Global mobility and hassle-free travel without the need to get a visa are very appealing benefits of a second passport. Provided you get the citizenship of the right country. Caribbean citizenship by investment programs offers just that. But there are several Caribbean nations offering these programs and choosing the right program take a bit of work. We’ll make the choice a bit easier, here we will discuss two very popular Caribbean citizenship programs St Lucia Citizenship, Antigua and Barbuda citizenship so you can choose better.
St. Lucia citizenship by investment
This citizenship program has an edge over the other programs, that is it has the most investment options available, you can invest in
- A donation of $100,000 to National Economic Fund
- Government approved real estate starting at $200,000 this property has to be held for at least five years before you can sell it.
- Purchase $300,000 worth of Government Bonds
- Invest minimum $1 million in a government approved project worth at least $6 million.
Antigua and Barbuda citizenship
If you have a family of 4 meaning a spouse and 2 children you can donate $100,000 to the national development fund and get a passport and for a family of six or more you can obtain citizenship by Donating $150,000 to University of West Indies along with a scholar ship for one year tuition-only, for one person.
Or you can invest $400,000 into a government approved real estate project which is resalable after five years.
Benefits of these Caribbean Citizenship
- Visa free travel to over 140 countries
- No worldwide tax on individual or corporation’s income
- No inheritance tax, no gift or capital gains tax.
- Little or no residency requirement
- Stable democracy and economy
- You keep your dual citizenship, and your life time citizenship is secured
- Outstanding life style in the tropic with Sun all year round, beautiful beaches and Turquoise blue waters.
Finding the perfect fit
Ultimately it depends on your personal goals, budget, and priorities but you can consider the following factors while choosing
- Visa free countries: Whether the citizenship of your choice allows you access to your desired countries.
- Investment: Does the investment align with your risk tolerance and budget
- Processing time: How long does it take before you get your citizenship status
- Tax benefits: What tax advantages are on offer
Step by step guide (common practices)
While there might be slight differences in the application process both these countries have similar process’s structure
- Pick an option for investment: You pick an option based on your budget and financial goals
- Background checks: The government goes through its processes of due diligence, background checks on all applicants.
- Submission of application: You submit your application with all required documents, a qualified agent can help you through this process.
- Government approval: Once you submit the application and fulfill the requirements the government reviews your application and approves it.
- Citizenship is granted: If you fulfill all the requirements and your application is a success you and your qualified family members become citizens.
Documents (Common Requirements)
- Properly completed application form
- Passport size photos
- Police certificate from all countries of which you have been a resident
- Medical certificates of health
- Proof of investment
FAQs
Q: Is residency required?
A: Neither of the above-mentioned programs require physical presence to maintain citizenship.
Q: Can investors submit independent CBI application?
A: No, these applications must be submitted through licensed authorized agent.