St. Vincent Opposition Pledges Citizenship by Investment Program Ahead of 2025 Election

St. Vincent and the Grenadines' opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has announced plans to introduce a citizenship by investment (CBI) program if victorious in the November 2025 general election. St. Vincent opposition pledges Citizenship by Investment program ahead of the 2025 election, positioning it as a key policy proposal in their campaign.

Opposition leader Dr. Godwin Friday unveiled the proposal at a recent party convention in Petit Bordel, promising a transparent program that would direct benefits to public servants and those on assistance rather than political figures. The announcement comes as recent polling shows a tight race, with the ruling Unity Labour Party holding a narrow lead of 33.7% to the NDP's 30.1%.

Friday dismissed criticisms about "selling passports" during his announcement, emphasising that the program's benefits would go directly to the people. The NDP leader assured that the program would be properly monitored and would "meet the highest levels of scrutiny."

The Requirements of St. Vincent Citizenship by Investment

The proposed CBI program would allow foreign nationals to acquire citizenship in exchange for contributions to the country's socio-economic development. While specific details regarding the program's structure, pricing, or eligibility criteria have not yet been provided, Friday pointed to successful CBI programs in neighboring countries as models.

St. Vincent's passport currently ranks 23rd globally, offering visa-free access to 157 destinations, including the European Union and United Kingdom.