Caribbean citizenship programmes: regulatory status tracker
All five Eastern Caribbean programmes remain open and are accepting applications. What is under review is their visa-free access to the Schengen Area — not the validity of citizenship already granted. This page tracks where each programme stands, what happens next, and why this is happening.
Last updated 12 October 2026
Current status
Minimum contributions are headline figures for a single applicant before government, due diligence and professional fees. Expand any row for sourcing and caveats.
| Programme | Status | Minimum contribution | Schengen access | UK access | Next milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and BarbudaNational Development Fund | Open | US$230,000Checked 29 Sep 2026 | Visa-free, under review | Visa-free | OECS technical team to meet EU officials, October 2026 |
| DominicaEconomic Diversification Fund | Open | US$200,000Checked 29 Sep 2026 | Visa-free, under review | Visa required | OECS technical team to meet EU officials, October 2026 |
| GrenadaNational Transformation Fund | Open | US$235,000Checked 12 Oct 2026 | Visa-free, under review | Visa-free | OECS technical team to meet EU officials, October 2026 |
| Saint Kitts and NevisSustainable Island State Contribution | Open | US$250,000Checked 29 Sep 2026 | Visa-free, under review | Visa-free | OECS technical team to meet EU officials, October 2026 |
| Saint LuciaNational Economic Fund | Open | US$240,000Checked 29 Sep 2026 | Visa-free, under review | Visa required | OECS technical team to meet EU officials, October 2026 |
| VanuatuDevelopment Support Programme · shown as precedent | Open | Not verifiedChecked 29 Sep 2026 | Withdrawn | Visa required | No scheduled milestone |
What happens next
Dates confirmed by the European Commission, national governments, or reported by the parties involved. Items marked as expected are scheduled but not yet completed.
- March 2024The five states sign a Memorandum of Agreement setting a US$200,000 regional minimum, with mandatory interviews and shared due diligence.
- September 2025ECCIRA agreed by all five governments. Headquartered in Grenada. Enabling legislation since enacted; not yet confirmed operational.
- 7 October 2025European Parliament approves the revised Visa Suspension Mechanism, 518 to 96 with 24 abstentions. Operating a programme becomes, in itself, a ground for suspension.
- 30 December 2025Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 comes into force.
- 19 December 2025Eighth Visa Suspension Mechanism report names all five states.
- 25 June 2026Commission writes to the five governments requesting a phase-out by 1 June 2028, with a 24-month transition and reinforced vetting expected by September 2026.
- 10 July 2026Roseau summit. All five heads of government issue a coordinated response seeking negotiated terms.
- 24 September 2026Prime Ministers of Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda meet Commissioner Brunner in New York. No agreement announced.
- End September 2026Deadline reported by Antigua's Prime Minister for the five states to indicate whether they will agree to phase out. Leaders met the Commissioner at the EU Mission to the UN, called for a transition path and continued dialogue, and asked for more time rather than answering.
- October 2026Live nowOECS technical team expected to meet EU officials to work through transition details.
- December 2026Commission's next Visa Suspension Mechanism report. The first formal assessment of the Caribbean response.
- 1 June 2028Date by which the Commission has asked the programmes to be discontinued. A request, not an automatic cancellation date.
What this tracker does not say
- No programme has closed. All five continue to accept applications.
- No Schengen visa-free access has been suspended for any of the five.
- 1 June 2028 is a date the Commission has requested, not a date on which anything automatically happens.
- Citizenship already granted is not affected. The EU is reviewing its own visa policy, not the validity of another state's nationality.
How we verify this
Contribution figures are taken from each country's Citizenship by Investment Unit. Visa-free status is taken from the European Commission and GOV.UK. Milestone dates are taken from Commission documents and government statements.
Each row carries the date it was last checked. Where a figure could not be independently confirmed, it is flagged in the row rather than presented as verified.
The Commission has not published the 25 June 2026 letters. Their contents are known from the Antiguan government's own account of correspondence it received.
Get notified when this changes
We update this page whenever a programme, a threshold or a visa arrangement moves. Leave an email and we will tell you when it does — nothing else.
We will only use this to send tracker updates. Unsubscribe at any time.Frequently asked questions
Can you still get Caribbean citizenship by investment?
Yes. All five programmes are open and processing applications. Nothing has closed.
Which Caribbean passports still have UK visa-free access?
Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Saint Kitts and Nevis remain visa-free for the UK; Dominica and Saint Lucia require a visa.
Has the EU banned Caribbean passports?
No. It has requested a phase-out by June 2028. No suspension has been imposed.
What is the cheapest Caribbean citizenship right now?
Dominica, at US$200,000 — the only programme priced at the regional minimum.
Will my Caribbean citizenship be cancelled?
No. The EU is reviewing its own visa policy, not the validity of another state's nationality.