What’s New
Starting September 2025, five Eastern Caribbean nations (Antigua & Barbuda; Dominica; Grenada; St. Kitts & Nevis; Saint Lucia) will establish a regional Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA).
Key features of ECCIRA:
- Mandatory 30-day residency requirement for investors.
- Annual caps (quotas) on the number of applications per country.
- Stronger, centralized due diligence (source of funds, global background checks).
- Unified enforcement powers: penalties, revoking approvals, licensing for agents; oversight via shared frameworks.
Why It Matters
For high-net-worth individuals and stakeholders in CBI programs, ECCIRA introduces major shifts:
What to Watch Out For
- Whether all five nations ratify the new legislation by the deadline. A delay in one can throw off implementation.
- How the 30-day residency rule will be enforced (evidence needed, duration flexibility, travel requirements).
- Licensing requirements for agents and promoters of CBI programs. Be sure your advisors are fully compliant under ECCIRA.
- Minimum thresholds & application quotas—these may shift upward or be capped, affecting availability and timing.
- An increase in audit or re-review of past applications for compliance failures.
Conclusion & How Globalia (Partner of Globevisa Group) Helps
The introduction of the Caribbean CBI regulator (ECCIRA) marks a turning point. For investors, stricter oversight is both a challenge and an opportunity. Properly navigated, it increases security and value of citizenships obtained; poorly navigated, it risks delays, extra costs, or rejections.
At Globalia, we support HNWIs by:
- Advising on jurisdictions with strong regulatory frameworks that are compliant under ECCIRA.
- Guiding clients through due diligence preparations to avoid compliance pitfalls.
- Liaising with agents and legal partners who are up to date with licensing & procedural changes.
- Planning application timing to avoid being caught in transitional delays or unfinished legislation.