Overview of the 2025 Ranking
The CBI index evaluates each program across nine key pillars: standard of living, freedom of movement, investment threshold, processing efficiency, due diligence, certainty of product, mandatory travel or residence requirements, time to citizenship, and eligibility of family members.
The 2025 list of countries offering the 10 best CBI programs includes:
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St Kitts and Nevis
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Dominica
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Grenada
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Saint Lucia
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Nauru
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Vanuatu
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Malta
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Türkiye
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São Tomé and Príncipe
While Caribbean jurisdictions continue to dominate the rankings, the 2025 Index highlights the expansion of CBI offerings across Africa and the Pacific. New entrants such as Nauru and São Tomé and Príncipe made their debut in the global top 10, signalling broader geographic diversification.
Türkiye climbed to ninth place, reflecting ongoing reforms and investor demand despite domestic political uncertainty.
In Europe, Malta remains the region’s main CBI player. The country has recently closed its Citizenship by Naturalisation for Exceptional Services pathway, which has been replaced by the Citizenship by Merit program.
Highlights of the 3 Top-Ranked Programs
St Kitts and Nevis ranked first with 78 points, recognised for bold reforms that strengthened transparency, security, and processing speed. Dominica followed in second place with 73 points, maintaining its strong reputation despite external challenges. Grenada secured third place with 70 points, praised for its rigorous agent oversight and inclusive approach to dependents.
St Kitts and Nevis retains its position as the global leader in CBI, setting a benchmark for due diligence and efficiency. A new digital application platform, biometric verification, and a statutory Citizenship by Investment Unit have streamlined processing and enhanced compliance, reinforcing its role as the industry standard.
Dominica demonstrates resilience in second place. Despite the loss of visa-free access to the United Kingdom, the program remains popular due to strengthened due diligence, a straightforward application process, and relatively low investment requirements.
Grenada , in third place, maintains credibility through consistent reforms and oversight. Its inclusive family policy and measures against agent misconduct have sustained investor confidence, even amid a temporary decline in application numbers.
