Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program is often presented as a straightforward eligibility process.
In practice, nationality rules are far more complex, particularly for applicants from countries classified as banned or restricted under current policy.
Over recent years, Grenada has adjusted its CBI framework in response to international sanctions, geopolitical risk, and regional coordination across Caribbean programs.
Eligibility is no longer assessed by nationality alone. Residence history, economic ties, and the feasibility of enhanced due diligence now play a central role in determining whether an application can proceed.
As a result, the term “banned nationalities” does not always mean absolute ineligibility.
Some applicants may still qualify under defined exception pathways, while others are refused due to compliance or verification barriers rather than nationality itself.
This guide explains how Grenada applies these rules in practice and what prospective applicants need to understand before assessing eligibility.
What “Banned” Really Means Under Grenada’s CBI Program
In Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment framework, the term “banned nationality” is often misunderstood.
Unlike some jurisdictions that apply absolute, nationality-based exclusions, Grenada uses a more conditional and compliance-driven model.
In practice, Grenada distinguishes between ineligible, restricted, and suspended applicants. These categories are shaped not only by nationality but also by where an applicant resides, how long they have lived outside their country of origin, and whether their financial and personal background can be independently verified.
For certain countries, applications are considered ineligible if the applicant is both a national and a resident of that country. In other cases, nationality triggers enhanced scrutiny rather than automatic refusal.
This distinction is intentional. Grenada aligns its policy with international sanctions and risk assessments that focus on jurisdictional exposure rather than ethnicity or citizenship alone.
As a result, two applicants holding the same passport may face very different outcomes. An individual who has lived for many years in a trusted third country, with income and assets established outside the restricted jurisdiction, may remain eligible.
Another applicant, holding identical nationality but maintaining residence, business interests, or financial dependence in the restricted country, will almost certainly be refused.
This approach allows Grenada to meet international compliance expectations while preserving a narrow pathway for globally established applicants who no longer maintain meaningful ties to higher-risk jurisdictions.
Understanding this distinction is essential before reviewing the official list of restricted and banned nationalities, which follows next.
Why Grenada Tightened Nationality Rules
International Sanctions and Geopolitical Risk
Grenada’s CBI program operates within a global sanctions environment shaped primarily by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
These jurisdictions have increased pressure on citizenship programs to prevent their use by individuals connected to sanctioned states, conflict zones, or politically sensitive regimes.
Nationality restrictions are therefore not purely domestic decisions.
They reflect external risk assessments tied to sanctions enforcement, financial crime prevention, and international mobility controls. Grenada’s policies mirror this shift by focusing on jurisdictional exposure rather than passport alone.
Regional Coordination Across Caribbean CBI Programs
Caribbean CBI jurisdictions no longer operate independently.
Information sharing between programs has reduced the possibility of applying to multiple islands after a rejection. A refusal in one jurisdiction can influence outcomes elsewhere.
This regional coordination requires Grenada to align its eligibility standards with neighboring programs.
Nationality rules must be consistent enough to avoid regulatory gaps, while still remaining defensible to international partners who monitor compliance across the region.
Financial System and Banking Constraints
Banks, due diligence providers, and compliance partners play a decisive role in nationality screening. Even where Grenada’s legal framework allows exceptions, applications may fail if funds originate from restricted jurisdictions or if transaction histories cannot be verified to international standards.
As a result, banking risk has become an indirect but powerful filter. Often, nationality is not the sole barrier.
The inability to demonstrate a clean, externally verifiable financial history is what ultimately blocks an application.
Protecting Visa-Free Access and Program Credibility
Grenada’s CBI program depends on maintaining visa-free access to key destinations and preserving the credibility of its passport.
Any perception of weak screening can lead to diplomatic consequences, travel restrictions, or increased scrutiny for all citizens.
Tightened nationality rules help safeguard these privileges.
By applying stricter controls, Grenada aims to demonstrate that its program prioritizes long-term stability over short-term application volume.
Grenada CBI Banned & Restricted Nationalities
Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment program does not apply a single blanket ban across all high-risk countries.
Instead, nationalities fall into different operational categories depending on sanctions exposure, conflict status, and the feasibility of due diligence.
Some countries are treated as effectively ineligible, where applications cannot proceed in practice.
Others are classified as restricted, meaning eligibility may still be possible under strict exception criteria. The table below reflects how these nationalities are handled under current policy and operational reality.
The Legal Basis: Circular No. 1 of 2024 Explained
What the Circular Regulates
Circular No. 1 of 2024 is the official policy document issued by Grenada’s Investment Migration Agency that defines which nationalities are restricted or ineligible under the Citizenship by Investment program.
It also sets the conditions under which limited exceptions may be considered.
This circular applies to all applications, regardless of investment route, agent, or submission date.
Nationality and Residence Are Assessed Together
The circular does not rely on nationality alone. Its wording focuses on nationals residing in specified countries, which introduces a combined test of citizenship and residence.
In practice, this means that two applicants holding the same passport may receive different outcomes depending on where they live, how long they have lived there, and whether they have maintained ties to their country of origin.
Discretion and Enhanced Due Diligence
All applications involving restricted nationalities are subject to enhanced due diligence.
This includes deeper background checks, expanded source-of-funds verification, and longer processing timelines.
Even where formal eligibility criteria appear to be met, the Investment Migration Agency retains discretion to refuse an application if verification cannot be completed to an acceptable standard.
Why Outcomes Differ in Practice
The circular creates a two-stage assessment. The first stage determines whether an applicant can be considered under the policy.
The second determines whether due diligence, financial verification, and background checks can be completed successfully.
Many applications fail at the second stage, which explains why exception pathways exist on paper but succeed only in a limited number of cases.
Exceptions That Still Allow Eligibility
While several nationalities are restricted under Grenada’s CBI framework, the program allows limited exceptions where risk can be demonstrably reduced.
These exceptions are not automatic and must be satisfied in full. Failing any single condition usually results in refusal.
The Three Conditions That Must Be Met
Grenada’s exception framework is built around three cumulative requirements. All three must be satisfied for an application to proceed.
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