Due diligence in Caribbean citizenship by investment
Due diligence in Caribbean citizenship by investment in 2026: official fees, interviews, source of funds checks, restricted nationalities and refusal grounds.
Due diligence is the part of a citizenship by investment application that families notice least at the start and think about most during processing. Every Caribbean programme screens applicants and adult dependants before approval, and since 2024 the screening has become more demanding. Interviews are now standard, source-of-funds checks are more detailed, and several units publish lists of nationalities they will not accept.
How these programmes fit together, and why international scrutiny has increased, is explained in our overview of Caribbean citizenship by investment and the EU deadline. This article looks at what due diligence involves and what it costs in each of the four programmes we follow.
Key takeaways
- All four Caribbean programmes charge separate, non-refundable due diligence fees, set by age and family role.
- Interviews are part of the regional standards agreed in 2024, conducted virtually or in person.
- Applicants must show that investment funds come from their own or a declared sponsor’s verifiable resources.
- Each programme publishes refusal grounds, and St Kitts and Antigua list restricted nationalities.
- Disclosing everything at the outset, including past visa refusals, is far safer than having it found later.
What due diligence covers
Due diligence is a background investigation carried out for the citizenship unit, usually by international firms working under contract. It typically covers identity and civil status, criminal and regulatory records, sanctions and politically exposed person lists, adverse media, immigration history and the origin of the money being invested.
The applicant supplies most of the evidence: passports, birth and marriage certificates, police certificates, bank references, proof of address and documents showing how wealth was built, such as employment records, company accounts, property sales or inheritance papers. Documents generally need to be certified and, where not in English, translated.
Source of funds and source of wealth
Citizenship units distinguish between the source of the specific funds being invested and the wider source of an applicant’s wealth. Both need to be credible and documented. Grenada has made this explicit: under Circular No. 11 of 2025, applicants investing in approved projects must sign a notarised attestation that the money comes from their own verifiable resources, and provide bank evidence of the transfer from the declared source.
Fees in each programme
The table below sets out the published due diligence fees for the main applicant and older dependants. Children below the stated age are free or charged at a lower rate.
| Programme | Main applicant | Other dependants |
|---|
|—|—|—|
| St Kitts and Nevis | US$10,000 | US$7,500 each aged 16 or over |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | US$8,500 | US$5,000 spouse, US$4,000 aged 18 to 30 or parents, US$2,000 aged 12 to 17 |
| Dominica | US$7,500 | US$4,000 each aged 16 or over |
| Grenada | US$5,000 | US$5,000 each aged 17 or over |
Dominica applies enhanced due diligence to Iranian nationals, with inclusive fees of US$25,000 for the main applicant. All of these fees are paid when the application is filed and are not refunded if the application is refused.
Because each unit applies its own thresholds, it helps to see the route as a whole; our immigration services overview sets out the programmes we support and how an application is prepared for each.
Interviews
Interviews became a regional standard after the memorandum of agreement signed by the Eastern Caribbean programmes in March 2024. In St Kitts and Nevis every main applicant is interviewed, either virtually or in person. Dominica interviews every applicant aged 16 or over, virtually, at a fee of US$1,000 per person. Grenada charges an interview fee of US$1,000 for each person aged 17 or over.
The interview is not a test of knowledge. It is a chance for the unit to confirm the information in the file, understand the applicant’s background and motives and clarify any gaps. Consistency with the written application matters more than polish.
Refusal grounds and restricted nationalities
Each unit publishes the circumstances in which an application will be refused. St Kitts and Nevis, for example, will not approve an applicant who has a criminal record, is under criminal investigation, has been declared bankrupt within the past ten years, has been refused citizenship elsewhere or has been refused a visa by a country with which St Kitts and Nevis has visa-free travel and has not later obtained one.
Some programmes also restrict certain nationalities.
- St Kitts and Nevis does not accept applications from citizens of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, North Korea or Russia.
- Antigua and Barbuda lists Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, but considers nationals who left before adulthood or have held permanent residence elsewhere for at least ten years and keep no economic ties to the restricted country.
Lists change, so the official pages should always be checked at the time of application. The individual programme rules are covered in our articles on St Kitts and Nevis investment options and Antigua and Barbuda fees and family members.
How families can prepare
Preparation reduces delays. Families who gather police certificates for every country of residence, keep a clear paper trail for the investment funds and explain any unusual history at the outset tend to have smoother files. Past visa refusals, name changes and dual nationalities should be disclosed rather than left for investigators to find.
It is also worth checking the person handling the application. Applications must be submitted through an authorised agent, and each unit publishes its list. The family rules that determine who needs to be screened are compared in our article on family members in Caribbean citizenship programmes.
If you would like to talk through how these rules might apply to your own circumstances, our team would be glad to help. You can call +357 979 42 388 or write to us through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Are due diligence fees refundable if an application is refused?
No. The published due diligence fees in all four programmes are paid on filing and are not refunded.
Do children go through due diligence?
Older children do. Each programme sets an age threshold, such as 16 in St Kitts and Dominica, 17 in Grenada and 12 in Antigua, below which no due diligence fee is charged.
Will a past visa refusal stop my application?
Not necessarily, but it must be disclosed. St Kitts and Nevis, for example, refuses applicants who were denied a visa by a visa-free partner country and have not later obtained one.
Who carries out the checks?
The checks are carried out for each citizenship unit, typically by independent international due diligence firms, alongside the unit’s own reviews and interviews.
Sources
- Citizenship by Investment Unit of St Kitts and Nevis, Eligibility criteria, as of October 2026.
- Citizenship by Investment Unit of Antigua and Barbuda, Schedule of fees and frequently asked questions, as of October 2026.
- Citizenship by Investment Unit of Dominica, 2026 Application Process Guide, March 2026.
- Investment Migration Agency Grenada, Becoming a citizen and Circular No. 11 of 2025, as of October 2026.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Figures are stated as of 2026 and may change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and an independent adviser before acting. AT Express is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government or official programme.
Featured image: “Brazil, Iceland, UK, US passport stamps” by Jon Evans, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Please note. This article is for general information only and reflects our understanding at the date of publication. Programme rules, thresholds and fees are set by each government and can change at short notice. It is not legal, tax or financial advice; please check the current position with us or the relevant authority before acting.
By the AT Express editorial team · Published 30 October 2026 · Updated 31 October 2026
