The planned introduction of a mandatory 30-day physical residency requirement across Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes has been formally delayed, extending the application of existing regulations for at least a further six months, until mid-2026.
The five Caribbean CBI jurisdictions — Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia — had previously agreed to introduce a minimum residency obligation as part of a wider regional reform package. Under the proposed rule, approved applicants would be required to spend an aggregate of at least 30 days physically present in the country of passport issuance.
Implementation of this measure has now been postponed following political developments in Saint Lucia, where general elections held on December 1, 2025, resulted in the reconstitution of the National Assembly and a temporary pause in the legislative process required to bring the reforms into force.
The residency obligation forms part of the September 2025 agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), the region’s first unified supervisory body for CBI programmes. The ECCIRA framework was designed to introduce harmonised standards across all five jurisdictions, including enhanced due-diligence procedures, biometric data collection, mandatory interviews for CBI applicants, information-sharing mechanisms, and minimum residency requirements.
Crucially, the participating states agreed that the reforms would be implemented simultaneously, with identical legislation ratified by each national parliament. By late 2025, four of the five jurisdictions had ratified the ECCIRA agreement. Saint Lucia, however, was unable to complete ratification within the originally anticipated timeframe due to the dissolution and subsequent re-composition of its parliament following the general election.
As a result, and in line with the collective implementation commitment, progress across all five CBI jurisdictions has been temporarily paused. Until Saint Lucia completes ratification, the residency requirement cannot be enforced in any of the participating countries.
Current indications suggest that this delay will extend the application of existing CBI regulations, which do not require physical presence, for a minimum of six additional months.
For applicants currently considering Caribbean economic citizenship programmes, the postponement creates a clearly defined transitional window. During this period, applications may continue to be submitted and processed under the current regulatory framework, without any mandatory residency obligation.
Importantly, the proposed residency requirement is not expected to apply retroactively. Applicants who secure approval before the formal implementation of the new rules are not anticipated to be subject to future physical-presence requirements.
The reforms underpinning ECCIRA were developed following sustained dialogue with international partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, all of which have called for greater transparency, harmonisation, and enhanced security safeguards within CBI programmes. The creation of ECCIRA represents a structural response to these concerns and is intended to reinforce the long-term credibility of Caribbean economic citizenship schemes.
Once Saint Lucia completes the ratification process, the ECCIRA agreement is expected to enter into force, followed by coordinated implementation across all five jurisdictions. Detailed administrative guidelines and enforcement timelines are likely to be clarified closer to that stage. Based on current regulatory discussions, passports issued to successful CBI applicants are expected to carry an initial validity of five years, with renewal contingent upon the holder demonstrating an aggregate physical presence of at least 30 days in the country of citizenship.
Until then, the Caribbean CBI landscape remains unchanged, offering applicants a limited but valuable opportunity to proceed under existing rules before the next phase of regulatory reform takes effect.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. Citizenship by Investment regulations, eligibility criteria, and implementation timelines may vary by jurisdiction and are subject to change. Prospective applicants are strongly advised to seek professional, jurisdiction-specific advice before making any decisions in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws and to avoid potential delays or complications in the application process.