Adding Newborns After Approval: Caribbean Citizenship Programs Most Family-Friendly

Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs are fast. Processing times usually range between two to six months, and the entire procedure is streamlined and extremely efficient.

This is typically a good thing, it is even one of the selling points of Caribbean CIPs, but the fast nature of these programs may leave some families (especially those expecting an addition to their roster) to consider waiting a bit, or even scrapping the idea because they don’t want to leave their newborn as the sole member without a second passport.

However, that isn’t the case, as Caribbean CIPs have engineered a way for applicants to add newborns to their application, even after they have been approved and granted citizenship.

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Each Caribbean country has its own regulation regarding adding newborns, and the process, fees, and requirements may differ depending on whether the laws fall under citizenship by descent or the citizenship by investment program.

There are some constants, though, and applicants who want to add dependents after approval can expect the following:

• Additional fees 
• Renewed due diligence requirement depending on the elapsed time 
• Period constraints on until when children can be added (in case the regulations fall under the citizenship by investment act

Here is a closer look at each Caribbean CIP and its requirements for adding children after approval.

Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda has one of the most family-oriented citizenship by investment programs in the world, and it follows through in terms of adding dependents after approval.

A main applicant who has received their citizenship through the country’s program can add their newborn children under the age of 17.

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There is a fee associated based on when they add their newborns to the application, as it costs $20,000 to add a newborn child above five years of age, and $10,000 for children below five.

Antigua & Barbuda has a one-generation citizenship by descent legislation, meaning that a child born abroad, after October 31, 1981, can obtain Antiguan citizenship if at least one of his parents was a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.

Dominica

Dominica allows the addition of newborns, and they are granted citizenship in exchange for a small fee ($2,000), and since the application falls under citizenship by descent legislation, the application fees may differ depending from one year to the next.

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Under its citizenship legislation, a child born on the territory of Dominica can automatically get Dominica citizenship no matter the nationality of their parents. A child can also obtain citizenship if at least one of their parents is a Dominican citizen.

However, the process usually remains constant, and it is a simple procedure, but applicants must apply before the child becomes five years of age.

Grenada

Grenada’s requirements for adding newborns fall under the citizenship by investment program if the addition is made within one year of approval; after that, they shift under citizenship by descent laws. 

Applicants can add a newborn within the first 12 months of approval by paying a fee of $25,000. After the 12 months have elapsed, they can apply for citizenship by descent, which requires fees, POAs, stamps, and more, and can cost about $10,000. 

While the citizenship by descent route is cheaper, it is much longer and requires more documentation and procedures, so it will be up to the applicant to decide which route is best for them.

St. Kitts & Nevis

Home to the oldest citizenship by investment program, dating back to 1984, St. Kitts & Nevis has continuously tinkered with and updated its program since its establishment. 

Most recently, it has issued a change to its regulations concerning adding dependents or newborns after approval, as main applicants will now have to pay $10,000 for a child born after the application is submitted but before the Certificate of Registration is issued.

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These numbers concern non-accelerated applications; for those who apply under the accelerated route, they would need to pay $15,000 for a newborn.

St Kitts & Nevis also has a citizenship by descent framework that allows children and grandchildren of St Kittians and Nevisians to apply for naturalisation if one of their parents is a naturalised citizen and if they did not apply at the time their parents were naturalised.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia also updated its post-approval dependent addition regulations in 2023, and now main applicants will have to pay $5,000 to add newborn children after they receive their approval. 

However, it is important to note that applicants only have one year from the date of their naturalisation to add any newborn children, and any children born after one year cannot be added.

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However, children can apply to become citizens by descent and have their application judged on a case-by-case basis, as the law allows the granting of the citizenship of Saint Lucia either by birth in Saint Lucia, or by birth outside of Saint Lucia, to a parent or parents who are not themselves Saint Lucian citizens by descent.

This means that only one generation of children can be naturalised for an investor who obtained his citizenship by investment.

Know More About Caribbean Citizenship by Investment

If you want to learn more about Caribbean citizenship by investment, contact us today to book a comprehensive consultation with one of our second citizenship experts.

 

  

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