Investors seeking citizenship by investment (CBI) are facing new physical‑presence requirements that will affect travel plans in 2026. While most programmes still allow most steps to be completed remotely or at consulates, two jurisdictions—Antigua and Barbuda and Vanuatu—may require an actual visit, and the Caribbean region is moving toward a unified 30‑day residency rule that remains pending.
Caribbean regional 30‑day presence rule
- Regulatory framework: The Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) was created by an agreement signed on 18 September 2025 by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
- Proposed obligation: A minimum of 30 days of physical presence in the issuing country within the first five years after citizenship is granted.
- Implementation status:
- The rule will only take effect once ECCIRA becomes operational, which will be 30 days after the fifth member state deposits its instrument of ratification. No firm start date has been set.
- Grenada had scheduled its own 30‑day rule for 31 August 2026 but deferred it on 21 August, stating that the rule will not apply until the regional body is active and a common date is agreed.
- Saint Lucia’s Act No. 22 of 2025 mentions “prescribed residency and genuine‑link requirements” without specifying a day count.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment Unit cites a genuine‑link requirement but its FAQ still says there is no residency obligation.
- Dominica intends to implement the rule in full but has not announced a date.
- Antigua and Barbuda’s 2026 bill raised the national requirement from 5 days to 30 days, and the government claims the higher figure is already being applied administratively, although the Citizenship by Investment Unit’s website still lists five days.
In‑person obligations that can be met abroad
- Biometric enrolment (Saint Kitts and Nevis): From August 2027, passports of investor citizens who have not completed biometric enrolment by the end of July 2027 will be deactivated. Enrolment is available at consular offices, approved service providers worldwide, and the Citizenship Unit in Saint Kitts—no travel to the federation required.
- Biometric duty (Saint Lucia): Introduced via Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 2026 (gazetted 23 March 2026). The regulation does not prescribe a location for data collection.
- Interviews: Standard across Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. Antigua and Barbuda may request an interview but it is not mandatory.
- Grenada’s interview system, launched 4 September 2023, is automated, delivered in the applicant’s native language via an emailed link.
- Oath of allegiance:
- Saint Lucia permits the oath before an attorney‑at‑law, a notary, a consular officer, or an honorary consul.
- Vanuatu’s Citizenship Act and its 2013 amendment do not specify a location. The Citizenship Office currently advises agents that oaths will be taken by video conference “until further notice,” but the application guide states the oath must be completed before a Vanuatu court (the latter applies to naturalisation and marriage routes, not the investment route). Confirmation with an agent is recommended.
Antigua and Barbuda’s five‑day requirement
- Citizens must spend at least five days in Antigua and Barbuda within the five calendar years after citizenship is granted.
- Failure to meet the threshold can lead to loss of citizenship with no refund of the investment.
- Passport renewal also depends on satisfying the same five‑day presence condition.
Remote‑friendly programmes
- Nauru: No mandatory travel. Interviews can be virtual or in‑person; oaths may be taken via audio‑visual link or before an overseas notary. The UK imposed visa requirements on Nauru nationals in December 2025, citing concerns over minimal ties to the issuing country.
- São Tomé and Príncipe: After a 2026 legislative amendment, the national identity card is issued remotely through video verification with the Civil Registry and Notary Office. Prior to 9 April 2026, applicants had to provide fingerprints and signatures in person either in São Tomé or at a European embassy.
Practical considerations for prospective investors
- Clarify the start date of the 30‑day Caribbean rule before applying; the rule’s activation depends on ECCIRA’s launch, which is still undetermined.
- Existing Saint Kitts and Nevis investors must schedule biometric enrolment before the July 2027 deadline to avoid passport deactivation.
- European Commission pressure: Antigua and Barbuda’s government reports a request for the five Caribbean states to phase out their CBI programmes by 1 June 2028. This adds uncertainty to long‑term planning.
- Travel logistics: For programmes that still require a physical visit (Antigua and Barbuda, Vanuatu), factor in the need to be present for oath‑taking or passport collection, especially if the jurisdiction later tightens remote‑option allowances.
Investors should weigh the evolving residency obligations, the likelihood of remote compliance, and the broader regulatory timeline when selecting a citizenship by investment programme.
Source article: knightsbridge.ae
