Arrests of Caribbean citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) passport holders have begun in the Schengen area, starting with Norway. Travelers using passports from several Caribbean programmes are being detained, questioned, and sometimes expelled.
Passports currently affected
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- Dominica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Grenada
- St. Lucia
(These are the only Caribbean CBI programmes that are actively selling passports; St. Vincent & the Grenadines is not yet issuing them.)
Why authorities are acting
- The enforcement is based on an unpublished policy change rather than a formal law.
- Countries can update internal manuals to treat purchased passports with no genuine link to the issuing state as “invalid” for entry purposes.
- In practice, border officials are flagging travelers who hold a CBI passport but have never lived in or visited the issuing country.
- Norway has already begun detaining such travelers; other Schengen states are expected to follow, especially once an EU-wide ETA system is rolled out.
Consequences of detention
- Deportation – the individual is removed from the country and may be barred from re‑entry.
- Travel bans – some deportation orders can trigger a lifelong ban from the entire Schengen zone, not just the country that carried out the removal.
- Arrest – while not classified as a crime in every case, authorities can still detain and question the traveler.
Practical advice for current CBI passport holders
- Avoid using the CBI passport for travel to Schengen countries until the policy environment clarifies.
- Do not renounce the passport immediately; retaining it does not automatically trigger a ban if it is not used for entry.
- Consider obtaining alternative residency or citizenship that is not based on a pay‑for‑passport scheme.
Alternative residency options in Latin America
| Country | Residency type | Main requirement | Approx. processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uruguay | Permanent residency | $1,200 USD monthly income (passive or active) | 3 days (paper residency) |
| Paraguay | Permanent or temporary residency | No specific income threshold; simple declaration | 2 days |
| Mexico | Temporary residency | $4,800 USD monthly income for 6 months, or a $200 k fixed deposit | Varies |
| Panama | Permanent residency (with travel passport) | $200 k bank deposit | ~2 weeks for passport issuance |
These residencies are “paper” – they do not require continuous physical presence, though most require a brief visit (e.g., Uruguay once every three years) or a minimal annual entry (e.g., Latvia golden visa).
EU golden‑visa pathways
- Latvia – €60 k total investment (≈ €10 k fees + €50 k in a business or deposit). Requires one entry per year; renewable indefinitely.
- Portugal – multiple routes:
- D7/D8 (requires physical presence).
- Hospitality fund – €325 k investment, fully refundable, with a €50 k profit share; eligibility for residence and eventual naturalisation after 5–10 years.
- Greece – real‑estate purchase for residency; less advantageous for eventual citizenship.
- Cyprus – property investment of €300 k; citizenship possible after 3–7 years depending on language and education criteria.
Key take‑aways
- Schengen authorities are increasingly scrutinising CBI passports that lack a genuine connection to the issuing country.
- Detention and deportation can lead to long‑term bans across the entire EU/Schengen zone.
- Holders should limit travel on these passports and explore alternative residency or merit‑based citizenship programmes that are less likely to be flagged.
- Latin American residencies offer quick, low‑cost “paper” options, while EU golden‑visa programmes provide broader mobility but require larger financial commitments.
