Industry Insights & News

No syndication. No rehashes. No PR fluff. First-hand CBI industry observations, policy analysis, and client case debriefs — 11 years of field experience.

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Dominica

Dominica’s US$200K real-estate route has a resale catch: another CBI buyer changes the holding period

As of May 29, 2026, The official Dominica CBIU Real Estate Investment page says the real-estate option requires purchase of a unit in an Approved Project worth at least US$200,000; the property must be held for three years from the date citizenship is granted, or five years from that date if the future purchaser is also a Citizenship by Investment applicant. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Vanuatu

Vanuatu should not be sold as an EU visa-free passport anymore. That matters more than its speed

As of May 29, 2026, The Council of the European Union announced on December 12, 2024 that it decided to add Vanuatu to the list of countries whose nationals must hold a visa when crossing an EU external border, citing security and migration risks linked to investor citizenship schemes; the same announcement notes that Vanuatu’s visa exemption had already been suspended since 2022. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Turkey

Turkey’s US$500K bank-deposit route looks simple. The three-year lockup is where the real planning begins

As of May 29, 2026, The official Invest in Türkiye investment guide says a foreigner may seek Turkish citizenship through exceptional procedures if the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency confirms that at least US$500,000, or equivalent foreign currency, has been deposited in banks operating in Turkey on the condition that it is not withdrawn for at least three years; the same guide also lists real estate, fixed capital, government bonds, fund shares, and private pension routes. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Saint Kitts

Saint Kitts SISC starts at US$250K for up to four, but the real family math starts at age 16

As of May 29, 2026, The official Saint Kitts and Nevis CIU SISC page lists the minimum contribution for a main applicant or family of up to four at US$250,000, additional dependants under 18 at US$25,000 each, additional dependants aged 18 or over at US$50,000 each, due diligence fees of US$10,000 for the main applicant and US$7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or over, and a required interview for each main applicant, with dependants aged 16 or over possibly required to attend if deemed necessary. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Grenada

Grenada can create E-2 treaty nationality, but it does not turn a weak U.S. business case into a visa

As of May 29, 2026, The U.S. Department of State Treaty Countries page lists Grenada as an E-2 treaty country with an effective date of March 3, 1989; USCIS says an E-2 treaty investor must be a national of a treaty country and must have invested, or be actively investing, a substantial amount of capital in a real operating U.S. enterprise, with capital placed at commercial risk. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Antigua

Antigua’s UWI Fund is built for families of six or more. The real question is structure, not the scholarship headline

As of May 29, 2026, The official Antigua and Barbuda CIU UWI Fund page says the option requires a US$260,000 investment for a family of six or more, includes a one-year tuition-only scholarship at the University of the West Indies for one family member, uses a local Licensed Agent, and requires the contribution after approval to be paid to the Government Special Fund within 30 days. The practical question is whether that rule fits the applicant’s real life.

Ken Huang 2026-05-29 8 min read

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Vanuatu

Vanuatu may feel fast, but approval is not the end. The 28-day National ID step is easy to overlook

As of May 28, 2026, Vanuatu’s official CRIM page says that under the National Identity Act, a person granted citizenship must apply for a National Identity Card within 28 days after being granted citizenship, and lists birth certificate, police clearance, Citizenship Commission certificate, and receipt among new-citizen registration documents. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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Turkey

Turkey property buyers should not confuse a preliminary contract with ownership. The official rule is blunt about title transfer

As of May 28, 2026, The official Invest in Türkiye page says property ownership in Turkey is approved only through registration at land registry directorates; preliminary real-estate contracts do not transfer ownership by themselves, and mortgages, liens, or similar burdens should be checked before land-registry procedures begin. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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Turkey

Turkey’s US$400K real-estate route does not end at purchase. The three-year resale restriction defines the real boundary

As of May 28, 2026, The official Invest in Türkiye guide says foreign natural persons may seek Turkish citizenship through exceptional procedures after acquiring real estate worth at least USD 400,000, with a title-deed restriction on resale for at least three years. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia’s US$300K National Action Bond looks recoverable, but the US$50K administration fee changes the real cost picture

As of May 28, 2026, Saint Lucia’s official FAQ describes the National Action Bond as a five-year holding bond, lists US$300,000 for an applicant with qualifying dependants of any number, and adds a non-refundable administration fee of US$50,000. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia does not let applicants chase case status directly. That turns agent quality into a front-line risk

As of May 28, 2026, Saint Lucia’s official FAQ says applicants must go through a licensed Authorised Agent, that the Programme will not share application status with anyone other than the Authorised Agent, and that due diligence applies to applicants and qualifying dependants over 16. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia’s US$240K NEF route is not just an entry number. The Board still keeps grant, deny, or delay discretion

As of May 28, 2026, The official Saint Lucia CIP page lists the National Economic Fund amount for an applicant alone with up to three qualifying dependants at US$240,000, and says the Citizenship by Investment Board considers all applications carefully and may grant, deny, or delay for cause. The practical issue is how that rule affects preparation, approval, and post-approval ownership.

Ken Huang 2026-05-28 8 min read

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