The 2025 Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Index has once again placed the Caribbean firmly at the forefront of the global investment migration industry. St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Grenada secured the top three spots. Following closely, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda secured the fourth and fifth spots respectively, confirming the region’s reputation as home to the most trusted and competitive citizenship programmes globally.
Now in its ninth year, the CBI Index is the industry’s leading independent benchmark. It evaluates programmes across nine key pillars, including due diligence, investment outlay, efficiency, family inclusivity, and certainty of product offering investors a data-driven guide to help compare opportunities across jurisdictions.
James McKay, the researcher behind the CBI Index noted that the Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes continue to adapt to the external pressure.
“The 2025 CBI Index reaffirms the Caribbean’s position as the global leader in citizenship by investment, with programmes that continue to adapt to external pressures while maintaining high standards of due diligence and investor confidence. At the same time, the emergence of new entrants from Africa and the Pacific underlines the industry’s continued growth and diversification,” said James McKay.
St. Kitts and Nevis: Ranked 1st
Taking first place, St. Kitts and Nevis has topped the charts for the fifth year in a row, and it is lauded in the CBI Index report for its recent reforms that reinforced transparency, speed, and investor confidence.
The establishment of a statutory body and the announcement to launch the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) positioned the country as a leader in setting higher industry-wide standards. The Index further noted that a new digital application platform has also elevated efficiency, making the Federation top performer for responsiveness.
Dominica: Consistency Amid Global Shifts
Dominica also known as the “Commonwealth of Dominica” retained its second place, demonstrating resilience despite external challenges such as changes in travel access. Strengthened due diligence and a steady application pipeline reflect its continued popularity. The programme remains one of the most stable and appealing choices globally, underlining its long-standing reputation among international investors.
Grenada: Inclusive and Credible
Grenada secured third place supported by its strong dependents’ policy and a clear stance against agent misconduct. While the country has experienced a dip in application volumes, its credibility remains intact, with the programme continuing to attract families seeking flexibility and long-term security.
Antigua and Barbuda, while slipping slightly to fifth place, continues to reinforce its reputation with new biometric systems and a commitment to regional cooperation. Among the emerging entrants, Nauru’s debut at sixth place with a focus on climate resilience and sustainable development was particularly notable, while São Tomé and Príncipe entered the rankings in tenth, signalling Africa’s growing presence in the sector
Türkiye also rose to ninth place following the introduction of stricter compliance measures, although ongoing political uncertainty remains a consideration. Meanwhile, established European players like Malta and Austria continue to face scrutiny, reflecting the different regulatory pressures shaping the industry.
Notably, the CBI Index has become the ultimate reference point that global investors eagerly await each year before making their citizenship by investment choices. Widely regarded as the industry’s most trusted and independent benchmark, it is backed by rigorous, data-driven research that evaluates programmes across multiple pillars of credibility and performance. As it approaches its tenth edition next year, the Index stands as a decade-long authority shaping informed decisions for investors, governments, and policymakers worldwide.
Taken as a whole, the 2025 CBI Index highlights a dual reality: the Caribbean’s continued dominance at the very top and the increasing diversification of the industry with new players from Africa, the Pacific, and beyond.
