The Grenada Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was debated in the Senate on Friday, 31 July 2026, marking another significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the governance, integrity and international credibility of Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.
The bill amends the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act, No. 15 of 2013, bringing the country’s legislative framework into alignment with the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) Agreement and reinforcing Grenada’s commitment to regional cooperation, enhanced oversight and internationally accepted regulatory standards.
At the heart of the proposed legislation is the formal recognition of the ECCIRA as the regional regulatory body for participating Citizenship by Investment programmes. The amendments establish a clear framework for implementing ECCIRA’s standards, directives, and enforcement actions, while strengthening collaboration among participating states through harmonised due diligence, licensing, information-sharing, and compliance mechanisms.
The bill introduces several significant reforms aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency across the administration of the programme. These include mandatory annual independent financial audits, biennial operational audits, compliance assessments and provisions for special audits where necessary. It also establishes corrective measures for identified deficiencies and reinforces reporting obligations to ensure ongoing compliance with regional standards.
The legislation further strengthens the regulatory framework governing Local Agents by requiring mandatory pre-qualification through ECCIRA before licences may be issued or renewed. Where an agent no longer satisfies regional standards, the Authority may recommend suspension or revocation of that agent’s licence, ensuring that only qualified and compliant agents are permitted to operate within the programme.
Recognising that robust due diligence remains the cornerstone of a credible investment migration programme, the bill enhances applicant screening procedures by introducing harmonised regional requirements for pre-qualification, no-objection notices, background checks and interviews. Interviews may be conducted either in person or through secure virtual platforms, with provisions also addressing interviews for qualifying dependants, limited exemptions and the secure retention of interview records.
Among the new measures designed to reinforce the value and integrity of Grenadian citizenship is the introduction of a genuine and effective link requirement. Successful applicants and their qualifying dependants will be required to spend at least 30 days in Grenada during or within the first 5 years after citizenship is granted and participate in a mandatory integration programme. The legislation also empowers the Minister to prescribe evidence of compliance during passport renewal, while authorising ECCIRA to issue implementation guidelines.
The amendments also strengthen regional cooperation through enhanced information sharing and oversight of unsuccessful applications. A regional database of denied and revoked Citizenship by Investment applications will support more effective screening across participating states while safeguarding the confidentiality and lawful use of applicant information. The bill further restricts the approval of applicants previously denied citizenship under another participating programme, except in limited circumstances approved by the authority.
In addition, the legislation establishes the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Database, providing a secure platform for regional information sharing to support enhanced due diligence, intelligence cooperation and regulatory oversight. The database is intended to strengthen compliance with internationally recognised standards and recommendations, including those of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other relevant international authorities.
The bill also modernises licensing procedures by requiring all applications for licences to satisfy three mandatory conditions before approval: examination by the Citizenship by Investment Committee, confirmation of pre-qualification by ECCIRA and the issuance of a no-objection notice. Licences granted without meeting these requirements will be considered null and void.
Additional amendments provide for strengthened governance through enhanced reporting obligations, publication requirements, appeals relating to enforcement actions, disclosure provisions and measures to ensure that regulations made under Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Act remain consistent with those established under the ECCIRA Agreement.
Overall, the Grenada Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill, 2026 represents one of the most comprehensive updates to the country’s Citizenship by Investment legislation since the programme’s establishment. By reinforcing governance, strengthening regulatory oversight, improving transparency and deepening regional collaboration, the bill positions Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Programme to operate within a modern, harmonised and internationally recognised regulatory framework that safeguards the programme’s integrity while supporting its long-term sustainability.
Source: Ministry of Legal Affairs
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