As political tensions rise and global instability grows, wealthy Americans are quietly cashing in on a new kind of escape plan—”golden visas”. These exclusive citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs are booming in the Caribbean, offering U.S. elites a second passport, tax perks, and a backdoor out—no renunciation required.
Five island nations are leading the charge: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia. Each offers foreign nationals a fast track to citizenship through one of two high-dollar investments:
- A government donation, often starting at $200,000, or
- A pre-approved real estate purchase of equal value.
But the draw isn’t just island sunshine. These CBI programs grant visa-free access to dozens of countries, and unlike the U.S., most don’t impose capital gains, wealth, inheritance, or foreign income taxes. And Americans are lining up.
“Up to 70% of all buyers right now are wanting citizenship,” said Nadia Dyson of Antigua’s Luxury Locations Real Estate. “We’ve never sold so many before.”
She notes a sharp shift from last year’s lifestyle buyers to a flood of clients seeking homes and passports, many of them American.
The Caribbean isn’t the only hot zone. New Zealand’s “Active Investor Plus” visa recently saw a spike in U.S. applications after loosening requirements. In less than three months, 189 investors applied, compared to just 116 over the prior 2.5 years.
Former New Zealand Minister Stuart Nash calls it a “search for safety, not just savings.” With global conflict, economic shifts, and polarized politics in the U.S., today’s elite are less interested in tax shelters and more focused on future-proofing their families.
The golden passport trend is no longer just a Plan B. For many, it’s becoming Plan A.