Imagine exchanging your South African rands for a slice of Caribbean paradise, not only into a holiday home, but into a second passport.
For South African travellers seeking global mobility or a holiday bolt‑hole in the sun, five Eastern Caribbean nations now offer property‑for‑citizenship schemes.
Invest in an approved property, and within months you could hold citizenship from Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis or St Lucia, unlocking visa‑free access to over 140 countries.
It’s a world of powder‑white beaches, tropical tranquillity and the freedom to wander, packaged as prestige property investment.
Caribbean islands offering property‑based passports
The five Eastern Caribbean nations now offer Citizenship by Investment (CBI) through real estate.
Minimum real estate investment thresholds typically start at $200,000 (R 3.6 million), rising to $270,000 (R 4.9 million) or more, depending on jurisdiction, with additional government and due diligence fees .
Dominica leads with the lowest entry point at $200,000 (R 3.6 million) for a single applicant, with visa‑free travel to roughly 135 countries, though UK access is excluded.
Antigua & Barbuda requires $300,000 (R 5.4 million) in real estate investment, plus processing and due diligence fees, granting access to around 151 countries and no residency obligation.
Grenada offers both fund and real estate routes, starting at $235,000 for donation or $270,000 (R 4.9 million) purchase, and yields access to 148 countries and potential eligibility for the US E‑2 visa.
St Kitts & Nevis requires $325,000 (R 5.85 million) or $250,000 fund donation, with visa‑free travel to about 154 countries
St Lucia asks $300,000 (R 5.4 million) in real estate, or $240,000 donation, with access to 148 countries.
Benefits beyond the white-washed beaches
The appeal goes beyond sun‑soaked property. All five states exempt citizens from personal income tax, capital gains and sometimes inheritance tax, preserving South African nationals’ home country citizenship too.
Investors relish the visa‑free access to Europe’s Schengen area and, in all except Dominica, the UK.
Ideal for businesspeople, digital nomads or families, these passports offer global mobility, and in some cases, access to US E‑2 visa status, as in Grenada’s case.
Rising demand and current controversies
According to Henley & Partners, US citizens dominate applications for Caribbean CBI programmes, with rising interest from Ukraine, Turkey, Nigeria and China.
Overall applications climbed about 12 % since late 2024. In Antigua, agents report that as many as 70 % of property buyers are property‑for‑citizenship clients.
However, these schemes are under scrutiny.
The European Commission is reviewing whether these passports threaten visa‑waiver policy, and has warned of possible withdrawal of Schengen access if standards falter
In Dominica, the government revoked the citizenship of 68 individuals due to fraud or misrepresentation, as part of broader reforms to tighten integrity. Grenada has also rejected multiple applications tied to illegal financing schemes, signalling firmer enforcement.
In St Lucia, processing timelines have stretched dramatically,with some applicants reporting waiting up to 12 months or more for passports, despite official promises of 3‑month turnarounds.
Henley & Partners chair Christian Kälin, often credited with promoting these Caribbean programmes, has been subject to criticism, especially after the collapse of Malta’s golden passport scheme by the European Court of Justice, raising questions about the ethics of “citizenship‑for‑cash” economics.
IOL Travel
