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EU Threatens Visa-Free Access Over Caribbean Citizenship-by-Investment Programs

7/19/2026

Center

EU Suspends Travel

The EU said that running a citizenship-by-investment program alone warrants suspending visa-free travel for the Caribbean states.
Demand letters were sent by EU officials to Antigua, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada ordering end of their passport programs.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne called the program a critical economic pillar that cannot be dropped.
Ireland suspended visa-free travel for St. Lucia and St. Kitts, prompting a U.S. warning of similar action.

Left

EU Sets Deadline

The five Eastern Caribbean nations rely on citizenship-by-investment programmes that bring in millions of dollars each year.
The European Union gave the nations a two-year deadline to end the schemes, adding stricter due-diligence and banning sanctioned applicants.
The passports provide visa-free travel to more than 140 countries, including most of Europe.
Investors can obtain citizenship by contributing as little as $200,000 through payments or real-estate purchases.

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EU Suspends Travel

The EU said that running a citizenship-by-investment program alone warrants suspending visa-free travel for the Caribbean states.
Demand letters were sent by EU officials to Antigua, St. Kitts, Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada ordering end of their passport programs.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne called the program a critical economic pillar that cannot be dropped.
Ireland suspended visa-free travel for St. Lucia and St. Kitts, prompting a U.S. warning of similar action.

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