Cross-border movers considering Caribbean CBI face a menu of five major programmes - St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia - plus newer options that have been added over time. The marketing tends to focus on cost and visa-free count, but the comparison that actually matters in 2026 is fit for the specific case.
The framework we use:
1. The case profile
- Family composition: number of dependants, ages, structure. Affects per-dependant fees, qualifying-family definitions, and which programme is most economic.
- Source-of-funds clarity: every programme requires this. Cases with cleaner stories have more programme choice.
- Sector exposure: some sectors face additional scrutiny across all programmes; some only in specific ones.
- Jurisdictional exposure: nationality and current-residence restrictions vary; the available programmes filter accordingly.
2. The strategic goal
- Travel optionality: which destinations matter for visa-free access in this case?
- US business presence: Grenada's E-2 treaty access is distinctive.
- Family planning: which programme accommodates the family structure most cleanly?
- Political risk hedging: where is the primary residence at risk, and which CBI most reduces that risk?
- Optionality only: the lowest-friction programme may be the right choice.
3. The operational dimension
- Presence requirement: Antigua specifically requires presence days; others don't. Plan accordingly.
- Processing timeline: all programmes have published target timelines but real timelines vary by case complexity and current backlog.
- Due-diligence rigor: convergent across programmes but with style differences.
- Authorised agent network: some agents and law firms operate across all programmes; others specialise.
4. The cost picture
- Headline contribution / investment vs total cost: government fees, due-diligence fees, agent fees, legal fees all add up.
- Per-dependant economics: differs meaningfully by programme; the right choice for a family of two differs from a family of six.
- Real-estate route economics: hold period, exit market depth, ongoing carry cost.
5. Long-term considerations
- Visa-policy stability: which destinations matter, and how stable are their relationships with the issuing country?
- Programme stability: programmes are revised; pick one that feels stable on current trajectory.
- Tax-residence consequences: which programme aligns with the planned tax-residence path?
- Banking implications: post-citizenship banking experiences differ subtly by issuing country.
What we tell cases
- Pick the programme deliberately on the basis of the case profile, not the marketing.
- For most cases the right choice is "good enough" rather than "headline cheapest" or "headline most respected."
- Use a serious authorised agent or law firm with cross-programme experience.
- Document everything as if every programme will read it - some do.
- Plan tax residence and banking separately from the CBI choice.
The Caribbean CBI menu rewards considered choice.