Citizenship · Active - 2026 Genuine-Link Reform Being Implemented
Minimum
From USD 250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution route, single applicant or family of up to 4)
Timeline
4–6 months
Stay
0 days - no mandatory physical presence requirement. Upcoming reform: Physical presence is expected to become mandatory under the new regional framework, but the exact number of days has not yet been officially confirmed.
Passport
#21
St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) offers From USD 250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution route, single applicant or family of up to 4). Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to a large share of global destinations, including the Schengen Area( Around 156 countries);
Global mobility: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a large share of global destinations, including the Schengen Area; note the 2026 loss of visa-free access to Ireland (see Updates tab). Around 156 countries
US Visitor Visa access: St Kitts and Nevis passport holders are eligible for a 10-year US Visitor Visa, the maximum validity available for that visa category.
Favourable tax regime: No personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax for residents or citizens.
Dominica
Dominica CBI
Citizenship · Active
Minimum
From USD 200,000
Timeline
4 - 6
Stay
Currently no physical presence requirement. A 30-day presence requirement within the first five years is expected under the new regional framework.
Passport
#30
Dominica CBI offers From USD 200,000.
US visa access is currently restricted for Dominica nationals: new US visitor, student and immigrant visas are suspended since 1 January 2026.
Low entry cost: Minimum investment from USD 200,000.
Established programme: Operating since 1993, making it one of the world’s longest-running CBI programmes.
Global mobility: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 140+ destinations, including the Schengen Area, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.
El Salvador
El Salvador Freedom Visa
Citizenship · Active - Launched 2023
Minimum
$1M
Timeline
Among the fastest in the world: approximately 6–8 weeks from application to passport, fully remote
Stay
No physical presence or residency requirement. The application can be completed remotely, with no mandatory stay after citizenship is granted.
Passport
#38
El Salvador Freedom Passport offers fast-track citizenship through a USD 1,000,000 contribution payable in Bitcoin (BTC) or USDT. Includes family eligibility and access to 131 visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations, including the Schengen Area, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
USD 1,000,000 contribution in BTC or USDT
Fast-track citizenship
131 visa-free / visa-on-arrival destinations
Matrix
Compare the published requirements in context. Different currencies, tax regimes and route conditions are not directly interchangeable.
Country
St Kitts CBISt Kitts & Nevis
Dominica CBIDominica
El Salvador Freedom VisaEl Salvador
Type
St Kitts CBICitizenship
Dominica CBICitizenship
El Salvador Freedom VisaCitizenship
Investment
St Kitts CBIFrom USD 250,000 (Sustainable Island State Contribution route, single applicant or family of up to 4)
Dominica CBIFrom USD 200,000
El Salvador Freedom Visa$1M
Timeline
St Kitts CBI4–6 months
Dominica CBI4 - 6
El Salvador Freedom VisaAmong the fastest in the world: approximately 6–8 weeks from application to passport, fully remote
Stay requirement
St Kitts CBI0 days - no mandatory physical presence requirement. Upcoming reform: Physical presence is expected to become mandatory under the new regional framework, but the exact number of days has not yet been officially confirmed.
Dominica CBICurrently no physical presence requirement. A 30-day presence requirement within the first five years is expected under the new regional framework.
El Salvador Freedom VisaNo physical presence or residency requirement. The application can be completed remotely, with no mandatory stay after citizenship is granted.
Passport Rank
St Kitts CBI#21
Dominica CBI#30
El Salvador Freedom Visa#38
Visa-free reach
St Kitts CBI156 destinations
Dominica CBI145 destinations
El Salvador Freedom Visa130 destinations
Passport tier
St Kitts CBIStrong (150-184)
Dominica CBIEstablished (120-149)
El Salvador Freedom VisaEstablished (120-149)
Best for
St Kitts CBINon-EU investors seeking a strong second passport with Schengen+UK access, zero tax obligation, and zero residency requirements. Best established CBI brand globally.
Dominica CBIInvestors seeking the most affordable CBI with Schengen access. No UK requirement. Budget-conscious second passport. Short RE holding (3 years).
El Salvador Freedom VisaCrypto and Bitcoin investors seeking fast-track citizenship with no residence requirement, Schengen mobility and a territorial tax framework.
Dual citizenship
St Kitts CBIPermitted — investors may retain other passports unless their country of origin forbids dual citizenship
Dominica CBIVaries
El Salvador Freedom VisaPermitted without restriction - investors are not required to renounce any existing nationality
Physical presence
St Kitts CBI0 days - no mandatory physical presence requirement. Upcoming reform: Physical presence is expected to become mandatory under the new regional framework, but the exact number of days has not yet been officially confirmed.
Dominica CBICurrently no physical presence requirement. A 30-day presence requirement within the first five years is expected under the new regional framework.
El Salvador Freedom VisaNo physical presence or residency requirement. The application can be completed remotely, with no mandatory stay after citizenship is granted.
Entry route
St Kitts CBI4 published options · review qualifying requirements
Dominica CBI2 published options · review qualifying requirements
El Salvador Freedom Visa1 published option · review qualifying requirements
Desk commentary
St Kitts & Nevis
YES St Kitts and Nevis is a participating jurisdiction in the OECD's Common Reporting Standard (CRS), with automatic exchange relationships in place with many partner jurisdictions. Implemented via the Common Reporting Standard (Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information) Act and Regulations; CRS compliance is mandatory for reporting financial institutions. St Kitts and Nevis began exchanging CRS information in 2018, covering 2017 account data. The Comptroller of the St Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department (Tax Information Authority), administering CRS and transmitting data to partner jurisdictions. CRS returns are due annually by 31 May following the end of the reporting period, submitted electronically via the IRD's AEOI Portal. CRS reporting is based on tax residency, not citizenship — holding a St Kitts and Nevis passport alone does not exempt an individual from CRS reporting in their actual country/countries of tax residence. St Kitts and Nevis also complies with FATCA (US) reporting requirements alongside CRS.
Dominica
Dominica’s CBI framework is undergoing regulatory changes, including proposed physical-presence requirements and in-person passport collection. Implementation dates and transitional rules remain subject to confirmation. Applicants should verify the latest requirements with a licensed Authorised Agent before applying. Dominica participates in the automatic exchange of financial account information as a CRS-compliant jurisdiction, in line with OECD standards.
El Salvador
NO El Salvador does not participate in the OECD's Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for automatic exchange of financial account information — a notable difference from every Caribbean CBI jurisdiction covered in this series, all of which are CRS participants. El Salvador has also been identified by the OECD as a jurisdiction relevant to the new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) but, as of 2026, has not committed to implementing it, alongside a small group of other jurisdictions including Argentina, India and Vietnam. Sources differ on El Salvador's FATCA status: some report that Salvadoran financial institutions comply directly with US FATCA reporting obligations, while others describe El Salvador as having no formal FATCA agreement with the United States. Applicants with US tax obligations should confirm the current position directly with a qualified US tax advisor. Non-participation in CRS does not exempt an individual from their own tax-residency reporting obligations in their home country. Investors remain fully responsible for disclosing foreign accounts, income and assets under the rules of any jurisdiction where they are a tax resident or citizen with reporting obligations (e.g. US citizens under FATCA/FBAR). El Salvador has undergone a Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes peer review (Second Round, 2026), reflecting continued international scrutiny of its tax transparency framework even absent CRS participation.
Last updated: October 2026Source-backed programme data77 source referencesData confidence
Figures are published by the relevant ministries or licensed intermediaries and shown in indicative form. Programmes change; terms of engagement are confidential. Nothing on this page is an offer of citizenship or tax advice.