Last Updated on September 3, 2019, 11:37 AM AST by Anthony Morris
For the third consecutive year, St Kitts and Nevis no longer has the world’s best citizenship by investment programme.
That accolade belongs to the Commonwealth of Dominica which in 2019 remains the best-scoring citizenship by investment nation, retaining first place for the third year in a row, according to The Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management (PWM) magazine.
The special report ranks all the active citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes around the world against seven pillars deemed most important to investors seeking second citizenship.
This year’s study was carried out by independent researcher James McKay in 13 countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cyprus, Dominica, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Turkey, and Vanuatu.
Dominica leads in five of the seven pillars – minimum investment outlay, followed by St Lucia; mandatory travel or residence, followed by Grenada, Jordan, St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia and in the citizenship timeline category, followed by St Kitts and Nevis and Vanatu.
Dominica also leads in the ease of processing category. Dominica is also out front, leading in the due diligence category followed by Grenada, Malta and St Kitts and Nevis.
The independent researcher stated that St Kitts and Nevis maintained its upward trajectory regarding visa-free and visa-on-arrival offering and demonstrated its commitment to enhanced due diligence.
Grenada increased emphasis on programme due diligence but benefited most from its improved citizenship timeline. St Lucia surpassed Antigua and Barbuda for the first time, the southern island improving its scores under freedom of movement, citizenship timeline and due diligence.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
