Caribbean CBI Comparison: Antigua vs Dominica vs Grenada vs St Kitts vs St Lucia

The five Caribbean CBI programmes — Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia — share a common structure: a government contribution or real estate investment in exchange for citizenship and a passport. Beyond that commonality, they differ in ways that matter significantly for different applicant profiles.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Antigua	Dominica	Grenada	St Kitts	St Lucia
Year established	2013	1993	2013	1984	2015
Min. contribution (single)	USD 130,000	USD 100,000	USD 235,000	USD 250,000	USD 100,000
Min. contribution (family of 4)	USD 230,000	USD 175,000	USD 305,000	USD 350,000	USD 195,000
Min. real estate	USD 300,000	USD 200,000	USD 270,000	USD 400,000	USD 300,000
RE hold period	5 years	3 years	5 years	7 years	5 years
Processing time	3-4 months	3-4 months	4-6 months	3-6 months	3-4 months
Accelerated option	No	No	No	Yes (45-60 days)	No
Visa-free countries	151+	145+	148+	156+	146+
UK visa-free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen visa-free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
US E-2 treaty	No	No	Yes	No	No
China visa-free	No	No	Yes	No	No
Physical residency	5 days in 5 years	None	None	None	None
Dual citizenship	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Programme-by-Programme Analysis

Dominica — Best Value for Single Applicants

Dominica offers the lowest entry price for individual applicants at USD 100,000 (EDF contribution). The programme is the second-oldest in the Caribbean (1993) and has been rated the world's best CBI programme by multiple industry assessments.

Best for: Budget-conscious single applicants or couples who prioritise cost efficiency over maximum visa-free access.

Limitations: Fewer visa-free destinations than St Kitts (145 vs 156). No US E-2 access. No accelerated processing.

St Lucia — Best Value for Families

St Lucia matches Dominica's USD 100,000 entry price for single applicants but offers slightly lower family costs (USD 195,000 for a family of four vs Dominica's USD 175,000 — though St Lucia's government fees are structured differently, making total costs comparable).

Best for: Families seeking the lowest total cost with strong passport access.

Limitations: The youngest Caribbean programme (2015). Smaller programme with less international track record.

St Kitts and Nevis — Strongest Passport and Fastest Processing

St Kitts has the most visa-free destinations of any Caribbean CBI (156+) and is the only programme offering accelerated processing (45-60 days). As the world's oldest CBI programme, it carries the strongest brand recognition.

Best for: Applicants who prioritise passport strength, processing speed, and programme prestige.

Limitations: The most expensive Caribbean programme (USD 250,000 single, USD 350,000 family of four). Real estate holding period is 7 years (longest in the Caribbean).

Grenada — US E-2 Treaty Access

Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI country with a US E-2 investor visa treaty. Additionally, it offers visa-free access to China — a feature not available with any other Caribbean CBI passport.

Best for: Applicants who need US market access through E-2 visas, or who travel frequently to China.

Limitations: The most expensive contribution option after St Kitts (USD 235,000). Slightly longer processing (4-6 months).

Antigua and Barbuda — Family-Friendly Pricing

Antigua's pricing structure is designed for families. The USD 230,000 NDF contribution covers a family of up to four — making it cost-effective for larger families. The programme's 5-day residency requirement is minimal but unique among Caribbean CBI programmes.

Best for: Families of four or more who want strong visa-free access at a competitive total price.

Limitations: The 5-day physical presence requirement (within 5 years) adds a small logistical burden.

Cost Analysis by Family Size

Single Applicant (Contribution Route)

Programme	Contribution	Due Diligence	Processing	Total Est.
Dominica	USD 100,000	USD 7,500	USD 1,000	~USD 120,000
St Lucia	USD 100,000	USD 7,500	USD 2,000	~USD 122,000
Antigua	USD 130,000	USD 7,500	USD 2,500	~USD 150,000
Grenada	USD 235,000	USD 5,000	USD 1,500	~USD 255,000
St Kitts	USD 250,000	USD 7,500	USD 250	~USD 275,000

Family of Four (Contribution Route)

Programme	Contribution	Due Diligence	Fees	Total Est.
Dominica	USD 175,000	USD 19,000	USD 4,000	~USD 215,000
St Lucia	USD 140,000	USD 19,000	USD 8,000	~USD 195,000
Antigua	USD 230,000	USD 19,000	USD 5,000	~USD 270,000
Grenada	USD 305,000	USD 14,000	USD 6,000	~USD 345,000
St Kitts	USD 350,000	USD 19,000	USD 1,000	~USD 390,000

Totals include estimated legal and advisory fees of approximately USD 15,000-20,000.

Due Diligence Standards

All five programmes conduct international background checks, but the depth and rigour vary:

• St Kitts: Following 2023 reforms, employs extensive third-party due diligence and multi-agency checks. The programme's commitment to rigour has been acknowledged by the IMF.
• Dominica: Consistently strong due diligence with high rejection rates. Uses major international verification firms.
• Grenada: Thorough vetting, partly driven by the US E-2 treaty (the US monitors Grenada's due diligence standards).
• Antigua: Solid due diligence through the CIU, with improvements in recent years.
• St Lucia: Adequate due diligence, though the programme is smaller and less tested than longer-running alternatives.

Stronger due diligence protects all passport holders. Programmes that admit questionable applicants risk visa-free access revocations that affect every citizen.

Dependant Eligibility Comparison

Dependant	Antigua	Dominica	Grenada	St Kitts	St Lucia
Spouse	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Children under 18	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Children 18-30	Yes (dependent)	Yes (in education)	Yes (under 30)	Yes (under 30)	Yes (under 25)
Parents 55+	No	Yes (65+)	Yes (55+)	Yes (55+)	Yes (55+)
Siblings	No	Yes (under 25)	Yes (under 18)	Yes (under 30)	Yes (under 18)

St Kitts offers the broadest dependant eligibility, including siblings up to age 30.

Decision Framework

Choose Dominica if:

• You are a single applicant or couple
• Budget is your primary constraint
• You do not need US E-2 access or accelerated processing

Choose St Lucia if:

• You have a family of four or more
• You want the lowest total family cost
• Programme age/track record is less important to you

Choose St Kitts if:

• You need the strongest Caribbean passport
• You need a passport in 45-60 days (AAP)
• You value programme prestige and established reputation

Choose Grenada if:

• You need US E-2 investor visa access
• You travel frequently to China
• You are willing to pay a premium for unique treaty access

Choose Antigua if:

• You have a family of four and want competitive pricing
• You don't mind a 5-day visit over 5 years
• You want strong visa-free access at a reasonable family price

Key Takeaways

• All five Caribbean CBI programmes deliver Schengen and UK visa-free access — the core travel benefit is consistent across programmes
• Cost differences are most significant for families: from ~USD 195,000 (St Lucia) to ~USD 390,000 (St Kitts) for a family of four
• Grenada's US E-2 treaty access is a unique, irreplaceable feature — no other Caribbean CBI offers it
• St Kitts is the only programme with accelerated processing (45-60 days), making it the choice for urgent applications
• Due diligence standards directly affect passport value — programmes with stronger vetting protect visa-free access for all holders
• Most applicants should choose based on two or three decisive factors (cost, speed, E-2 access, family size) rather than attempting to optimise across all dimensions