Antigua and Barbuda, along with Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, are moving to tighten regulation of their citizenship by investment (CBI) schemes.
A draft agreement dated 1 July 2025 outlines plans to establish the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (EC CIRA), aimed at standardising and strengthening oversight of the programmes.
Key proposals include a mandatory 30-day residency requirement within the first five years of citizenship, annual application caps, and a compulsory integration programme covering civic education and cultural orientation.
The EC CIRA would centralise regulatory powers, monitor compliance, and investigate breaches—replacing the current country-led oversight.
Enhanced due diligence is also planned, with all applicants, including dependents, subject to interviews and stricter background checks. The reforms are intended to preserve the integrity and value of Eastern Caribbean citizenship.
