25-08 - Flipbook - Page 55
August 2025
saying 'I want a house with citizenship'. We've never sold so many before."
Despite Antigua's programme having no residency requirement, some
purchasers are looking to relocate full-time, Ms Dyson says, adding: "A few
have relocated already."
US citizens account for the bulk of CBI applications in the Caribbean over
the past year, according to investment migration experts Henley & Partners.
Ukraine, Turkey, Nigeria and China are among the other most frequent
countries of origin of applicants, says the UK firm which has offices around the
world.
It adds that overall applications for Caribbean CBI programmes have
increased by 12% since the fourth quarter of 2024.
Everything from gun violence to antisemitism is putting Americans on
tenterhooks, according to the consultancy's Dominic Volek.
"Around 10-15% actually relocate. For most it's an insurance policy against
whatever they're concerned about. Having a second citizenship is a good
back-up plan," he explains.
Mr Volek says the ease-of-travel advantages the Caribbean passports
provide appeals to businesspeople, and may also present a security benefit.
"Some US clients prefer to travel on a more politically-benign passport."
Prior to the Covid pandemic, the US was not even on Henley's "radar", Mr
Volek continues.
Movement restrictions proved "quite a shock" for affluent people used to
travelling freely on private jets, prompting the first surge in stateside CBI
applications. Interest ratcheted up again after the 2020 and 2024 US elections.
"There are Democrats that don't like Trump but also Republicans that don't
like Democrats," Mr Volek says.
"In the last two years we've gone from having zero offices in the US to eight
across all major cities, with another two to three opening in the coming
months."
