For years, rich Africans frustrated by visa delays and repeated rejections found an expensive escape route in Caribbean citizenship, but that option is now under threat as the EU pushes five island nations to end their “golden passport” programmes or lose visa-free access to Europe.
Brussels has given Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia until 2028 to end their citizenship-by-investment programmes or risk losing visa-free access to the 29-country Schengen area.
The programmes allow foreign investors to acquire citizenship through qualifying financial contributions and have drawn strong demand from Africans whose passports offer limited access to major business and travel markets.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is among the most exposed, as its citizens accounted for about 16% of applications to Grenada’s programme in 2025, ahead of China at 12%, and remained a leading source market in the first quarter of 2026.
In comments to Business Insider Africa, Ukrainian-born investment migration expert Anatoliy Letaev said the proposed crackdown could hit African demand harder than other markets because access to Europe was the main attraction for many applicants.
