Grenada Citizenship by Investment

Yes. Grenada permits dual and multiple citizenships. You do not need to renounce your existing nationality when you become a Grenadian citizen, and Grenada does not notify your home country of your new citizenship status. Grenada does, however, publish the names of all new citizen investors online.

Yes. Under Grenada’s Citizenship Act, grounds include fraud, concealment of material information, national security concerns, and a prison sentence of at least 12 months imposed within five years of naturalization. The procedure depends on the grounds used: the national security provision specifically excludes the Act’s usual written-notice and inquiry requirements. Completing the application accurately is essential, but revocation powers also extend to certain conduct after citizenship is granted.

Generally, automatic citizenship extends to one generation born abroad after a citizen who acquired citizenship through investment. Under section 97 of the Constitution, a child who acquires citizenship solely through foreign-born descent cannot automatically transmit it to another foreign-born generation. However, a child separately granted citizenship as a dependent in the investment application can generally transmit citizenship to their own later-born children abroad.

Grenada's citizenship by investment program was established under the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act No. 15 of 2013. It allows foreign nationals to become full citizens of Grenada by making a qualifying financial investment, either a donation to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) or a purchase of government-approved real estate.

The program is administered by the Citizenship by Investment Committee (CIC), which reviews every application, coordinates due diligence checks, and makes recommendations to the Minister responsible for citizenship. The current CEO of the Citizenship by Investment Unit is Thomas Anthony, based at Burns Point, St. George's, Grenada.

Grenada signed a bilateral treaty with the United States in 1989, making Grenadian citizens eligible for the US E-2 Treaty Investor Visa. No other Caribbean CBI passport offers this. For investors planning to live, work, or run a business in the United States, this treaty access is often the deciding factor.

Grenada offers two investment routes, each with different cost structures.

National Transformation Fund (NTF) donation:

This is a non-refundable contribution to a government development fund. The amounts, updated as of July 2024 under SRO No. 12 of 2024, are:

• Main applicant plus up to 3 dependants: USD 235,000
• Each additional dependant beyond 3: USD 25,000
• Dependent parent or grandparent under 55 (paragraph f): USD 50,000 per person
• Dependent sibling (paragraph g): USD 75,000 per person

Approved real estate investment:

The alternative is purchasing a unit in a government-approved real estate project, typically a hotel or resort development. The minimum amounts are:

• Sole purchase: USD 350,000 minimum
• Shared purchase (two or more buyers in a tourism accommodation project valued at least USD 440,000 total): USD 270,000 per share

Real estate investors must also pay a government contribution of USD 50,000 for the main applicant and up to 3 dependants, plus USD 25,000 for each additional dependant. The real estate must be held for at least five years before it can be resold.

Beyond the investment itself, add due diligence fees, processing fees, legal fees, and bank due diligence fees (processed through Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited). You can calculate a full cost breakdown for your situation above.

Grenada's main advantages are the US E-2 visa eligibility, passport access to Schengen, UK, and China, and the ability to include siblings and parents/grandparents in applications.

Grenada's NTF donation of USD 235,000 for a family of four is higher than Dominica (USD 200,000) and slightly lower than St. Lucia (USD 240,000), but comparable to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Processing takes 5 to 7 months, which is below average but Dominica and St. Kitts sometimes move faster. Grenada's bank due diligence step adds time but is more thorough than most programs.

The E-2 visa access is the clear differentiator. If US access matters to you, Grenada is the only Caribbean option that provides a direct pathway through the Treaty Investor Visa. That alone drives many applicants to choose Grenada over lower-cost alternatives.

The NTF route is simpler. You make a one-time non-refundable donation and you're done. No property to manage, no holding period, no resale later.

The real estate route requires more upfront capital but you own an actual asset. You purchase a share in a government-approved property (most often a resort or hotel), and after a mandatory five-year holding period, you can sell it. Some investors value this because the property retains value, though returns vary by project.

The NTF route at USD 235,000 for a family of up to four is the more popular choice for applicants who want the simplest path to citizenship. The real estate route appeals to investors who want a tangible asset in the Caribbean or who plan to use the property personally.

Processing typically takes 5 to 7 months from the submission of a complete application. Under Section 8(2) of the Act, the CBI Committee is required to notify the agent of its decision within 60 days of receiving a complete application.

In practice, the overall timeline from start to finish is roughly 6 to 9 months when you factor in document preparation, bank due diligence clearance (one to two weeks), the CBI Committee's review and due diligence process, and passport issuance after approval.

The bank clearance step is specific to Grenada. All CBI transactions are processed through Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, which conducts its own due diligence on the main applicant and any sponsor before funds are accepted. This typically adds one to two weeks before the formal CBI application is even submitted.

Once approved, the remaining steps (Oath of Allegiance, passport application, and issuance) take an additional two to three weeks.

Under Section 5 of the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age and meet all application requirements set out by the CBI Committee.

Your application will be denied if you have provided false information, have a criminal conviction (for an offence carrying more than six months imprisonment in Grenada), are the subject of a criminal investigation, are considered a national security risk, are involved in activity likely to cause disrepute to Grenada, have been denied a visa to a country with which Grenada has visa-free travel and have not subsequently obtained one, or have been denied citizenship by investment in another Caribbean jurisdiction.

You will need to demonstrate that your source of funds is legitimate. Bank statements should show a minimum balance of at least USD 250,000. The program accepts income from employment, self-employment, property sales, investments, and other documented legal sources.

No. You can obtain Grenada citizenship without visiting the country. The entire application process, including document submission, due diligence, and approval, can be completed remotely.

The Oath of Allegiance can be sworn before a Notary Public or Commissioner for Taking Oaths in the jurisdiction where you are physically located, or remotely before a Grenadian notary public. You do not need to travel to Grenada for this step.

That said, applicants may be required to attend an interview at a Grenadian embassy or High Commission as part of the due diligence process, as provided under Section 7 of the Act. This is not always required, but you should be aware it is a possibility.

One upcoming change to note: Grenada has announced that starting in 2026, investors and their families will be required to spend at least 30 days in Grenada within the first five years of obtaining citizenship. This is a new requirement and we will update this page as implementation details are confirmed.

Yes. Grenada's definition of "dependant" is broader than most CBI programs. Under the Act, your application can include:

• Your spouse
• Children under 18
• Children between 18 and 30 who are dependent on you (a sworn affidavit of support is required for those over 18)
• Children over 18 with a physical or mental disability who live with and are fully supported by you
• Parents and grandparents over 55 who are fully supported by you or your spouse
• Parents and grandparents under 55 who are fully supported by you or your spouse (at an additional cost of USD 50,000 per person)
• Siblings of you or your spouse who are at least 18, single, and have no children (at an additional cost of USD 75,000 per person)

If a child is born within 12 months of the original citizenship grant, they can be added to the application by filing with the Committee within six months of the birth, under Section 5A of the Act.

No. Grenada does not require physical copies of your documents to be shipped. Certified and apostilled scanned copies are accepted for submission. This is one of the reasons the entire application process can be completed remotely.

All documents must still be certified by a Notary Public or lawyer in the jurisdiction where you are physically located. The original document in physical form must be presented to the certifier, but the certified copies themselves can be submitted digitally.

Grenada does accept cryptocurrency as a source of funds, but with specific conditions. The platform (Virtual Asset Service Provider, or VASP) must be regulated and accepted in the United States, United Nations, and European nations, and must have no open cases of money laundering or illicit activity.

If your funds come from crypto, you will need to provide: a completed GCBL Source of Wealth Form or affidavit with supporting documents detailing the source of the initial investment, profits generated, and trading details; the name and details of the VASP used; an activity statement from the VASP showing your trading history; and documentation verifying your ownership of the virtual assets.

Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited will scrutinize crypto-sourced funds closely, so document everything thoroughly.

Grenada has a separate bank due diligence step that runs alongside (and sometimes before) the main CBI application. All CBI investment transactions go through Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited, and the bank must confirm that there are no adverse media or sanction matches against the main applicant and sponsor, and that the source of funding is legitimate.

For the bank review, you submit Forms 1, 5, and 6 from the CBI application, along with certified copies of two pieces of valid ID (one must be a passport), proof of current permanent address, police certificates, and source-of-funds documentation.

Self-employed applicants need to provide 12 months of company bank statements (if they own 50% or more of the company), company registration documents, and either a recent income tax assessment or audited financial statements. Employed applicants need a current job letter (within 6 months) or a personal income tax assessment.

Bank clearance typically takes one to two weeks. Your application cannot move forward until the bank is satisfied.

Grenada has restricted persons born in North Korea, Russia, and Belarus from applying for citizenship by investment. Nationals of Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Sudan are also ineligible unless they qualify for specific exceptions assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If you hold citizenship from a restricted country but also have citizenship or permanent residency in a non-restricted country, you may still be eligible. Contact us to discuss your situation.

The E-2 is a US visa that allows citizens of treaty countries to live and work in the United States by investing in a US-based business. Grenada has had a bilateral investment treaty with the US since 1989, making Grenadian citizens eligible to apply.

This is the single biggest differentiator of the Grenada CBI program. No other Caribbean CBI country has this treaty with the United States. For investors who want a pathway to living and working in the US, Grenada is the only CBI option that provides one.

However, there is an important limitation. Under the AMIGOS Act (passed in late 2022), investors who acquire citizenship through a financial investment must be domiciled in that treaty country for a continuous period of at least three years before they can apply for an E-2 visa. You cannot simply obtain a Grenada passport and immediately file an E-2 application. You must establish genuine residence in Grenada for three years first.

The E-2 visa requires a separate "substantial" investment in a US business and renews as long as the business operates. It covers you, your spouse, and children under 21, and your spouse can work independently.

Grenada does not tax worldwide income. There is no income tax on foreign earnings, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no wealth tax for citizens who do not reside on the island.

If you live and conduct business in Grenada, you will be subject to local taxes on commercial activities within the country. But for CBI citizens who continue living elsewhere, Grenada does not impose any tax obligations on your global income.

Your tax obligations depend on where you live and your home country's rules. Some countries like the United States tax citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. We recommend you seek assistance from an international tax advisor to understand how Grenada citizenship affects your tax situation.

The Oath of Allegiance is a formal requirement for all applicants aged 17 and over. You swear allegiance to the state of Grenada before a Notary Public or Commissioner for Taking Oaths.

The Oath should be completed after your application is approved, not before. This is to avoid the Oath date preceding the approval date, which would create a documentation inconsistency.

You can complete the Oath in your home country before a local Notary Public, or remotely before a Grenadian notary public. For minor children under 16, the main applicant or parents sign on their behalf.

Yes, under specific circumstances. If a child is born to the main applicant or their spouse within 12 months of the original citizenship grant, the child can be included by applying in writing to the Committee within six months of the birth and paying the prescribed fee (Section 5A of the Act).

For other changes to your family situation after approval, contact your CitizenX advisor to discuss the process for adding new dependants.

A legally documented name change can support an application for a replacement passport. You will need appropriate evidence, such as a marriage certificate, court order, or recognized name-change document. Citizen investors also face timing restrictions. Confirm the rules applying to your citizenship grant before starting the change.