Grenada citizenship. The only Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programme whose passport unlocks the United States E-2 treaty-investor visa — a working residence pathway to the United States that no other CBI jurisdiction can match.
Grenada (population ~115,000; capital St George’s) runs a Caribbean CBI distinguished by a single strategic feature: Grenada is the only Caribbean nation with a US E-2 treaty-investor visa arrangement under the 1987 US-Grenada Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation. A Grenadian citizen who invests substantial capital in a bona fide US business qualifies for renewable E-2 status — a working de-facto US residency pathway no other Caribbean CBI programme offers. Applicants qualify via a US$235,000 non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) — which covers the main applicant or a family of up to four — or an approved real-estate investment from US$270k. Processing runs 4-6 months. The Grenadian passport retains visa-free access to the UK (via ETA from January 2025), the Schengen Area, Singapore, Hong Kong, and uniquely, China — no other Caribbean CBI has Chinese visa-free access.
Used by US-focused entrepreneurs, founders building in the United States without the EB-5 queue, China-facing families and operators, and clients for whom a legitimate US residence pathway is the primary objective — for whom Grenada is not just a second passport but a structured US-mobility vehicle that no other Caribbean programme can deliver.
Why Grenada citizenship
The US E-2 treaty access is the headline. But Grenada also adds China visa-free and a Commonwealth passport with strong Schengen treatment. Here is why it earns the slight price premium over Dominica and Antigua.
The only Caribbean CBI with US E-2 access
Under the 1987 US-Grenada Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, Grenadian citizens qualify for E-2 treaty-investor visas on a substantial-investment / active-management basis. No other Caribbean CBI (St Kitts, Dominica, Antigua, St Lucia) has E-2 treaty access. For US-intention clients who cannot or will not wait in the EB-5 queue, Grenada CBI + E-2 is the fastest legitimate route to working US residency.
China visa-free access
Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI whose passport grants visa-free entry to mainland China (30 days per visit, aggregate 90 days in 365). Useful for China-facing entrepreneurs, manufacturing operators, and Belt-and-Road project participants. No Tier-1 European or Pacific CBI passport offers China visa-free access.
UK and Schengen mobility retained
Grenada has avoided the UK visa suspensions that hit Dominica (July 2023) and St Lucia (March 2026). Grenadian passport holders retain UK visa-free access via ETA and Schengen visa-free access subject to ETIAS pre-clearance from late 2026.
US B1/B2 10-year multi-entry retained
Unlike Antigua and Dominica — whose B1/B2 tourist-visa validity was cut to 3-month single-entry plus a US$15,000 bond in February 2026 — Grenada retains the standard 10-year multiple-entry B1/B2 issuance. For families with regular US travel, this is a meaningful quality-of-life advantage.
Flexible investment structuring
Two qualifying routes: NTF non-refundable donation (US$235k covers single applicant or family of up to four; +US$25k per additional dependent beyond the fourth) or approved real-estate investment (US$270k in a CBIC-approved project, 5-year holding period). The real-estate route preserves capital subject to programme holding and resale rules.
English common-law jurisdiction
Grenada inherits English common law, a Westminster-style parliamentary system, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and an English-speaking legal profession. Sophisticated offshore corporate frameworks (Grenadian International Business Corporations) available for citizens who want to operate locally alongside the US E-2 structure.
What's included in the service
Everything required to move from initial E-2 feasibility review to a Grenada passport in hand, handled end-to-end by a government-authorised agent and Liberty Mundo's citizenship and US-immigration lawyers.
Grenada vs the other Caribbean CBI programmes
Grenada sits in the middle of the price range but differentiates sharply on US and China access. Here is how it lines up against the four other active OECS CBI programmes in 2026.
| Feature | Grenada | St Kitts | Antigua | St Lucia | Dominica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum donation | US$235k | US$250k | US$230k | US$240k | US$200k |
| Processing time | 4-6 months | 4-6 months | 4-6 months | 3-4 months | 4-6 months |
| Visa-free count (2026) | ~146 | ~157 | ~151 | ~145 | ~140 |
| UK access | Visa-free (ETA) | Visa-free (ETA) | Visa-free (ETA) | Visa required (suspended 5 Mar 2026) | Visa required (suspended Jul 2023) |
| US E-2 treaty eligibility | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| China visa-free | Yes (30d) | No | No | No | No |
| US B1/B2 validity | 10-year multi | 10-year multi | 3 months single + US$15k bond | 10-year multi | 3 months single + US$15k bond |
| US immigrant visas | Frozen Jan 2026 | Frozen Jan 2026 | Frozen Jan 2026 | Frozen Jan 2026 | Frozen Jan 2026 |
Grenada is the right answer for any client whose primary objective includes US residence, US operating businesses, or substantial China engagement. St Kitts wins on raw visa-free count. Antigua wins on family price. St Lucia and Dominica have taken UK mobility hits. If the US E-2 treaty, China visa-free access, or preserved US B1/B2 10-year validity are on your priority list, Grenada is the Caribbean pick.
How the Grenada citizenship process runs
Three stages: feasibility (including E-2 scoping where relevant), file assembly and due-diligence, and CBIC approval with passport issuance.
Eligibility and application pack
We confirm you qualify for the program, then gather your documents and assemble the complete application pack.
File assembly and due diligence
Assembly of the full application file: FBI / Interpol / national-police checks, apostilled civil documents, medical, source-of-funds evidence, and family supporting files. Submission goes through a CBIC-authorised agent; we drive the queue and manage every DD follow-up from our side.
CBIC approval, passport, then E-2 (if applicable)
The agent files with the Citizenship by Investment Committee, coordinates DD review, confirms contribution receipt, and completes the oath of allegiance. Grenada biometric passport issues on approval. For US-intention clients, we then open the parallel E-2 treaty-investor visa workflow targeting a US consular interview within 3-6 months of passport issuance.
Optional add-ons
Typical post-citizenship work Grenada clients request. Priced separately; quoted on request once the main application is in motion.
Family dependents
Add spouse, children (under 30 if financially dependent), parents, grandparents, and siblings. Government and DD fees scale per additional dependent; family-tier pricing available on NTF donation.
US E-2 treaty-investor visa
Full E-2 workflow post-citizenship: US business-plan drafting (substantial, non-marginal enterprise requirement), investment structuring (typical US$100-200k deployed into an active US business), DS-160 and DS-156E preparation, US consular interview coaching, and family derivative applications.
Approved real-estate route
If you prefer holding an approved resort-development asset over a donation. Includes asset vetting, CBIC approved-project confirmation, escrow supervision, and 5-year holding-period compliance.
US business sourcing and deployment
Active-US-enterprise sourcing for the E-2 "substantial investment" element: existing business acquisition, franchise deployment, or ground-up operating company with the hiring and economic-contribution profile required for E-2 approval.
Tax-residency relocation (third country)
Pairing Grenada citizenship with a tax-resilient base — UAE, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, or Portugal NHR 2.0 (itinerant only from 2024).
Renouncement of prior nationality
Where a client chooses to relinquish a pre-existing citizenship after the Grenada passport issues — US expatriation tax planning, UK deemed-domicile unwind, or similar. Sensitive work; fixed quote after a call.
Frequently asked questions
What clients actually ask before committing to a Grenada application — with extra focus on the E-2 treaty pathway, which is the headline reason most clients choose Grenada.
What is the US E-2 treaty and why does Grenada have it?
The E-2 is a US non-immigrant visa for citizens of countries with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation. The holder invests substantial capital in a bona fide, non-marginal US business and obtains renewable US working residence for themselves, their spouse, and children under 21. Grenada and the United States signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation in 1987; Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI nation with current E-2 treaty status.
How much do I need to invest for a US E-2 visa after getting Grenada citizenship?
There is no statutory minimum. In practice, US consular practice treats investments below US$100,000 with scepticism and readily approves investments in the US$150,000-500,000 range where the business is clearly substantial, non-marginal, and actively managed. We scope the right figure and vehicle for your situation during the initial feasibility review.
Does the E-2 lead to a US green card?
The E-2 itself is non-immigrant and does not directly lead to permanent residence. However, it is renewable indefinitely so long as the underlying investment remains substantial and operational, and many E-2 holders eventually transition to an EB-5 green card or EB-1/EB-2 employment-based categories. Grenada + E-2 is a working US residence pathway, not a citizenship pathway.
Is the Grenada CBI legally established?
Yes. The programme operates under Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Act No. 15 of 2013 (as amended) and the associated Citizenship by Investment Regulations. Citizenship is granted by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Citizenship by Investment Committee (CBIC).
What does it actually cost, all-in, for a single applicant?
Approximately US$265-285k all-in on the NTF donation route, pre-E-2. That breaks down as: US$235,000 NTF contribution; US$7,500 due-diligence fee; application and passport fees; and Liberty Mundo's legal / agent fee. Add US$12.5k+ and the substantial US business investment if you also pursue the E-2 layer.
What is the UK access position for Grenada?
Grenada retains UK visa-free access via the UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme. Grenada has not been suspended, unlike Dominica (July 2023) and St Lucia (5 March 2026). Current ETA full enforcement is 25 February 2026.
What about Schengen and China access?
Grenada retains Schengen visa-free access (90 days in 180) subject to ETIAS pre-clearance from late 2026. Grenada is uniquely visa-free to mainland China for short stays (30 days per visit, aggregate 90 days in 365). These two make Grenada the strongest Eurasian mobility passport in the Caribbean CBI field.
How does Grenada compare to Antigua and Dominica on cost?
Grenada at US$235k sits between Dominica (US$200k) and St Kitts (US$250k), close to Antigua (US$230k). The extra vs Dominica buys UK visa-free retention, full US B1/B2 10-year validity, E-2 treaty access, and China visa-free — in context, a strong value proposition for the client profile that cares about US or China exposure.
How long does the process take?
4-6 months from a complete, submission-ready file through to oath of allegiance and passport issuance. The E-2 layer (if pursued) adds approximately 3-6 months after passport issuance, depending on US consular processing times in your country.
Do I need to visit Grenada?
No residency requirement and no physical-presence obligation apply. The oath of allegiance can be administered remotely through Grenada's diplomatic network or arranged around a short trip to St George's.
Can my family join the application?
Yes. The US$235,000 NTF contribution covers the main applicant plus up to three dependents (four people total) at no extra contribution cost. Beyond four applicants, add US$25,000 per additional dependent. Eligible dependents include spouse, children under 30 if financially dependent, qualifying parents and grandparents, and unmarried siblings. The E-2 visa also covers spouse (with US work authorisation) and children under 21.
Will I pay Grenada tax?
Grenada does not tax foreign-source income of non-residents. For residents, personal income tax applies on local-source income only (territorial regime). CBI-only citizens who do not take up Grenada residency and have no Grenada-source income pay no Grenada tax. CBI plus E-2 clients become US tax residents, which is a separate and significant workflow.
Ready to start a Grenada application?
Grenada is the Caribbean CBI with the clearest strategic advantage: the only programme that unlocks US E-2 treaty-investor status. For US-intention clients, the Grenada-to-E-2 pathway is the fastest legitimate route to working US residence outside the EB-5 queue. Submit an application and a senior advisor will come back within twenty-four hours with a personalised quote, an E-2 feasibility scoping (if applicable), and a candid view on whether Grenada is the right Caribbean fit — or whether St Kitts (for raw mobility) or Antigua (for family price) better matches your profile.
Sources and references
- Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act, No. 15 of 2013 (as amended) — foundational statute for Grenada CBI.
- Grenada Citizenship by Investment Regulations — implementing rules governing NTF donations and approved real-estate investments.
- Citizenship by Investment Committee (CBIC) of Grenada — official programme administrator.
- US-Grenada Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation (1987) — legal basis for Grenada nationals’ E-2 treaty-investor visa eligibility.
- US Department of State E-2 Treaty Investor Visa programme, travel.state.gov.
- UK Home Office ETA framework — full enforcement 25 February 2026; Grenada nationals retain visa-free access subject to ETA.
- US Presidential Proclamation on Immigrant Visa Processing (21 January 2026) — basis for the US immigrant-visa freeze affecting Grenada and all Caribbean CBI nations.
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM), caricom.org — regional integration bloc providing intra-Caribbean mobility.
- Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) — sub-regional economic union; Grenada is a founding member.