What Is Grenada Citizenship by Investment?
Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Programme was originally introduced in the 1990s, suspended after 2001, and relaunched in August 2013 under the Citizenship by Investment Act 2013. It is regulated by the Citizenship by Investment Committee and allows a qualifying economic contribution - rather than birth, descent, marriage, or years of residence - to form the basis of full citizenship and a Grenada passport, after applicants pass government background and source-of-funds checks.
Grenada permits dual and multiple citizenship, so successful applicants are not required to renounce their existing nationality. There is no obligation to live in the country before or after approval, though a physical presence requirement now applies over the following five years as part of a region-wide agreement - covered in the 2026 update below.
This is a separate legal pathway from residency by investment programs such as the UAE Golden Visa, which grant only the right to live in a country. For a full comparison of citizenship versus residency by investment, see our citizenship by investment overview.
Grenada Citizenship by Investment Routes and Costs
Two investment routes qualify for Grenada citizenship:
| Route | Minimum Investment (USD) | Key Conditions |
|---|
| National Transformation Fund (NTF) | 235,000 | Non-refundable donation, covers a family of up to 4; +25,000-50,000 per additional dependent |
| Real estate - approved project | 270,000 | Shared ownership in a government-approved development; 5-year minimum hold |
| Real estate - direct purchase | 350,000 | Standalone qualifying property such as a condo, villa, or resort suite |
The NTF route is the fastest and most commonly used for a standard family. The real estate routes suit investors who want a resalable asset and are comfortable with the 5-year holding period.
Government Fees and Total Cost Breakdown
Beyond the qualifying investment itself, every application carries due diligence, application, processing, and interview fees:
| Fee | Amount (USD) |
|---|
| Due diligence fee - main applicant | 5,000 |
| Due diligence fee - spouse or additional adult dependent (16+) | 5,000 |
| Application fee | 1,500 |
| Processing fee | 1,500 |
| Mandatory interview fee - per applicant aged 16+ | 1,000 |
| Passport fee and Oath of Allegiance fee | Modest additional government charges apply |
As a working example, a single applicant applying through the NTF route should budget approximately US$244,500-246,500 in total once the contribution and all mandatory fees are included. A family of four - two adults and two dependent children - typically totals approximately US$251,000 all-in. Legal and advisory fees are separate and confirmed before engagement.
US E-2 Investor Visa Access - Grenada's Key Advantage
Grenada is the only established Caribbean citizenship by investment program that provides a pathway to a US E-2 treaty investor visa, under the 1987 Grenada-US Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. No other Caribbean CBI passport carries this access.
- Available after holding Grenadian citizenship for at least 3 years
- Requires a substantial investment - commonly cited from US$100,000 - in an active, profitable US business that you manage or direct
- Renewable indefinitely so long as the qualifying US business remains active
- Grants the E-2 holder and immediate family the right to live and work in the United States, tied to the business rather than an employer
This makes Grenada the program of choice for applicants whose long-term plans include US business operations, distinct from the other four Caribbean programs, none of which carry treaty-based US investor visa access.
What Changed for Grenada Citizenship in 2026
Grenada's program has been comparatively insulated from the sharpest 2026 regulatory pressure affecting some of its Caribbean peers, though two developments are worth noting:
Not Named in US Presidential Proclamation 10998
Effective 1 January 2026, US Presidential Proclamation 10998 introduced partial restrictions on new US visa issuance for nationals of a number of countries offering citizenship by investment, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. Grenada, along with St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia, was not included in this restriction, leaving Grenada's US visa treatment unaffected by this specific measure.
Regional 30-Day Physical Presence Rule
In September 2025, Grenada joined Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia in signing an agreement to introduce a shared regulator - the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), which is headquartered in Grenada - and a common rule requiring new citizens to spend at least 30 cumulative days in their country of citizenship within the first five years. Implementation timelines vary by country and should be confirmed at the time of application.
EU Scrutiny of Caribbean CBI Programs
The European Commission has indicated that operating a citizenship by investment programme could, on its own, be grounds to review a country's visa-free Schengen access, and has pressed all five Caribbean CBI governments, including Grenada, on the future of their programmes. Grenada's government has continued processing applications while regional discussions with the EU continue.
Eligibility Requirements
- Main applicant must be 18 years of age or older
- A clean criminal record, confirmed through police clearance certificates from every country of residence over the past 10 years
- Verifiable, legitimate source of funds for the qualifying investment
- Good health, generally confirmed through a medical certificate
- A mandatory interview for the main applicant and any dependents aged 16 or older
- Dependent children under 30, dependent parents, and unmarried siblings over 18 without children can be included for an additional fee
Benefits of Grenada Citizenship
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 160 destinations, including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, China, and Singapore
- The only Caribbean citizenship by investment program offering a pathway to a US E-2 treaty investor visa
- Full citizenship and a passport, not a residence permit - with no obligation to relocate
- Dual and multiple citizenship permitted - no requirement to renounce your existing nationality
- Citizenship extends to a spouse, dependent children, and in several cases parents and siblings, on the same application
- Citizenship is permanent and heritable - it can be passed to future generations
A second passport does not automatically change your tax residence or obligations. Your existing tax position continues unless you take separate, deliberate steps to establish tax residency elsewhere.
Grenada vs the Other Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs
Grenada sits alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia as one of the five established Caribbean programmes. It is the only one of the five with US E-2 treaty investor visa access and visa-free entry to China, and was not named in the US restrictions affecting Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica in 2026. Its US$235,000 entry point sits in the middle of the range - above Dominica's US$200,000 but below St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Lucia. For a full side-by-side comparison of all five programmes, see our citizenship by investment guide, our page on Antigua and Barbuda citizenship, or our page on Dominica citizenship.
Why Choose Takween Advisory for Grenada Citizenship by Investment
Takween Advisory is a UAE-based business consultancy advising high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and families across the GCC on citizenship by investment and the wider structuring that surrounds a second passport. Grenada law requires every application to be filed through a government-authorised local agent - we work alongside your Authorised Representative to prepare a complete, accurate file, run internal due diligence before submission, and manage the process through to passport issuance.
If US market access or E-2 eligibility is part of your long-term plan, we factor that into the comparison from the start, since Grenada is the only Caribbean program that supports it. Being based in Dubai means in-person consultations, familiarity with GCC banking and source-of-funds documentation standards, and a single advisor managing your file in the same timezone.
If you are weighing Grenada against another Caribbean programme, or against a residency by investment route instead of citizenship, we assess your objectives before recommending either. For a confidential assessment of your eligibility and the most cost-effective route for your family, contact our team today.
