Programme overview

Grenada’s CBI is built on a single feature that no other Caribbean programme offers: a live US E-2 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation (signed 1989, ratified 1989). A Grenadian citizen who establishes a qualifying US business may apply for an E-2 investor visa — a non-immigrant work visa that allows the holder, spouse, and children under 21 to live, work, and attend school in the United States, renewable indefinitely as long as the underlying business operates. For investors who want a lawful US presence without the EB-5 queue (currently 7+ years for Mainland China and India born applicants) or the H-1B lottery, Grenada is the route.

The programme launched in 2013, suspended after a 2001 false start, and has run continuously since. It is administered by the Grenada CBI Committee. The 2024 CARICOM Memorandum of Agreement set the NTF floor at USD 235K and the real-estate co-ownership minimum at USD 270K — Grenada now sits in the middle of the Caribbean pricing band, with E-2 access as the differentiator that justifies any premium.

Investment routes

National Transformation Fund (NTF) — USD 235,000. Non-refundable contribution to the NTF, which finances national infrastructure, tourism, agriculture diversification, and human capital development. Single applicant or family of 4 carries the same USD 235K. Each additional dependant adds USD 25,000. Government and processing fees are modest (USD 1,500 per applicant; processing USD 1,500-5,000). Due diligence: USD 5,000 (principal), USD 2,000 per dependant 17+.

Approved Real Estate — USD 270,000 (co-ownership) or USD 350K+ (sole ownership). Investment in a CBI-approved project — Six Senses La Sagesse, Kimpton Kawana Bay, Silversands Beach House, Hartman Hotel. Co-owned units (two CBI investors per share) qualify at USD 270K each; sole-ownership branded residences from USD 350K. 5-year minimum hold. Add a non-refundable USD 50K government contribution for a family of up to 4.

E-2 US treaty access — the headline feature

Grenada is the only CBI country with an active E-2 treaty with the United States. After acquiring Grenadian citizenship, the investor (and any qualifying employees) becomes eligible to apply for an E-2 nonimmigrant visa to invest in and direct a US enterprise. Key practical points:

  • US consular practice requires roughly 3 years of continuous domicile in Grenada before E-2 eligibility — but in practice many consulates accept Grenadian passport-holders with substantial Grenadian connections at shorter intervals; quality of US business plan matters most.
  • Minimum E-2 investment is not statutory but consulates typically expect USD 100,000-200,000 in a real, active US business (no real estate-only or passive investments).
  • E-2 status is renewable indefinitely; spouse can obtain an open work permit; children under 21 attend US school as dependants.
  • E-2 does NOT lead to a green card directly — but the family can live in the US legally for as long as the business operates.

Due diligence & process

Grenada operates four-tier DD: international firm screen (typically S-RM, BDO, or Thomson Reuters), Grenada FIU, Interpol/regional liaison, and a mandatory video interview added in 2024 under CARICOM harmonisation. Applications go through CBI-licensed International Marketing Agents and Local Agents — Grenada uses a two-tier agent structure. Typical timeline: 4-6 months for NTF, slightly longer for real estate where developer escrow timing matters.

What it gets you

Lifetime Grenada passport, dual citizenship allowed, hereditary. Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ~147 destinations including the Schengen Area, UK (ETA), Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, and China (30 days — rare among CBI passports). Eligibility to apply for the US E-2 investor visa. Zero personal tax on foreign-source income, no capital gains, no inheritance. Most flexible Caribbean dependants policy: parents and grandparents of any age, plus unmarried siblings of the principal or spouse.

Our role on a Grenada file

  1. E-2 strategy assessment — confirm the client genuinely wants US access (otherwise St. Kitts or Antigua may be cheaper for the same Caribbean passport); scope a viable E-2 business plan early.
  2. Authorised Agent appointment — engage a CBI-licensed International Marketing Agent and Local Agent (two-tier structure mandatory).
  3. Source-of-funds dossier — build SOF narrative; CBI Committee scrutinises high-risk jurisdictions especially closely.
  4. Application submission & DD — file Form 1 plus annexes; coordinate mandatory interview, biometrics, and any clarification rounds.
  5. Investment release & approval — instruct NTF wire (or real-estate escrow) on Approval-in-Principle; coordinate oath of allegiance.
  6. Passport, then E-2 (if applicable) — passport delivery, then warm hand-off to a US E-2 immigration attorney to structure the qualifying US business and consular filing.