The European Union has issued formal notice to five Caribbean nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis—requiring them to discontinue their citizenship-by-investment programs or risk losing visa-free travel privileges to the Schengen area by 2028. The EU sent these letters in late June, prompting the affected countries to coordinate a unified response, including a planned delegation visit to Brussels.
Citizenship-by-investment programs allow foreign nationals to obtain citizenship through qualified economic investments, such as real estate purchases or government fund contributions. These passports grant visa-free access to approximately 140 countries and territories. With entry costs beginning around $200,000, these programs represent significant non-tax revenue streams for the Caribbean governments, making them economically vital to their budgets. Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister emphasized that these programs cannot be abandoned without viable alternative revenue sources.
The EU’s approach in this case differs from previous interventions. Rather than citing specific security concerns and proposing remedies, the EU is fundamentally opposing the concept of selling citizenship through commercial transactions. This represents a more philosophical objection than the security-focused critiques the agency has previously levied against other nations’ programs. Legal experts remain divided on whether the EU will hold firm or negotiate a compromise solution.
Precedent exists for EU action on citizenship-for-investment schemes. In 2025, the European Court of Justice invalidated Malta’s golden passport program, leading Malta to implement a merit-based alternative with residency requirements. Additionally, the EU revoked Schengen visa-free travel for Vanuatu citizens in late 2024 due to security and migration concerns. However, immigration attorneys note that many wealthy clients pursue these passports for reasons unrelated to EU access, including personal security considerations and comprehensive global financial planning.
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