Earlier this July, the Eastern Caribbean—home to several prominent Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs announced its boldest policy update in years. Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia have jointly drafted sweeping reforms aimed at reinforcing credibility and integrity in their citizenship schemes. These changes come as the world increasingly scrutinizes so-called “passport‑for‑sale” programs.
What Just Happened
On July 1, 2025, five Eastern Caribbean nations jointly unveiled a 92-article draft agreement that marks a turning point for their Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs. The core of the proposal introduces a region-wide physical presence requirement: new CBI citizens must spend at least 30 days in their country of citizenship within the first five years.
This announcement follows months of coordinated dialogue and growing international pressure—particularly from the United States and European Union—urging stricter standards for identity verification and program oversight. Among the key structural changes is the proposal to establish a centralized regulatory body, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (EC-CIRA), to ensure consistent governance and compliance across all five programs.
The draft is now open for public consultation through July 16, with final legislation expected to be introduced later in 2025.
Proposed CBI Regulations at a Glance
The draft agreement includes several additional reforms designed to bring consistency and accountability across all five Eastern Caribbean nations:
- Minimum 30-day physical presence required within the first five years of obtaining citizenship
- Civic integration measures, including interviews and education sessions
- Annual application caps to limit the number of new CBI approvals per country
- Passport validity reduced to 5 years for new citizens, with renewal subject to compliance
- Creation of EC-CIRA, a regional regulator to coordinate oversight and due diligence
- Stricter revocation criteria for those who breach terms or provide false information
These measures reflect a clear signal from the region: citizenship must be earned, not just bought.
Mandatory Stay Period
Under the new proposal, all applicants who receive citizenship through investment in the Eastern Caribbean will need to spend a minimum of 30 days physically present in the country that granted them citizenship. This 30-day requirement must be fulfilled within the first five years of becoming a citizen. It’s no longer enough to just make the investment—now, individuals must show a real connection to the country.
Governments are expected to verify physical presence through immigration records, travel history, or biometric data. Those who fail to meet this condition may face serious consequences, including financial penalties of up to 10% of their investment amount and possible revocation of their passport.
Annual Caps on Citizenship Approvals
As part of the proposed reforms, the five Eastern Caribbean nations plan to introduce annual limits on the number of citizenships granted under their CBI programs. While specific quotas haven’t been confirmed, the intent is clear: to move away from volume-driven models and focus on maintaining the value and reputation of their passports. By limiting approvals each year, governments hope to prevent market saturation, reduce pressure on due diligence systems, and reassure international partners that quality—not just quantity—is the new priority. This move echoes growing global expectations for more disciplined, transparent investor migration frameworks.
Reinforcing Due Diligence Standards
As part of the proposed reforms, due diligence checks across the Eastern Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment programs are set to become more structured and uniform. A key new element is the mandatory interview process for all applicants aged 16 and above. These interviews—already implemented in Dominica—will now be standardized across all five nations. Applicants must complete them virtually, responding to questions about their background, investment motives, and ties to the host country. This move aims to ensure that citizenship is granted only to individuals with genuine interest and acceptable risk profiles. In addition to the interviews, authorities will adopt harmonized security protocols, independent background checks, and stricter screening mechanisms that align with evolving international compliance expectations.
EC-CIRA: A Regional Body to Oversee Citizenship Programs
The draft agreement also introduces a major regulatory shift: the formation of a new oversight body called the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (EC-CIRA). This independent agency would be responsible for ensuring consistency, transparency, and compliance across all participating countries—Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
If approved, EC-CIRA would monitor due diligence standards, applicant screening, reporting obligations, and ongoing compliance by approved citizens. It aims to strengthen trust among international partners by showing that the region takes coordinated regulation seriously. For applicants, this means stricter but more predictable requirements, and for governments, it offers a unified defense against rising international pressure to tighten CBI systems.
What Still Remains Unclear
Despite the clarity on key reforms like the 30-day residency rule and the creation of a regional regulator, some important details remain unresolved. It’s still unclear whether the new rules will apply only to future applicants or also to those who have already submitted applications but haven’t yet been approved. Another question is whether the residency requirement must be met before citizenship is granted, or if it can be fulfilled after naturalisation but within the first five years. These points are likely to be addressed after the public consultation period ends on July 16, when more detailed implementation guidelines are expected.
What Prompted the Shift
The Caribbean CBI reform effort didn’t happen in a vacuum. Over the past year, international pressure has grown sharply—especially from the United States and the European Union. In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State indicated a possible visa restriction targeting passport holders from Dominica and other Eastern Caribbean countries. The concern was that some CBI recipients had no meaningful physical
or cultural connection to the countries that granted them citizenship, raising red flags for national security, migration fraud, and diplomatic trust. With former President Donald Trump publicly supporting tougher stances on immigration and citizenship-based mobility, including birthright citizenship reform, the tone from Washington has been clear: stricter rules, stronger ties, and tighter vetting are expected.
At the same time, the European Union has voiced concerns over weak due diligence practices and inconsistent program standards. Countries like St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, and Dominica have been on the radar due to reports of insufficient background checks and a lack of alignment with international norms. The recent suspension of visa-free travel for Vanuatu passport holders in the EU served as a warning of what could happen in the Caribbean if reforms weren’t taken seriously.
With this backdrop, the Eastern Caribbean nations came together to align their programs—introducing stricter residency, due diligence, and governance rules. These changes reflect a coordinated effort to protect visa-free agreements, rebuild international trust, and modernize their CBI programs into long-term, globally respected offerings.
For deeper context on the U.S. visa restriction warning, see our full article here.
A New Era for Caribbean CBI
This shift represents more than just technical compliance. It’s a signal that the era of fast-track, no-strings-attached citizenship is coming to an end. By requiring applicants to spend real time in the
country, pass deeper background checks, and engage in formal interviews, the Caribbean is trying to bridge the gap between investor expectations and international standards.
For the investment migration industry, this is a moment of recalibration. Advisors, legal teams, and investors will need to adapt—balancing client interest with regulatory compliance and reputational risk. For the Caribbean nations, it’s a critical step to preserve access to global mobility and ensure that their programs remain a trusted gateway for the world’s mobile elite.
