prasad1
Active member
Padmaparna Ghosh, TNN
Soon, cricket may not be the only connection Indians have with the Caribbean. Countries like St Kitts & Nevis, Dominica and Antigua have rolled out attractive cash-for-citizenship programs to woo Indian immigrants.
The latest to launch a citizenship-by-investment (CIP) program is Antigua & Barbuda, a tiny independent Commonwealth state in the eastern Caribbean which will open up its borders to other nationals in a month. It is giving full citizenship for an investment of at least $400,000 (about Rs 2.4 crore) in an approved real estate project. A St Kitts citizenship, too, comes for $400, 000 while tiny tropical Dominica is even cheaper at $100,000 (Rs 60,70,000).
Both countries have set their sights on wealthy Chinese as well as Indian immigrants. "Since the program was announced in March, we have had a number of inquiries from Indian citizens. Most of them view it as a lifestyle investment," says Jason Taylor, CEO, Janik Partners, an Antigua-based company that specializes in CIP.
So what are the advantages of an Antigua and Barbuda passport besides the tropical breeze, swaying palm trees and white sand beaches, of course? An Antigua passport can get you visa-free travel to 126 countries including Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and Europe. St Kitts gets you over 100 countries. An Indian passport only gets you 55 countries.
As a Commonwealth citizen, one also receives certain preferential treatment in the UK. For example, your children may enter the UK to study without first having to apply for student visas. After studying, they may work there for two years without a work permit.
Soon, cricket may not be the only connection Indians have with the Caribbean. Countries like St Kitts & Nevis, Dominica and Antigua have rolled out attractive cash-for-citizenship programs to woo Indian immigrants.
The latest to launch a citizenship-by-investment (CIP) program is Antigua & Barbuda, a tiny independent Commonwealth state in the eastern Caribbean which will open up its borders to other nationals in a month. It is giving full citizenship for an investment of at least $400,000 (about Rs 2.4 crore) in an approved real estate project. A St Kitts citizenship, too, comes for $400, 000 while tiny tropical Dominica is even cheaper at $100,000 (Rs 60,70,000).
Both countries have set their sights on wealthy Chinese as well as Indian immigrants. "Since the program was announced in March, we have had a number of inquiries from Indian citizens. Most of them view it as a lifestyle investment," says Jason Taylor, CEO, Janik Partners, an Antigua-based company that specializes in CIP.
So what are the advantages of an Antigua and Barbuda passport besides the tropical breeze, swaying palm trees and white sand beaches, of course? An Antigua passport can get you visa-free travel to 126 countries including Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK and Europe. St Kitts gets you over 100 countries. An Indian passport only gets you 55 countries.
As a Commonwealth citizen, one also receives certain preferential treatment in the UK. For example, your children may enter the UK to study without first having to apply for student visas. After studying, they may work there for two years without a work permit.
