The Caribbean islands that give you a passport if you buy a home

In the Caribbean, buying a home can now come with a special bonus: a passport. Five island nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia—offer citizenship by investment programs. If you purchase a property worth at least two hundred thousand dollars, you can apply for citizenship, which comes with a passport that allows visa-free travel to up to one hundred and fifty countries, including the United Kingdom and most of Europe.

This trend is becoming more popular, especially among Americans. Nadia Dyson, who owns a real estate agency in Antigua, says that about seventy percent of her buyers now want citizenship along with their new home. Most of these buyers are from the United States, and many are motivated by political and social issues at home. They see a second passport as a safety net in case things get worse in their own country. Some people even move to the Caribbean full-time, but most just want the option to do so if needed.

The Caribbean islands are attractive for other reasons too. They do not have certain taxes, like capital gains or inheritance taxes, and sometimes even income taxes. This makes them especially appealing to wealthy people who want to protect their money. People from other countries, such as Ukraine, Turkey, Nigeria, and China, are also taking advantage of these programs. According to experts, applications for Caribbean citizenship by investment have increased by twelve percent since late 2024.

However, these programs are not without controversy. Some people in the Caribbean worry that selling citizenship is like selling their national identity. When Antigua first started talking about selling passports in 2012, there were protests. Some leaders from other Caribbean countries have criticized the idea, saying that citizenship should not be for sale.

There are also concerns from the international community. The European Union has warned that it might take away visa-free travel for these countries if the programs are not managed carefully. The United States has also raised concerns about the possibility of tax evasion and financial crime. In response, the Caribbean nations have made changes to their programs, such as stricter background checks, interviews with all applicants, and regular audits.

The money from these programs is very important for the Caribbean islands. It helps pay for things like hospitals, disaster recovery, and pension plans. In some countries, passport sales make up as much as thirty percent of the economy. Many people in the Caribbean now support the programs because they see the benefits. However, the islands must continue to balance the need for money with the need to keep their programs safe and respected by other countries.