Global Mobility / Citizenship by Investment / Grenada

Citizenship by Investment · Caribbean

Grenada

The only Caribbean citizenship with a United States investor treaty, though its benefits take longer to reach than most published material suggests.

Last reviewed September 1, 2026

Advisory note · Current as of September 2026

Grenadian citizenship does not give you immediate access to a US E-2 visa.

The E-2 treaty is the reason most people look at Grenada, and it is real. The treaty has been in force since 1989, and Grenada is the only Caribbean citizenship program covered by one. But United States law changed in December 2022. Under Public Law 117-263, anyone who acquires treaty-country citizenship through a financial investment program must be genuinely domiciled in that country for three years before an E-2 application can be filed.

Domicile is not the same as residence, and it is not a day-count test. It is a legal concept concerning where a person makes their permanent home and intends to remain. Establishing it takes more than owning property or visiting periodically.

A great deal of marketing still describes Grenada as an immediate route to the United States. It is not, and has not been since 2022. Where the E-2 is central to your plan, that timeline needs to sit at the front of the conversation, and the position should be confirmed with a US immigration attorney before you commit to anything.

Three further developments are worth understanding.

United States visitor visas. Since April 2026, Grenadian nationals applying for US business or tourist visas may be required to post a refundable bond, under a program the United States made permanent in August 2026. Consular officers decide case by case. Applicants who travel on another nationality’s passport are generally unaffected.

European Union position. On June 25, 2026, the European Commission wrote to all five Eastern Caribbean states operating citizenship by investment programs, Grenada among them, asking them to phase out those programs by June 1, 2028. Under the EU’s revised visa suspension mechanism, operating such a program can itself be grounds for suspending Schengen visa-free access. This is a request, not a suspension: Schengen access continues today, the governments are contesting the request, and the Commission’s next assessment is due in December 2026.

Residency condition. Grenada has announced a requirement to spend thirty days in the country within the first five years of citizenship. It was expected to take effect on August 31, 2026 but has been postponed pending the launch of the regional regulator, with no new date set. Anyone applying now should plan on the basis that it will apply.

Everything else about the program stands on its own: broad family eligibility, a well-regarded administration, and a strong travel profile. Those are the reasons we would ordinarily recommend it.

The country

About Grenada

Grenada is a three-island state in the southeastern Caribbean, comprising Grenada itself together with Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Independent since 1974, it is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth with a population of around 115,000.

Known historically as the Isle of Spice for its nutmeg and mace production, the economy now rests principally on tourism, agriculture and education. A large international medical university draws a substantial student body and is a significant employer.

Grenada has been chosen to host the headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority; the shared regulator being established across the five citizenship by investment states. That is a meaningful detail: the country hosting the region’s supervisory body has an evident interest in its own program meeting the standard.

English is the official language throughout government, banking and the courts. The Eastern Caribbean dollar is shared across the currency union and pegged to the US dollar. Grenada taxes on a territorial basis, with no tax on foreign-source income, capital gains or inheritance.

Capital

St George’s

Population

Approximately 115,000

Language

English (official)

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar, pegged to the US dollar

Government

Parliamentary democracy; independent since 1974

Membership

United Nations, Commonwealth, CARICOM, OECS

Regulator

Investment Migration Agency; designated host of the ECCIRA headquarters

US treaty

E-2 treaty in force since 1989; three years’ domicile required for citizens by investment

Connectivity

London via Barbados or St Lucia; from Dubai, one connection via London

At a glance

The program in outline

Minimum contribution

US$235,000

National Transformation Fund, covering a single applicant or family of up to four

Minimum real estate

US$270,000

Shared ownership in an approved project; US$350,000 for sole ownership. A separate government contribution applies to both.

Indicative processing

4 to 6 months

From submission to passport issuance; complex files can take longer

Status conferred

Full citizenship

Lifetime and hereditary; dual citizenship permitted

Family inclusion

Exceptionally broad

Spouse, children, parents, grandparents and unmarried siblings

Residency requirement

Thirty days, postponed

Thirty days in the first five years has been announced; the start date has been postponed with no new date set

US E-2 treaty

Three years

Available only after three years of genuine domicile in Grenada

Requirements

No thresholds

No language, education or management experience requirement; full due diligence and an interview for applicants aged 17 and over

United States access

Visa bond may apply

Visitor visa applicants may be required to post a refundable bond, decided case by case

Schengen access

Visa-free, under pressure

EU has requested the program be phased out by June 2028; the government is contesting

Investment routes

Two qualifying pathways

The contribution is the lower entry point and leaves nothing to manage afterward. The property route requires more capital, including a separate government contribution, but leaves an asset that can be resold after five years. Family composition moves the total more than most applicants expect.

Route one · Contribution

National Transformation Fund

US$235,000

A non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund, supporting national development priorities. The cleaner of the two routes.

Covers a single applicant or a family of up to four
Additional dependents require an additional contribution, which varies by relationship
No asset to hold, manage or eventually dispose of
Contribution is not recoverable

Route two · Real estate

Approved real estate

From US$270,000

Acquisition of an interest in a government-approved development, held for a minimum of five years. A separate government contribution applies in addition to the purchase price.

Shared ownership in an approved tourism project from US$270,000, alongside at least one other investor
Sole ownership from US$350,000
Must be held for a minimum of five years before resale
Legal, transactional and carrying costs apply in addition

We do not publish lists of approved developments. Project availability changes, approvals lapse, and a development that suits one client’s horizon may be wrong for another’s. Where a real estate route is appropriate, we review the current approved options with you at the assessment stage.

Cost

What sits above the qualifying investment

The qualifying contribution or property purchase is one line in a longer schedule. Government application and processing charges, due diligence fees, passport fees, document procurement, translation, legalization and legal costs all sit above it, and our professional fee is separate again.

We do not publish a fee schedule. Government charges are set by government and administered by the Investment Migration Agency, and they can change at short notice. Due diligence fees in particular are expected to rise under the planned regional regulatory changes. A figure published here would be out of date before it was useful to you.

We model the complete figure against your circumstances before you commit to anything.

The E-2 treaty

What the treaty actually offers, and what it requires first

This is one of the most oversold features in the investment migration market. It is also genuinely valuable, for a specific type of applicant, on a specific timeline. Both halves of that sentence matter.

What the E-2 gives you

The right to live in the United States while directing a business you have invested in.
Renewable indefinitely, provided the business remains active and continues to qualify.
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany the treaty investor, and the spouse may work.
No fixed minimum investment; the amount must be substantial relative to the business being established.
The only route of its kind among Caribbean citizenship by investment programs.

What it requires, and does not give

Three years of genuine domicile in Grenada, where citizenship was acquired by investment.
A substantial, at-risk investment in a real and operating US business, not a passive holding.
The business must be more than marginal: it must generate more than enough income to support the investor’s family, or make a significant economic contribution, typically through employment.
Active development and direction of the enterprise by the investor.
It is a nonimmigrant visa. It does not by itself lead to permanent residence, and the investor must intend to depart when E-2 status ends.

The practical position. If you are prepared to make Grenada your domicile for three years, the E-2 is a serious route into US business operation. If you are not, Grenadian citizenship remains a strong Caribbean passport with broad family provisions; but the E-2 should not form part of the reason you acquire it. We would rather establish which of those two applies to you at the first conversation than after you have committed. Eligibility is determined by United States authorities, and we would expect you to take advice from a qualified US immigration attorney before proceeding on this basis.

Family

Who can be included

Grenada permits one of the broadest family files in the Caribbean, extending to siblings as well as parents and grandparents. Each category carries its own conditions, and the complete figure changes quickly with a larger family.

Family member

Condition

Spouse

Legally married spouse of the principal applicant.

Children under 30

Children of the principal applicant or spouse; those aged 18 and over must be unmarried and financially dependent on the principal applicant.

Parents and grandparents

Of the principal applicant or spouse, where financially dependent. Those under 55 may be included, subject to an additional contribution.

Siblings

Unmarried siblings of the principal applicant or spouse, aged 18 and over and without children. One of few Caribbean programs to permit them.

Dependency is assessed case by case, and age thresholds have been subject to regional revision. We confirm the current position for your specific family composition before anything is filed.

The principal applicant must be at least 18, hold a clean criminal record, and document the lawful origin of the invested funds. Certain nationalities are restricted. There is no language test, no education requirement and no management experience threshold. Applications are filed remotely, interviews for applicants aged 17 and over can be held virtually, and no visit to Grenada is required to apply or to receive citizenship.

Suitability

Who this program serves — and who it does not

We would rather tell you at the outset that a program is a poor fit than take a file we do not believe in.

Well suited to

Multi-generational families, given that siblings, parents and grandparents can all be included on a single application.
Applicants who value British and Chinese visa-free access, and for whom European access is useful but not central.
Entrepreneurs genuinely prepared to establish domicile in Grenada, with the E-2 as an objective three years out.
Those who need to apply for and receive citizenship without traveling to Grenada.
Applicants who value a program in the jurisdiction chosen to host the regional regulator.

Less well suited to

Anyone expecting immediate access to the E-2, since the three-year domicile requirement cannot be avoided through the citizenship by investment route.
Applicants for whom long-term visa-free access to the Schengen Area is central, given the uncertainty created by the European Commission’s request to phase out Caribbean programs, which Grenada is contesting.
Applicants seeking European Union citizenship or residence, since this is a Caribbean citizenship and does not lead to EU status.
Those who cannot document source of funds to a standard that will withstand enhanced due diligence.
Investors treating the real estate route as a short-horizon position, since the five-year hold is structural.
Single applicants and couples, for whom the family provisions that distinguish this program offer little additional benefit.

Process

How an application proceeds

Applications are accepted only through authorized agents; direct application to the Investment Migration Agency is not permitted. Files are submitted through an authorized agent, and our role is to determine whether the program is right for you, to prepare a file that will survive scrutiny, and to remain accountable to you throughout.

Assessment and route selection

A confidential review of your objectives, family composition and source of funds position. Where the E-2 is part of your thinking, this is where we establish whether the three-year domicile requirement is realistic for you.
GLI Advisory conducts this review directly.

File preparation

Passports, civil status records, police clearances from each country where you have lived over the past ten years, medical examinations, professional and bank references, and a documented source of funds report. Source of funds is prepared first and in full, because it is a frequent cause of delay.
We manage collection, translation and legalization.

Filing and due diligence

The file is submitted through an authorized agent to the Investment Migration Agency, which conducts criminal record checks, sanctions screening, adverse media analysis and independent source of funds verification. An interview is required for every applicant aged 17 and over, and can be held virtually.
We prepare you for the interview and track the file.

Approval in principle

Where the Agency is satisfied, approval in principle is issued. Only at this point does the qualifying investment fall due.
We confirm settlement instructions and timing.

Investment and fees

The contribution is remitted, or the approved property purchase completed together with the government contribution. Any remaining government fees are settled at the same stage.
We coordinate settlement across all elements.

Certificate and passport

Grenada issues the certificate of registration, followed by the passport. Citizenship is granted for life and passes to future generations. No visit is currently required after citizenship is granted, though a thirty-day requirement within the first five years has been announced and postponed.
We remain engaged until documents are in hand.

Considerations

What we would want you to weigh

The E-2 is a plan, not a feature

Treated as a three-year project with genuine domicile and a real US business, it is a serious route. Treated as a benefit that arrives with the passport, it will disappoint. The distinction determines whether Grenada is the right program for you or a significant commitment made for the wrong reason.

The qualifying figure is not the total

Government processing and due diligence charges, passport fees and document procurement sit above the qualifying investment, and the property route adds a separate government contribution and transaction costs. We model the complete figure against your circumstances before you commit to anything.

Regional reform is under way

The Eastern Caribbean regulatory framework is tightening across all five citizenship by investment programs, covering due diligence standards, minimum investment levels and residency conditions. Grenada has been chosen to host the new regulator, which is reassuring, but that does not exempt the program. The regulator’s launch has itself been delayed, so expect changes to arrive, but on an uncertain timetable.

Questions

Grenada citizenship by investment: common questions

How much does Grenada citizenship by investment cost?

The minimum is a US$235,000 non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund, covering a single applicant or a family of up to four. The real estate route starts at US$270,000 for shared ownership or US$350,000 for sole ownership, and a separate government contribution applies. Processing and due diligence fees apply in addition to either route, and vary with family composition. We model the complete figure against your circumstances before you commit to anything.

Can I get a US E-2 visa with Grenadian citizenship?

Not immediately. Under Public Law 117-263, enacted in December 2022, anyone acquiring treaty-country citizenship through an investment program must be genuinely domiciled in that country for three years before filing an E-2 application. Grenada remains the only Caribbean citizenship by investment program with an E-2 treaty, but the citizenship alone no longer provides direct access. Where the E-2 is central to your plans, we would expect you to take advice from a qualified US immigration attorney.

What does domicile mean for the E-2 requirement?

Domicile is a legal concept concerning where a person makes their permanent home and intends to remain. It is distinct from residence and is not satisfied by a day count. Establishing it generally requires genuine relocation and evidence of intent, and the position should be confirmed with a qualified US immigration attorney before proceeding on this basis.

Do I have to live in or visit Grenada?

Not currently. No visit is required to apply for or receive citizenship, and no residency condition is in force today. Grenada has, however, announced a requirement to spend thirty days in the country within the first five years of citizenship. Its start has been postponed with no new date set, so anyone applying now should plan on the basis that it will apply. Separately, the E-2 route requires three years of genuine domicile in Grenada.

Which family members can be included?

Grenada permits one of the broadest family files in the Caribbean. A legally married spouse, children under 30 (those aged 18 and over must be unmarried and financially dependent), financially dependent parents and grandparents of the principal applicant or spouse, and unmarried, childless siblings aged 18 and over may all be included. Additional family members beyond four, and parents or grandparents under 55, carry additional contributions. We model the complete figure against your circumstances before you commit to anything.

How long does the Grenada application take?

Typically four to six months from submission to passport issuance, covering due diligence, the interview, completion of the investment after approval, and issuance of certificates and passports. Complex files can take longer. Document preparation before submission sits outside this window, so the realistic horizon from first engagement is longer.

Is Grenada better than St Kitts & Nevis or Antigua & Barbuda?

They answer different questions. Grenada is the only Caribbean citizenship by investment program with an E-2 treaty, available after three years of genuine domicile. Antigua & Barbuda and Grenada both permit siblings on a family application, and Antigua’s UWI route is structured for families of six or more. St Kitts & Nevis is the longest-established program and is not subject to the United States visa restrictions that currently apply to Antigua & Barbuda nationals. All three are covered by the European Commission’s request regarding Caribbean programs. Where United States business operation is a genuine long-term objective, Grenada is the program to look at; for most other objectives, the right choice depends on your family and where you need to travel.

Can UAE and GCC residents apply?

Yes. The program is open to applicants regardless of current residence, subject to eligibility and due diligence, and the entire process is conducted remotely through an authorized agent. Certain nationalities are restricted, and we confirm eligibility at assessment before anything else proceeds. GLI Advisory is based in Dubai and works extensively with principals and families across the GCC.

A conversation
before a commitment.

We begin every engagement with a confidential assessment: your objectives, your family composition, and where the E-2 sits in your thinking. It is where we establish whether Grenada answers what you are solving for. It is held in confidence, and there is no obligation to proceed.

Figures and requirements reflect information current as of September 2026 and are subject to change by the Government of Grenada without notice. E-2 visa eligibility is determined solely by United States authorities under United States law; nothing on this page constitutes United States immigration advice, and applicants should consult a qualified US immigration attorney. Nothing on this page constitutes legal, tax or investment advice, or an offer of citizenship. Eligibility for citizenship is determined solely by the Investment Migration Agency.
GLI International Advisory FZCO · Unit No: 3501–D07, Swiss Tower, JLT, Dubai, UAE