Antigua's strength is in its reliability

The Caribbean needs to treat CBI like the product it is

Caribbean citizenship by investment (CBI) was designed to be straightforward. A legal process governed by national law, offering a defined outcome in exchange for a qualifying investment. No guesswork. No discretionary approval. No special treatment. Just a structured transaction.

That clarity is what made the model viable and what still defines the strongest programmes today.

The early programmes understood the assignment

The modern CBI framework originated in the Eastern Caribbean, beginning with St Kitts & Nevis in 1984. Antigua & Barbuda launched its programme in 2013, joining a regional movement that recognised the utility of citizenship as a development tool. These were small states in a global system dominated by larger, legacy economies. The opportunity was to offer something valuable –citizenship – on transparent terms.

The appeal was simple. Investors could apply, submit documentation, pass a background check and receive citizenship under law. Governments could raise funds to support national development. It wasn’t about prestige. It wasn’t about storytelling. It was a programme that worked because it was clear.

Antigua designed its programme with multiple investment tracks, practical documentation requirements and an accessible application process. Over the past decade, it has consistently honoured the structure it put in place. That kind of operational consistency is increasingly rare in today’s CBI landscape.

External interference is changing the narrative

In recent years, European institutions have challenged the legitimacy of investment-based citizenship, framing it as incompatible with their evolving view of citizenship as a matter of cultural or residential integration. The European Court of Justice’s 2024 ruling against Malta’s programme made that posture explicit. The EU’s position is that investment alone does not create a sufficient "genuine link". The Caribbean operates on a different legal and geopolitical footing. These are sovereign states with the right to define their own nationality laws. CBI in this region was never intended to mirror European-style naturalisation policies. It was built on defined legal entitlements, not subjective evaluations of worthiness.

Programmes that stay close to that original model remain defensible. Programmes that attempt to reframe themselves to appease Brussels risk collapsing into incoherence. Vague terms, moving requirements and politicised evaluation criteria turn a working system into an unpredictable one. Antigua has, so far, resisted that trend. It has made practical updates to its vetting protocols. It has engaged with peer jurisdictions on due diligence and pricing coordination. But it has not drifted from the basic structure that makes the programme work.

Global demand for second citizenship remains significant. Individuals in jurisdictions with limited travel access, political instability or banking constraints continue to seek reliable second nationality options.

The core value is predictability

CBI has never been about selectivity. It’s not a reward. It’s a mechanism. The strength of the model lies in its repeatability. A person meets the legal requirements, makes the required investment, passes the necessary checks and receives citizenship. That predictability is the product. CBI only functions when the outcome is tied to a defined transaction. This means respecting the fact that the value of the product lies in its reliability. This is what differentiates programmes like Antigua’s from the confusion seen elsewhere across other regions: applicants know what they’re getting and under what conditions. The legal framework exists to process files, not to filter personalities. That orientation is not a flaw – it is a strength.

There’s a tendency in some corners of the industry to resist calling CBI a product, as if doing so undermines its seriousness. But the opposite is true. Calling something a product means it has structure, governance, delivery standards and user expectations. It is understood. Antigua’s programme has continued to meet those expectations not because it tries to be more than a product, but because it has taken seriously what being a product requires.

Once the outcome becomes uncertain – when approval depends on soft criteria or shifting political expectations – the product deteriorates. Investors hesitate. Advisors hesitate. Programme utility declines.

There is no issue with a state offering citizenship on defined terms. In fact, most immigration systems already do.

Countries all over the world offer pathways to residence or citizenship in exchange for capital, labour or skill. The difference with CBI is in its clarity.

The problem arises when governments start signalling that the outcome is variable – when processing timelines extend indefinitely, when interviews or new requirements are introduced without clear rationale or process. These elements chip away at trust.

What Antigua has done is preserve trust through consistency. That is increasingly rare.

A functional programme in a connected jurisdiction

Antigua is well-positioned geographically and administratively. The island is served by direct flights to and from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. It offers basic infrastructure, a functioning service economy and a legal system grounded in English common law. These factors help reinforce the credibility of the programme.

The jurisdiction also benefits from years of operational experience. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) is known and understood by agents across the industry. Processing timelines are generally respected. The investment options are well defined and the documentation burden is manageable. This practical functionality matters more than image. Applicants want to know that the process works. Agents want to be able to explain it clearly. Governments want to be able to defend it administratively. Antigua continues to offer all three.

Regional alignment will shape the next phase

The Caribbean has increasingly coordinated its CBI policies in response to outside pressure. Minimum investment thresholds have been harmonised. Due diligence procedures are being reviewed collectively. Discussions around data sharing and compliance protocols are ongoing. This regional alignment is necessary. But it does not require abandoning what works. The core of the product, with its transparent rules, stable pricing and clear entitlement to citizenship upon completion, must be maintained.

Antigua’s role in this process has been important. It has taken part in coordination efforts while maintaining its administrative footing. It has not adopted a reactive posture. The programme continues to be structured and deliberate.

The next challenge will be how to defend CBI as a legitimate development instrument while accommodating evolving regulatory frameworks. The response cannot be symbolic. It must be technical and consistent with the operational logic of a working programme.

CBI was never designed to be a boutique or exclusive product. It was designed to be a structured offer. A pathway to citizenship for those who can meet the requirements.

The demand for second citizenship remains strong

Global demand for second citizenship remains significant. Individuals in jurisdictions with limited travel access, political instability or banking constraints continue to seek reliable second nationality options. For many, CBI remains the most viable route. Programmes that continue to function reliably – without unpredictable delays or opaque hurdles – are likely to absorb that demand. In this environment, delivery matters more than narrative. Programmes must be able to demonstrate that they can process applicants within a known timeline, under a defined legal structure.

Antigua meets that standard. It has continued to process files throughout regional changes and international developments. Its programme remains active, legal and defensible. That should not be underestimated.

A product that still delivers its original promise

CBI was never designed to be a boutique or exclusive product. It was designed to be a structured offer.

A pathway to citizenship for those who can meet the requirements. The countries that built their programmes on that premise have been the ones that have kept relevance. Antigua has maintained a working model. It has not overmarketed. It has not redefined the offering every few years. It has kept the terms clear and the process intact. That consistency is exactly what the sector needs right now. In a time of uncertainty, Antigua’s approach – grounded, deliberate and operational – is what will keep CBI viable as a policy tool in the years ahead.

Article written by Brian Greco, an independent consultant and traveller. You can connect with Brian through: www.linkedin.com/in/briangrecoglobal and https://briangreco.us