Saint Kitts and Nevis Leads Regional Effort Towards Stronger, More Transparent Citizenship by Investment Programmes
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, September 24, 2025 – The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis today proudly announces the signing of a landmark agreement by the five Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Member States of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to further strengthen the integrity, transparency, and sustainability of the region’s Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CBIPs).
This historic step will establish the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) by October 2025, a regional body that will ensure uniform standards, rigorous oversight, and compliance across participating States—Antigua & Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts & Nevis.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, as the birthplace of Citizenship by Investment and the global pioneer of such programmes, has played a central role in shaping the reforms that led to this milestone. The journey began at Park Hyatt Saint Kitts on February 25, 2023, when Saint Kitts and Nevis hosted the first-ever US–Caribbean Roundtable on Citizenship by Investment.
That engagement brought together the Prime Ministers of the five OECS CBI countries and a high-level delegation from the United States Treasury Department. The discussions, chaired by Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew, addressed threats, challenges, and opportunities within the programmes.
International partners have acknowledged the CBI Programmes as legitimate tools critical to the survival of small island developing states. Both sides agreed on six core principles to enhance programme integrity, including information-sharing on denials, mandatory applicant interviews, audits, and strengthened due diligence. This Roundtable was the first in a series of constructive dialogues with global partners, culminating in today’s region-wide agreement.
The reforms announced today include:
1.Establishment of ECCIRA – A regional regulator to oversee all CIP activities.
2. Enhanced Security & Due Diligence – Mandatory biometric collection for new and renewing applicants, stronger residency requirements, and CARICOM IMPACS-supported vetting.
3. Transparency & Accountability – Binding standards, annual compliance reports, and regional registers of applicants and agents.
4. Compliance & Enforcement – Administrative penalties, revocations, and strict enforcement measures.
5. Economic Sustainability – A region-wide minimum investment threshold of US$200,000 to ensure credibility and long-term development financing.
Prime Minister Drew emphasised that this achievement reflects Saint Kitts and Nevis’ brave leadership and commitment to safeguarding global security while protecting a critical pillar of national development.
“From the inaugural Roundtable at the Park Hyatt Saint Kitts in 2023 to today’s signing, Saint Kitts and Nevis has consistently advocated for a principled, transparent, and sustainable Citizenship by Investment framework. This agreement proves that our collective programmes can continue to deliver essential revenues for climate resilience, social development, and fiscal stability while meeting the highest international standards,” said Prime Minister Drew.
The agreement is the product of sustained consultations with the United States, United Kingdom, and European Commission, alongside industry stakeholders, Attorneys-General, Financial Secretaries, and civil society. International partners have recognized that dismantling CBI Programmes would devastate the economies of small island developing states.
Instead, through these reforms, the region demonstrates that Citizenship by Investment can remain a legitimate, indispensable development tool while upholding the highest levels of security, accountability, and trust.
