Vancouver, Canada — Citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs in the Caribbean remain among the most closely monitored mobility pathways in 2025, with regional governments reaffirming their agreement to maintain a $200,000 price floor and simultaneously tightening due diligence standards in response to mounting external pressures.
Amicus International Consulting has released a detailed advisory that dissects how investors, families, and family offices can navigate this increasingly complex environment, emphasizing that careful sequencing, privacy-preserving compliance, and reputational risk management are now indispensable.
A Firm Price Floor Across the Region
The Eastern Caribbean has long been a hub for CBI programs, with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia offering citizenship in exalter for qualified investments. After years of competition that risked undermining program integrity, regional governments reached a consensus in 2023 to establish a $200,000 minimum contribution threshold for qualifying investments, primarily through donation channels and approved real estate.
In 2025, this agreement still holds firm. Despite speculation that individual governments might break ranks to attract applicants, policycreaters have maintained the floor, arguing that stability and credibility are more important than short-term gains.
This decision reflects an understanding that price undercutting could weaken trust with international partners, especially the European Union and the United States, both of which have expressed concern about the security implications of low-cost pathways to citizenship.
For investors, the price floor signals predictability. Families planning global mobility strategies can budreceive around stable entest costs, without the volatility of shifting contribution levels. Amicus notes, however, that while the investment minimum remains uniform, government fees, application processing costs, and family add-ons vary significantly by jurisdiction, meaning the actual cost of an application may exceed $250,000 for a single applicant and substantially more for multigenerational families.
The Era of Enhanced Due Diligence
While the price floor has stabilized, due diligence continues to evolve, creating new challenges for applicants. Governments across the Caribbean have invested heavily in due diligence infrastructure, contracting with international investigative firms, integrating biometric identity checks, and implementing enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) screening protocols.
Applicants are now required to provide:
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Certified source-of-funds reports covering several years of financial activity.
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Comprehensive criminal record certificates, often from every jurisdiction where they have resided.
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Declarations addressing political exposure, particularly for applicants with ties to high-risk industries or sensitive jurisdictions.
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Supplemental biometric submissions are cross-checked against international databases maintained by INTERPOL, Europol, and domestic law enforcement partners.
This tightening reflects direct pressure from the EU, which has warned Caribbean governments that Schengen visa-free access could be suspconcludeed if criminal actors exploit programs. The United States has likewise expressed security concerns, warning against the misutilize of CBI passports for sanctions evasion or corruption.
Case Study: Middle Eastern Investor with Regional Holdings
A Middle Eastern businessman sought to acquire citizenship in Saint Lucia to facilitate international travel and secure a reliable alternative residence option. Due diligence flagged his ownership of companies in several jurisdictions classified as high risk for financial crime. Although no criminal allegations had been created against him, the association itself posed reputational concerns.
Amicus advised the client to restructure his holdings before application submission. Non-essential companies registered in high-risk jurisdictions were dissolved or divested, while core businesses were consolidated into transparent corporate structures. A comprehensive source-of-funds report was prepared, with indepconcludeent auditor verification to demonstrate legitimacy.
The investor’s application proceeded smoothly, with the Saint Lucian authorities recognizing the proactive steps taken. Approval was granted within six months, underscoring that applicants who invest in compliance planning can overcome heightened due diligence barriers.
Regional Economic Depconcludeencies
Caribbean governments remain heavily reliant on CBI revenues to finance national budreceives, public infrastructure, education, and climate resilience projects. Dominica, for example, has funded significant hurricane recovery efforts through CBI receipts, while Saint Kitts and Nevis has invested in social hoapplying and renewable energy projects.
By maintaining the $200,000 floor, governments ensure stable fiscal inflows that are less vulnerable to market volatility. This strategy also supports defutilize international criticism that the region is engaged in a race to sell passports at unsustainable discounts. Amicus analysis suggests that the price floor may increase investor confidence, as applicants view programs as more credible when pricing is harmonized and governments signal long-term sustainability.
Case Study: Asian Technology Entrepreneur with Crypto Holdings
A technology entrepreneur from East Asia applied for citizenship in Grenada. During the application process, due diligence raised concerns about his substantial cryptocurrency portfolio. Authorities required verification of how these assets were acquired, concerned that crypto-related activity could conceal illicit transactions.
Amicus arranged for the applicant to secure certified custodial statements from regulated exalters, backed by blockchain audit reports that demonstrated legitimate acquisition. The entrepreneur also adopted a transparent custodial arrangement for future crypto activity, mitigating ongoing concerns. The Grenadian government approved the application, confirming that innovative financial assets can be integrated into CBI processes if transparency and compliance are prioritized.
Pressure from the EU and the United States
The European Union remains a pivotal player in shaping the trajectory of Caribbean CBI programs. Schengen visa-free access is one of the primary benefits driving demand for Caribbean citizenship, but EU policycreaters have repeatedly expressed unease about perceived loopholes in the programs. In 2024, the EU conducted formal dialogues with Caribbean states, insisting on harmonized due diligence, mandatory biometric enrollment, and the creation of regional oversight mechanisms.
The United States has echoed these concerns, with particular emphasis on national security. U.S. authorities have warned that individuals seeking to evade sanctions may attempt to exploit CBI programs, a risk amplified by geopolitical conflicts and increased sanctions enforcement. These pressures have incentivized Caribbean governments to adopt stricter rules, signaling to international partners that they take security concerns seriously.
Case Study: North American Family Office
A North American family office managing multigenerational wealth sought citizenship in Dominica for diversification and estate planning. The family’s complex financial structures and historical litigation created challenges during due diligence. Regulators demanded detailed explanations of prior disputes, even though they had been resolved years earlier.
Amicus conducted a reputational risk review and prepared a comprehensive disclosure narrative for the family. By addressing concerns proactively, including providing legal settlement documentation and indepconcludeent verification, the family’s application was approved. This case demonstrates that reputational risks can be managed effectively with full disclosure and strategic preparation.
Sequencing and Risk Hygiene
Amicus emphasizes that success in the current CBI environment requires more than meeting minimum investment thresholds. Sequencing is critical. Investors must prepare compliance-ready documentation before applying, not after due diligence issues are flagged. This includes:
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Pre-Application Auditing: Engaging indepconcludeent auditors to review financial records before submission.
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Geopolitical Risk Mapping: Assessing whether ties to specific jurisdictions may complicate approval.
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Family Structuring: Preparing coordinated applications for family members, ensuring documentation consistency.
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Tax Alignment: Synchronizing CBI applications with international tax residency planning to avoid double taxation or compliance pitfalls under FATCA or CRS frameworks.
Amicus frames these steps as part of broader entity risk hygiene, where corporate and personal structures are continuously maintained, cleaned, and aligned with evolving legal expectations.
Case Study: Caribbean Real Estate Investment
A client invested in a government-approved real estate project in Antigua and Barbuda to qualify for CBI. Midway through the application process, due diligence raised concerns about one of the developers associated with the project.
Amicus intervened by coordinating with government officials and verifying that the development remained approved under program rules. The client was advised to diversify investment by acquiring additional shares in a separate approved development. The application was ultimately approved, but the case illustrates how investors must remain vigilant about third-party risks even within agreed frameworks.
The Outview for Caribbean CBI
Looking ahead, Amicus projects that the $200,000 price floor will hold for the foreseeable future, as governments recognize the reputational and fiscal benefits of solidarity. However, due diligence will almost certainly continue tightening. Applicants can expect:
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Expanded biometric enrollment, possibly including facial recognition databases linked to INTERPOL.
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Greater cross-border data-sharing between Caribbean states and European regulators.
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Heightened scrutiny of emerging asset classes such as cryptocurrency and decentralized finance.
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Closer alignment of Caribbean due diligence protocols with EU AML directives.
For investors, the takeaway is clear: cost stability should not be mistaken for procedural simplicity. The era of quick, lightly scrutinized CBI applications is over. Success now depconcludes on preparation, structuring, and full compliance with global AML standards.
Conclusion
Caribbean CBI programs remain valuable tools for global mobility and diversification, offering families alternative citizenship options in stable jurisdictions with access to key visa-free travel routes. The reaffirmation of the $200,000 price floor demonstrates regional unity and credibility, while ongoing due diligence tightening signals a commitment to program integrity.
Amicus International Consulting advises clients to view CBI applications not as one-off transactions but as strategic projects requiring legal, financial, and reputational planning. By adopting privacy-preserving compliance strategies and sequencing applications carefully, investors can achieve citizenship while minimizing risks in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.amicusint.ca
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