Caribbean islands provide an escape-you can buy citizenship and get a second passport

Preceding the pandemic, many people were already dreaming about moving out of the US if President Trump won the election. But during the pandemic many more wanted to flee to a tropical “work-and-play” paradise and not have to worry about ever stepping foot back into an office. Now, the idea of becoming an expat is heating up again with the ease of restrictions on travel for US citizens and the power of the US passport on the decline. It is no surprise that many are exploring how they can acquire a second passport, whether it’s to seek shelter in another country or just to be able to travel more freely.

For example, countries like Barbados and St Kitts & Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean are luring remote workers with the promise of extended residency programmes which allow you to live and work there for a specified amount of time. Previously, obtaining an actual passport seemed extremely difficult and more complicated than you’d expect. In some cases, it can take up to five years of living in a place to become a resident and you would have had to invest several hundred thousand dollars in real estate.

Here’s the good news. There are also countries around the world that welcome foreigners—for a price—with citizen by investment programmes that grant residency and a second passport. And, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, a handful of Caribbean islands are making it even easier (and cheaper) than ever to obtain a second passport.

As the demand for these programmes accelerate, the supply of foreigners migrating has also grown globally. Increasingly, nations and wealthy individuals see investment migration as more than a competitive advantage. Today, it is viewed as an absolute requirement in a volatile world.

This pair of lush islands in the Eastern Caribbean has one of the strongest passports in the Caribbean, allowing visa-free travel to more than 100 countries. For example, during the pandemic St Kitts & Nevis were offering a 23 per cent discount on citizenship through the end of 2020. With a $150,000 contribution to the country’s “Sustainable Growth Fund” and a minimum real estate investment of $200,000, a family of four can obtain passports. The contribution is usually $195,000.

If St Kitts wasn’t competitive enough, then you could choose Saint Lucia where you can buy citizenship and a second passport.  St Lucia started offering residency to foreigners in 2015, and according to Nestor Alfred, CEO of the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program, about 700 people have obtained passports since then. In 2019, the price to obtain citizenship was cut in half thanks to new “Covid-19 Relief” bonds: Through the end of 2020, it cost $250,000 for an individual and $300,000 for a family of four. With a St Lucia passport, you can get visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 146 global destinations.

The island of St John’s, Antigua with its colorful houses along the waterfront, also offers second passport citizenship. In addition, Antigua and Barbuda another twin-island nation, welcomes foreigners who want to live the Caribbean dream and is making it less expensive to get a passport. A $100,000 donation to the country’s development fund, plus a real estate investment, will secure passports for a family of four, and, recently, the government made it cheaper to add more children. A passport here will get you visa-free access to 151 destinations.

If you prefer lush green forest and plenty of rivers, then Dominica citizenship might be more intriguing. Dominica also welcomes foreigners to its beautiful shores and is considered to be one of the best countries for citizenship by investment, since citizenship is extended to your spouse, dependent children and dependent parents or grandparents and can also be passed on to future generations. Applicants need to either make a contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund or invest in luxury and sustainable hotels and resorts.

This is just a short list of the many paradisiacal islands in which you can obtain citizenship through extended residency programmes in the Eastern Caribbean.

Subrina Hall Azih is a Trinidadian educator residing in New York.