, as well as investment in either government
bonds or business enterprises. Particular to St. Lucia, the
government bond option is an attractive option to many as although
no interest is generated, this investment is risk-free as the
government pays back the bond in full after 5 years.

In Summary

While several programs worldwide, including those in Vanuatu,
France, the UK, the US, Australia, and others, deserve honorable
mentions, we believe that the five Caribbean countries possess
tangible and unparalleled advantages in terms of cost, processing
timeline, and truly global mobility. These factors make them
particularly noteworthy in the realm of investment-based
immigration. Investors contemplating the benefits of Citizenship by
Investment should seek advice from seasoned professionals
experienced not only in the documentation, preparation, and
submission of investor immigrant applications but also in
recommending the program that best suits their unique needs.

At the end of the day, we understand that often immigration can
be an overwhelming and daunting experience. If you are interested
in learning more, please contact your local HLG office here for
more details. Founded in 1992, Harvey Law Group (HLG) is a leading
multinational law firm with offices across Asia, North and South
America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East to cater to your
specific needs for immigration and beyond.

Footnote

^{1. It should be noted that, in addition to the minimum
investment, there are other costs to be considered, including Legal
Fees, Application Fees, Due Diligence Fees, Naturalization and
passport Fees, Administrative Costs, Bank Due Diligence and
Transfer Fees, and conveyancing charges.}

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.