Bayat Group says Caribbean CBI buyers should look beyond passport rankings

Bayat Group is urging families and business owners to assess Caribbean citizenship by investment programs by long-term utility, not just price or visa-free counts. The firm points to Grenada as an example as regional rules converge and European pressure grows on the sector.

Why it matters: - Caribbean citizenship by investment programs are moving toward common standards, but the practical value of each passport can still differ sharply over time. - Bayat Group says families should judge a second citizenship by what it can actually do for them over years, not by headline rankings. - Visa-free access can change after a passport is issued, which can reduce the value of a program that looked attractive at purchase.

What happened: - Bayat Group released guidance on November 11, 2026, arguing that Eastern Caribbean CBI programs can look similar on ranking tables but are not interchangeable. - Sam Bayat, founder and managing director of Bayat Group, said the real question is which citizenship will still be useful in 10 years and for what purpose. - The firm said buyers should look beyond prices and visa-free destination counts when comparing programs in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

The details: - A destination count only measures how many governments currently allow visa-free entry, and those rules can change. - The U.K. introduced visit visa requirements for nationals of Dominica in July 2023 and for nationals of Saint Lucia in March 2026. - Those changes did not alter the underlying citizenship, but they did change travel access for passport holders. - Bayat Group says families should ask five questions: whether anyone will actually live in the country, how many family members are covered by fees, whether dual nationality is restricted at home, whether the investment is non-refundable or tied to real estate, and which benefits require extra applications. - Grenada is the example Bayat Group used to show how those questions can affect a buyer’s decision. - Grenadian nationals currently fall under the U.K.'s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme rather than the U.K. visit visa system, as do nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis. - That arrangement is current, but it does not guarantee future admission policy. - Grenada appears on the U.S. State Department's E-2 treaty list, unlike the other four Caribbean CBI countries. - The treaty can make a Grenadian national eligible to apply for an E-2 visa to develop and direct a substantial investment in a U.S. enterprise. - A person who acquired treaty nationality through investment and has not previously held E status must have been domiciled in that country for a continuous three-year period before applying. - Holding a passport for three years is not enough to meet the domicile requirement. - Grenadian citizenship is not a U.S. visa and does not provide a route to a green card. - Grenada's program lists a National Transformation Fund contribution of US$235,000 for a family of four, or an approved real estate investment of US$270,000 shared or US$350,000 sole, plus government fees. - Due diligence, processing, and interview fees also apply. - Grenada has adopted a minimum-presence requirement of 30 days total during the first five years after citizenship is granted. - That rule will take effect only once the regional regulator is operational and all five Caribbean CBI programs begin on the same date.

Between the lines: - The article frames Caribbean CBI as a product category that is being standardized on paper while remaining legally and strategically different in practice. - Grenada stands out because it offers a treaty-based U.S. business pathway, but that benefit comes with residency and domicile conditions that can limit its usefulness. - Bayat Group is also warning that an apparent bargain can become less valuable if Europe tightens visa policy or if the program closes to new applicants. - In late 2025, the European Union revised its visa suspension mechanism to allow visa-free access to be suspended when citizenship is granted by investment without a genuine link to the country. - The European Commission has asked Caribbean CBI states to phase out their programs by June 1, 2028. - Antigua and Barbuda's prime minister has said his government is proposing a counter-framework through 2030, but that proposal has not been approved. - A response to the Commission is due by November 12, and the Commission's next report on the mechanism is scheduled for December 2026.

What's next: - Bayat Group says buyers should test each option against two scenarios: what happens if visa-free access to Europe is withdrawn, and what happens if the program stops accepting new applicants. - The firm says the right choice depends on the family's objectives, the nationalities its members already hold, and how they plan to use the citizenship. - Bayat Group is advising clients to evaluate whether Grenada, another Caribbean program or a different route best fits their global mobility needs. - Inquiries can be made at Bayat Group's website.