The Grenada Citizenship by Investment program was introduced in Grenada in 2013, via the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act No 15 of 2013 (as amended).
The program permits the licensing of marketing agents who are to promote and market the program and identify suitable applicants for citizenship or permanent residence for submission to the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Committee through a local agent.
Upon submission of the application by a local agent, the applications are considered by the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Committee which will make a recommendation to the Minister responsible for citizenship with respect to the applications. Within sixty (60) business days of the submission of a complete application, the Committee notifies the local agent of a decision made in respect of the application. Further details on the application process are highlighted below.
The Grenada programme stands out from others as it offers many benefits which include no restriction on any nationality applying, no residence requirement, low tax regime (no gift, inheritance, wealth, foreign income or capital gain taxes), access to education, quick processing time, confidential processing of applications, political stability, little crime, friendly people and the same rights as any other Grenadian citizen to live and work in Grenada.
A Grenada passport also has the benefit of allowing a successful applicant travel to more than one hundred and twenty (125) countries without VISA requirements including the United Kingdom, China, Russia, UAE, Brazil, Hong Kong and Singapore. Grenada also now benefits from the inclusion of the country in the Schengen Treaty which adds thirty (30) more countries.
Holders of Grenadian passports also have the benefits of being part of the OECS and CARICOM and the ability to apply for an E2 Visa in the United States of America.
To qualify for citizenship under the Act, the main applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old, in good health and have enough funds to make the required investment.
In order to protect its people and Grenada’s international standing, the Government of Grenada will only grant citizenship to individuals who are truly deserving of that honour. Therefore, a person cannot be granted approval of his or her application for citizenship if he or she:
• provides false information on his or her application form
• has at any time previously been convicted in any country of an offence with a penalty in excess of six (6) months imprisonment
• is the subject of a criminal investigation
• is considered to be a potential national security risk to Grenada or to any other country
• is involved in any activity likely to cause disrepute to Grenada
• has been denied a visa to a country with which Grenada has visa-free travel
To ensure that the requirements listed above are fully adhered to, the Government of Grenada subjects each applicant to strict due diligence procedures. Moreover, each applicant must supplement his or her application with supporting documents.
There are three (3) investment options for citizenship:
- Approved ProjectAn application for citizenship through an Approved Project with a minimum investment of US$350,000.00. In addition, there is a Government Contribution of US$50,000.00 for a family of four (4) and US$25,000.00 for each additional dependent or family member.
- Significant InvestmentA “significant investment” as defined under Act No.24 of 2014 which includes the purchase of real estate, the purchase of a registered business or company operating in Grenada, the purchase of shares in a company or consortium of companies or any other investment as may be determined by the Minister by Order from time to time. The significant investment is said to be approximately US$1.4 million (minimum). In addition, there is a Government Contribution of US$50,000.00 for a family of four (4) persons and US$25,000.00 for each additional dependent or family member.
- National Transformation Fund (NTF) / Donation to GovernmentA two-tiered path to citizenship through an application made for Permanent Residence, along with a payment to the National Transformation Fund of US$75,000, and on the applicant acquiring permanent residence, a further contribution of US$125,000 is made for citizenship to the National Transformation Fund. The total investment will be US$200,000.00. for a family of four (4) persons. In addition, there is a Government Contribution of US$25,000.00 for each additional dependent or family member in excess of four (4) persons. An individual applicant can make an investment of US$150,000.00.
Applications for citizenship may not be submitted directly to Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Committee and must only be handled by agents. Applicants must contact an authorised International Marketing Agent, who in turn will liaise with Zenship Inc, an authorised Local Agent. Our company has partnered with several authorised marketing agents to whom we can refer you.
The second step in an application for citizenship is contacting Zenship Inc as your authorised Local Agent. Our role is to provide the applicant with assistance in preparing documents for submission to the Grenada Citizenship By Investment Committee. The applicant will need to complete official forms, attend a medical examination, and obtain certain supporting documents – all of which must be submitted in English and be appropriately legalised. If the applicant is purchasing real estate, this will need to be reserved through a sale and purchase agreement.
On completion of the forms, we will submit the application to the Executive Office of the Grenada Citizenship By Investment Committee and shall liaise. with the Executive Office in relation to all correspondence, queries, or questions that may arise with respect to your application.
The Government vets each application through an extremely thorough due diligence background check an examination and verification of all supporting documents submitted. The Grenada Citizenship By Investment Committee considers application files in light of this due diligence check, and then issues a recommendation about the application. Final approval is in the hands of the Cabinet of Grenada. Upon a decision being made, the applicant is issued a letter (through his or her Authorised Local Agent) detailing whether the application was successful, delayed for further processing, or rejected.
If the application is successful, the applicant is then instructed to either make the investment payment for the NTF or the approved project in accordance with the relevant contract documents. Upon receiving payment of the investment (under NTF) and /or the Government Contribution, the Grenada Citizenship By Investment will make available the certificates of registration, establishing that the applicant has received Grenadian citizenship. Authorised Local Agents, upon instructions, will use this certificate to apply for a Grenadian passport on behalf of the applicant.
There are local agent costs and several official or administrative government fees paid to the Government of Grenada and or the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Committee on the submission of an application. The tables shown below only include official or administrative government fees, and are offered for guidance only. A statement of fees indicating the total cost for citizenship shall be provided on engaging Zenship Inc. as your local agent.
Prior to submission of the application and supporting documentation, the processing fee, due diligence fee, application fee (the official or administrative government fees) and local agent fees and VAT thereon and bank charges and VAT thereon must be deposited into an escrow account administered and managed by the local agent who also acts as an escrow agent under the programme. These fees are non-refundable.
On approval of an application, the investment fee, Government Contribution (if applicable) together with oath fees, passport fees, bank charges and VAT and courier fees shall be submitted to the escrow account designated by the local agent.
| NTF DONATION | Individual Applicant | Main Applicant + Spouse | Family of four family members | Family over four family members |
| Required Contribution Amount | USD 150,000 | USD 200,000 | USD 200,000 | USD 200,000 plus USD 25,000 per additional dependent after the third dependent |
| Application Fee | USD 1,500 | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person |
| Due Diligence Fee | USD 5,000 | USD 5,000 per person | Dependent child aged 0-16: nil Dependent child aged 17-25: USD 5,000 |
Dependent child aged 0-16: nil Dependent child aged 17-25: USD 5,000 |
| Processing Fee | USD 1,500 | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person aged 18 and over, USD 500 for persons under 18 | USD 1,500 per person aged 18 and over, USD 500 for persons under 18 |
| REAL ESTATE OPTION | Single Applicant | Main Applicant + Spouse | Family of four family members | Family over four family members |
| Required Contribution Amount | USD 350,000 | USD 350,000 | USD 350,000 | USD 350,000 |
| Government Fee | USD 50,000 | USD 50,000 | USD 50,000 | USD 50,000 and USD 25,000 per additional dependent after the third dependent |
| Application Fee | USD 1,500 | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person |
| Due Diligence Fee | USD 5,000 | USD 5,000 per person | Dependent child aged 0-16: nil Dependent child aged 17-25: USD 5,000 |
Dependent child aged 0-16: nil Dependent child aged 17-25: USD 5,000 |
| Processing Fee | USD 1,500 | USD 1,500 per person | USD 1,500 per person aged 18 and over, USD 500 for persons under 18 | USD 1,500 per person aged 18 and over, USD 500 for persons under 18 |
