Commission report: around 107,000 passports from Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes

The Commission reports every year to the European Parliament and the Council on whether visa-free partner countries continue to fulfil the visa liberalisation requirements and earlier recommendations. The eighth report, adopted on 19 December 2025, examines visa policy alignment, migration, security and citizenship in the Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries, the Eastern Caribbean countries operating investor citizenship schemes, and Latin American countries. According to the Commission's news item, most partner countries have taken steps to address the earlier recommendations, but significant challenges persist.

According to the Caribbean chapter, it is estimated that around 107,000 passports have been issued through the schemes of the five countries. The number of applications remains high: 13,113 in 2023 and 10,573 in 2024. Rejection rates are low: in 2024 they were 1.7% in Antigua and Barbuda, 5.3% in Saint Lucia and 6.5% in Dominica.

The Commission finds that the operation of investor citizenship schemes by visa-free countries "poses a non-negligible security risk" for the Schengen area. The matter will be further examined under the revised visa suspension mechanism, as the operation of such schemes is a potential ground for suspension. The countries concerned should take all measures necessary for adequate security vetting of applicants, pending the discontinuation of the schemes. For Vanuatu, the report mentions its removal from the visa-free list in December 2024.