The European Commission has formally asked the five Eastern Caribbean countries that operate citizenship by investment programs to phase out their schemes by June 1, 2028, according to officials in Antigua and Barbuda. The request marks a shift from demanding reforms to seeking the eventual discontinuation of Caribbean CBI programs, with Schengen visa-free access potentially at stake.
EU Request and Timeline
According to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the European Commission sent a letter dated June 25, 2026, signed by Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration.
The letter reportedly gives Caribbean CBI jurisdictions a 24-month transition period ending on June 1, 2028. During that period, governments would be expected to begin phasing out their citizenship by investment programs.
The Commission is also requesting interim safeguards before the phase-out deadline, including:
- stronger due diligence procedures
- exclusion of applicants subject to EU sanctions
- implementation expected by September 2026
Officials in Antigua and Barbuda said failure to comply could ultimately put visa-free access to the Schengen Area at risk.
The request was reportedly sent to all Organization of Eastern Caribbean States countries operating CBI programs, not only Antigua and Barbuda. The specific countries named in the correspondence are unclear from the source.
Why the EU Position Has Hardened
The European Union has raised concerns about citizenship by investment programs for several years, especially around security, migration, and public policy risks.
The EU’s legal position changed after revisions to the EU Visa Suspension Mechanism came into effect at the end of 2025.
Under the revised framework, the operation of a citizenship by investment program by a visa-exempt country can itself be grounds for suspending visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. Previously, the EU generally focused on specific deficiencies within individual programs before considering visa suspension.
The Commission’s concern is that investor citizenship grants nationality, and therefore visa-free access to the EU, without requiring a substantial connection between applicants and the issuing country.
From the EU’s view, this makes CBI a structural vulnerability rather than merely an administrative problem.
Caribbean Governments’ Position
Caribbean governments have not indicated that they are ready to dismantle their programs.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stated that the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program remains a critical source of non-tax government revenue and cannot be abandoned without a credible economic alternative.
The Antigua and Barbuda government says it intends to continue diplomatic engagement with European officials while defending the program’s importance to long-term economic development.
Officials have also argued that Caribbean CBI programs already operate under comprehensive due diligence standards after reforms introduced in recent years.
Recent Reforms and Regional Scrutiny
The EU request follows years of international scrutiny and repeated concerns in Visa Suspension Mechanism reports.
Caribbean governments have introduced reforms intended to strengthen program integrity, including:
- higher minimum investment thresholds
- enhanced multi-layer due diligence
- greater information sharing between jurisdictions
- regional cooperation through a proposed CBI regulator
- new residency and physical presence requirements in some jurisdictions
These reforms were largely aimed at addressing concerns from international partners. However, the Commission’s latest position suggests Brussels now views the existence of CBI programs themselves as the central issue, regardless of how they are administered.
What Comes Next
The near-term deadline is September 2026, when the European Commission expects additional safeguards to be implemented.
The longer-term deadline is June 1, 2028, the date by which the Commission reportedly wants Caribbean CBI programs phased out.
Caribbean governments are expected to continue negotiations with the EU while defending CBI as a legitimate economic development tool. The central question is whether strengthened due diligence and regional regulation will satisfy Brussels, or whether the EU will continue pressing for full discontinuation of the programs.
Source article: outboundinvestment.com
