Grenada Citizenship by Investment Advisory

What Movingto Does for a Grenada CBI Application

Grenada's CBI is tightly regulated: the Investment Migration Agency (IMA) publishes a current list of IMA-licensed Local Agents who are the only professionals authorized to file an application. International advisories — including Movingto — cannot file directly. What we do is run the full advisory and coordination layer around the filing:

• Eligibility and risk review — we assess passport utility, tax residency implications, source-of-funds documentation and red flags against IMA due diligence standards before you commit.
• Route selection — NTF donation vs approved real estate, and within real estate, shared ownership vs sole ownership. We model the five-year hold, exit liquidity, and total-cost-to-passport for your family composition.
• Document preparation — police clearances, medicals, bank statements, source-of-funds narrative, apostilles, certified translations. We prepare the file the Local Agent will submit.
• Local Agent coordination — we refer you to a verified IMA-licensed Local Agent partner, sit in on calls, review the engagement letter, and project-manage the filing.
• Due-diligence support — we prepare you for the mandatory virtual interview and handle IMA clarification requests during the 60–90 day background-check phase.
• Post-approval — we coordinate the Oath of Allegiance (remote at a Grenada Embassy/Consulate), passport delivery, and post-approval tax and banking advice.

You get a single point of contact at Movingto and a lawyer-licensed Local Agent of record in Grenada. You do not have to manage two separate engagements.

Who Leads Grenada CBI at Movingto

Radica Maneva is the lead advisor on Grenada and wider Caribbean citizenship-by-investment matters at Movingto. She owns intake, route modeling, source-of-funds narrative, and Local Agent coordination across the CBI programs we cover. Clients work with Radica from the first eligibility call through passport delivery.

Grenada applications are filed by IMA-licensed Local Agents in Grenada who are attorneys-at-law on the roll of the General Legal Council of Grenada. Movingto does not hold — and does not claim to hold — an IMA Local Agent licence.

The 5-Test Framework for Choosing a Grenada CBI Advisor

Most prospective applicants land on Grenada CBI content that ranks six or seven international firms against each other. That frame is upside-down: under Grenada law the filing has to go through an IMA-licensed Local Agent regardless of which international brand fronts the relationship. The right question is not "which of these firms is best" but "is the advisor I'm paying actually adding value on top of the Local Agent filing". Five tests:

1. Does the advisor name a specific IMA-licensed Local Agent?

If the only answer you get is "our partner network", you are paying for a referral layer without knowing who will actually file your case. Ask for the Local Agent's name, licence reference, and a copy of the Local Agent engagement letter before signing with the advisor.

2. Is the advisory fee disclosed separately from the investment?

Grenada CBI investment goes to the NTF or to an approved developer. The government fees go to the IMA. The Local Agent fee goes to the Local Agent. The advisory fee is a separate, fourth line item. If a quote bundles all four into one "total package" number, push for line-item disclosure.

3. Is commission disclosure in writing, before engagement?

Advisors often receive referral commissions from Local Agent partners, approved developers, and occasionally the NTF. That is not inherently wrong, but it has to be disclosed in writing in advance so you can weigh route recommendations against them. Movingto's commission disclosure is in every engagement letter.

4. Does the advisor caveat the E-2 pathway under the E Visa Integrity Act?

The 3-year Grenada domicile requirement before E-2 eligibility is the single biggest change to the Grenada value proposition in the last decade. Any advisor who pitches Grenada-to-US E-2 access without walking you through the domicile rule is either behind the curve or selling a pre-2023 story.

5. Is there post-approval support?

The passport is the deliverable, but the 5-year real estate hold, CRS tax reporting, and downstream banking integration are where applicants lose money. A CBI advisor should cover the decade after approval, not just the six months before it.

How Does Grenada's Local Agent System Work?

Under Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Act No. 15 of 2013, all applications must be submitted through licensed Local Agents authorized by the Investment Migration Agency (IMA). The distinction between agent types is crucial for a compliant application.

What Is a Licensed Local Agent?

A Licensed Local Agent is a Grenada-based professional — typically an attorney-at-law — authorized by the IMA to submit citizenship applications directly to the government. Only Local Agents can file applications. International advisories and law firms must partner with a licensed Local Agent to process a case.

Local Agents vs Marketing Agents

• Local Agents — Licensed in Grenada with exclusive rights to submit applications to the IMA. They act as the link between investor and government.
• Marketing Agents — Can promote the program globally but cannot submit applications. When a client applies, a Marketing Agent must work with a Local Agent.

How to Verify an Agent's Licence

1. Visit the Investment Migration Agency (IMA) official portal and check the published Authorized Agents list.
2. Check the General Legal Council attorney directory for practicing lawyers.
3. Review the Laws of Grenada statutory rules for current regulations.
4. Confirm Investment Migration Council (IMC) corporate membership status where relevant.

What Are the Grenada CBI Investment Options?

Grenada offers two primary investment routes, each with different cost structures and liquidity profiles.

Option A: National Transformation Fund (NTF) Donation

The NTF is a non-refundable contribution to Grenada's national development fund. It's the lowest-total-cost path and the most common choice for families whose primary goal is the passport rather than a Caribbean real estate position.

Option B: Approved Real Estate Investment

Invest in government-approved real estate projects. Properties must be held for 5 years before resale, and the next buyer must themselves be a CBI applicant — which is the single biggest constraint on exit liquidity.

Government Fees (Both Routes)

Total Cost Breakdown

Numbers reflect IMA Circular No. 2 of 2024 minimums. Real estate totals exclude closing costs, stamp duty, legal conveyancing and the 5-year resale restriction.

The Grenada CBI Application Process — 6 Steps

End-to-end, the process takes 4–6 months from engagement to passport issuance:

Step 1: Eligibility Review & Route Selection

Movingto runs a structured eligibility review — background, source-of-funds, family composition, passport objectives, tax residency — and recommends NTF vs real estate. We model the total cost-to-passport for your exact family and flag any red-flag documentation before you commit.

Step 2: Local Agent Engagement & Document Preparation

We introduce you to a verified IMA-licensed Local Agent partner and review the Local Agent engagement letter with you. In parallel, we help assemble the file: passport, birth/marriage certificates, police clearances for every jurisdiction of residence, medical certificate, bank statements, and the source-of-funds narrative. Non-English documents are certified and translated.

Step 3: Application Submission to IMA

Your Local Agent submits the complete application to the Investment Migration Agency. Government processing and application fees are paid at submission. You sign the escrow agreement (NTF) or purchase agreement (real estate).

Step 4: Due Diligence & Virtual Interview

The IMA conducts comprehensive background checks via independent international due-diligence providers. Applicants aged 17+ complete a mandatory virtual interview. This phase typically takes 60–90 days; clarification requests are not unusual and Movingto handles the response drafting with the Local Agent.

Step 5: Approval in Principle & Investment Completion

Once "Approved in Principle" is issued, you have 30 days to complete the investment — transfer the NTF donation or close the real estate purchase into escrow.

Step 6: Oath of Allegiance & Passport Issuance

Proof of investment goes to the IMA. You take the Oath of Allegiance remotely at a Grenada Embassy or Consulate. Your Certificate of Registration and passport are mailed — no travel to Grenada is required at any point.

Why Grenada? Key Benefits

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa Access to the USA

Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI program with US E-2 Treaty access. The E-2 visa allows you to live and work in the United States while operating a substantial business, with renewals possible indefinitely.

Important — E Visa Integrity Act 2022 change: The US E Visa Integrity Act now requires Grenadian citizens who obtained citizenship through investment to be domiciled in Grenada for a continuous 3-year period before becoming eligible to apply for an E-2 visa. This materially changes the Grenada-to-US timeline. If E-2 is your primary goal, Movingto will model the 3-year domicile path and the alternatives honestly before you commit.

Visa-Free Travel to 140+ Countries

Grenada passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Schengen Area (all 27 EU states), the United Kingdom, China (one of only two Caribbean CBIs with this access), Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and most of Latin America.

Tax Profile

For non-residents, Grenada has no worldwide income tax, no capital gains tax, no wealth tax, no inheritance or estate tax, and no gift tax. Tax residency is a separate question from citizenship — obtaining Grenadian citizenship does not by itself relocate your tax residency, and you should not plan tax residency changes off a passport alone.

Commission Disclosure

Movingto may receive referral commissions from IMA-licensed Local Agent partners, approved real estate developers, or in some configurations from the National Transformation Fund. All commissions are disclosed in writing in the engagement letter before you sign. Commissions do not increase your total investment amount — they are paid by the receiving party out of fees you already pay. We disclose them because we believe the right test for an advisor is not the absence of commissions but whether incentives are on the table.

How Do You Avoid CBI Scams?

Warning signs, in rough order of severity:

• Unlicensed agents — always verify IMA authorization before engaging anyone.
• Guaranteed approval promises — no legitimate firm or Local Agent can guarantee approval.
• Unusually low fees — below-market pricing often indicates inadequate due-diligence work or an unlicensed intermediary.
• Pressure to pay quickly — legitimate firms allow time for due diligence on both sides.
• No written engagement letter — all reputable advisors provide detailed contracts.
• Requests for cash payments — all fees should be paid through traceable methods into regulated accounts.
• No commission disclosure — if you cannot see the incentive structure in writing, you cannot assess the recommendation.

Cross-check any firm against the IMI Daily approved agents list and blacklist before engaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for Grenada citizenship without a Local Agent?

No. Under Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Act, all CBI applications must be submitted through an IMA-licensed Local Agent. You cannot apply directly to the Investment Migration Agency. International advisories like Movingto coordinate with the Local Agent who actually files.

Is Movingto an IMA-licensed Local Agent?

No. Movingto is a cross-border residency and citizenship advisory. We coordinate Grenada CBI applications through verified IMA-licensed Local Agent partners who are attorneys-at-law on the roll of the General Legal Council of Grenada. We do not claim to file applications ourselves.

How much does the Movingto advisory fee cost?

Our advisory fee is quoted per case after a free eligibility review. It varies with family size, source-of-funds complexity, real estate vs NTF route, and whether you need post-approval tax and banking support. Fees are disclosed in the engagement letter and are separate from the Local Agent fee, government fees, due-diligence fees, and your investment amount.

Does Movingto receive commissions on Grenada CBI cases?

Sometimes, yes. Movingto may receive referral commissions from IMA-licensed Local Agent partners, approved real estate developers, or the NTF. All commissions are disclosed in writing in the engagement letter before you sign, and they do not increase your total investment amount.

How long does the Grenada CBI process take?

Standard processing is 4–6 months from application submission to passport issuance. The due-diligence phase is the most variable — 60 to 90 days is typical. The process is fully digital: no visit to Grenada is required, though a mandatory virtual interview is conducted for applicants aged 17+.

Is Grenada citizenship still worth it after the E Visa Integrity Act?

It depends on your objective. For broad passport utility, tax profile, and non-Caribbean visa-free access, Grenada remains one of the strongest Caribbean CBIs. If your primary goal is near-term US access via E-2, the 3-year Grenada domicile requirement materially changes the timeline and you should compare the EB-5 route, L-1 intracompany transfers, or alternative CBIs with direct US pathways before committing.

What is the cheapest way to get Grenada citizenship?

The NTF donation route at $235,000 (single applicant or family of up to 4) is the lowest investment option. Adding government fees (~$11,500 for a single applicant) and Local Agent plus advisory fees, expect a realistic minimum total cost in the high $250,000s USD for a single applicant.

Can Grenada citizens work in the USA?

Grenadian citizens can apply for the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, which allows living and working in the US while operating a substantial business. The E-2 is valid for 5 years and renewable. For CBI citizens specifically, the E Visa Integrity Act requires 3 years of domicile in Grenada before E-2 eligibility.

Do I need to visit Grenada during the application?

No. The entire Grenada CBI process is fully digital. The mandatory interview is conducted virtually, and your passport is mailed. There is currently no residency or physical visit requirement.

Can my family be included in the application?

Yes. Eligible dependents include: spouse; children under 18; children 18–30 if financially dependent on the main applicant; children 18+ with disabilities; parents and grandparents 55+; unmarried siblings 18+ without children. Each additional dependent attracts an incremental NTF contribution and due-diligence fee.

How does source-of-funds documentation work?

The IMA and its due-diligence providers require a clear paper trail for the invested capital — employment income, business sale proceeds, inheritance, investment returns, gift, or a combination. Movingto drafts the source-of-funds narrative and reviews supporting documentation before the Local Agent submits, which is where most avoidable refusals originate.

What happens if the application is refused?

Refusal rates are low but non-zero. The NTF contribution is not triggered until after Approval in Principle, so you do not lose the investment if refused at due diligence. You do lose the government processing fee, due-diligence fee, Local Agent fee, and Movingto advisory fee. We flag refusal-risk factors up front to minimize the chance of reaching this stage.

Does Grenada citizenship require giving up my current citizenship?

No. Grenada permits dual and multiple citizenship. Whether your current country of citizenship permits it is a separate question — some do not, and we review this during the eligibility call.

Can I include a stepchild or adopted child?

Yes, subject to additional documentation. Adopted children require formal adoption paperwork; stepchildren require proof of the parent's marriage and dependency status. Movingto's document checklist covers both.

How is Grenada's CBI different from St Kitts, Dominica, or Antigua?

Grenada uniquely offers US E-2 pathway access (subject to 3-year domicile under the E Visa Integrity Act) and visa-free access to China. Minimum investment is in the same $200k–$250k band as its Caribbean peers. St Kitts has the oldest program and fastest processing. Dominica and Antigua are typically cheaper at the entry point. We run a route-selection model across all five Caribbean CBIs during intake if you are genuinely comparing.

How often do Grenada CBI rules change?

Frequently, by the standards of immigration policy. IMA circulars periodically adjust investment minimums, due-diligence fees, and real estate rules. The 2024 circular raised the NTF minimum. The 2022 E Visa Integrity Act changed the US pathway. Any advisor quoting pre-2024 numbers or a pre-2022 E-2 story is out of date.

Can I hold the Grenada real estate in a company?

For CBI qualifying purposes, the approved real estate investment generally must be held in the applicant's name during the 5-year mandatory hold period. Restructuring into a holding vehicle is usually possible after the hold expires, and Movingto advises on the tax-efficient way to do this.

What is the Oath of Allegiance and where is it taken?

The Oath is a formal declaration of loyalty taken after Approval in Principle and investment completion. It can be taken remotely at any Grenada Embassy or Consulate, or virtually where the consulate permits. No travel to Grenada is required.

Will Grenada tax me on my worldwide income after citizenship?

Grenada taxes based on residence, not citizenship. Non-resident Grenadian citizens are not taxed on worldwide income. If you become tax-resident in Grenada (a separate and deliberate step), the domestic tax rules apply. Citizenship and tax residency are two different decisions.

When should I start the Grenada CBI process?

Realistically, 9–12 months before you need the passport in hand. Process is 4–6 months from submission, but document preparation — especially police clearances from multiple jurisdictions and source-of-funds documentation — typically adds 2–3 months. We start with a free eligibility call and work back from your target date.

Official Sources & References

• Investment Migration Agency (IMA) — Official Grenada Government Portal
• Citizenship by Investment Act No. 15 of 2013
• General Legal Council — Attorney Directory
• U.S. Department of State — E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
• IMA Circular No. 2 of 2024 — Investment Thresholds

Last updated: April 2026. Movingto reviews this page quarterly against IMA circulars and US E-2 guidance.