Citizenship by Investment Through Real Estate

Real estate can qualify, but only through programme-approved structures

CBI through real estate usually means buying a property or fractional interest that a government has specifically approved for the citizenship programme. It is not enough to purchase any attractive apartment or villa in the country. The asset must satisfy the programme's legal category at the time of application. Dominica currently starts approved real estate at US$200,000, Antigua and Barbuda at US$300,000, and St Kitts and Nevis at US$325,000 for a qualifying developer or condominium interest. Grenada's approved-project structure currently requires US$270,000 to the project plus a US$50,000 government contribution for a single applicant or family of up to four.

The word 'real estate' can hide very different legal interests: a whole unit, a fractional title, shares in a project company or another approved interest. Before comparing returns, establish exactly what is owned, what can be sold after the hold and whether a future CBI applicant may buy that interest as a qualifying investment.

Minimum investment and government fees need to be separated

Türkiye allows qualifying real estate worth at least US$400,000, subject to a three-year no-sale restriction. Unlike many Caribbean CBI properties, the route is not limited to a resort-share model, although the property still has to satisfy valuation, title and eligibility rules.

Holding periods control the earliest realistic exit

The exit date varies. Dominica generally requires at least three years and five years if the next CBI applicant will use the same asset. Antigua's programme real estate is generally held for five years. St Kitts and Nevis currently uses a seven-year programme holding period. Selling too early can breach the route conditions.

Legal ownership structures differ from project to project

Government approval means the development can be used for CBI. It does not guarantee construction completion, rental yield, resale price, developer performance or liquidity. Investors should still conduct ordinary legal, financial and commercial due diligence on the project. Many CBI developments use hotel suites, shares or fractional interests rather than a conventional home. Read the management agreement, revenue-sharing formula, owner-use rights and resale mechanism. The legal title and economic rights can differ greatly between projects that carry the same citizenship eligibility.

Programme approval does not replace property due diligence

Government fees, conveyancing, taxes, insurance, maintenance and agent costs can be material. Some programmes charge higher government fees on real-estate applications than on contribution routes. Model these as non-recoverable even though the property itself may later be sold. A useful test is to ask whether you would still be comfortable owning the asset if citizenship were removed from the marketing brochure. If the answer is no, the contribution route may be economically clearer. CBI eligibility should not replace normal property due diligence.

Before purchasing, confirm that the specific project and ownership form satisfy the programme, that the statutory minimum is met by eligible consideration, and that the sale cannot occur before the required holding period. Keep the approval evidence and payment trail with the citizenship file. Use independent property counsel for the commercial transaction even when an authorised CBI agent coordinates the immigration side. Eligibility for citizenship does not answer ordinary questions about title, completion risk, service charges, rental demand or the price another buyer may pay when the holding period ends.