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“No Longer the Cheapest or Most Hands-Off”: Experts Examine Caribbean CBI Residency Requirement

Nick Stevens, Serhan Aysever, and Gokce Emer share contrasting views on the impact of a 30-day stay rule on Caribbean citizenship by investment.

Nick Stevens, Serhan Aysever, and Gokce Emer share contrasting views on the impact of a 30-day stay rule on Caribbean citizenship by investment.

The Caribbean’s proposed 30-day residency requirement for citizenship by investment (CBI) programs has divided industry experts on whether the changes will enhance or diminish the appeal of these long-standing programs. While some view the requirement as a natural evolution that could strengthen program credibility, others worry about complications for the time-sensitive investors who have traditionally driven demand.

Nick Stevens, CEO of NTL Trust, champions the requirement as a positive development that aligns with best practices. Stevens believes that “HNWIs, from Princess Diana to Bill Gates, have been vacationing in the Caribbean for decades” and emphasizes his support for applicants getting boots on the ground. “I am totally in favour of the requirement to visit and get to know the islands,” Stevens explains, adding that he cannot imagine “ever travelling on the passport of a country I have never visited.”

However, Serhan Aysever, Managing Partner and Executive Committee Member of Beyond Global Partners, takes a more cautious stance. Aysever argues that “introducing a 30-day residency requirement would reduce the appeal of Caribbean CBI programs for high-net-worth individuals” because it introduces complexity and reduces flexibility. She points out that one of the key attractions has been “the ability to obtain citizenship without the need for physical presence.”

Gokce Emer, Director of Business Development at Get Golden Visa, offers a nuanced perspective that acknowledges both sides. Emer notes that while the 30-day rule “may bring more legitimacy to Caribbean CBI programs, it reduces the simplicity that made them attractive in the first place.” She warns that with Caribbean options “no longer the cheapest or most hands-off,” investors might increasingly consider other alternatives.

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“Options with tangible returns” gain appeal

All three experts agree that the residency requirement will likely drive increased interest in real estate-based investments over contribution-only models. Stevens confirms this shift “100%” and says that is why NTL Trust has developed an online real estate hub. He believes developers should “ensure they include adequate occupancy rights,” while agents can offer “footprint services” to enable real connections with new homelands.

Aysever sees this potential redirection as beneficial, suggesting the requirement “may encourage investors to seek more value from their stay, shifting interest toward real estate or lifestyle-based options that offer both citizenship and tangible assets.” She notes that investors naturally tend toward “options with tangible returns” when given the choice.

Emer observes growing interest in second homes and lifestyle-based investments, though she attributes this more to “broader global uncertainty than a direct comparison between programs.” She emphasizes that despite new restrictions, “the overall appetite for residency and citizenship solutions remains strong” because global instability continues pushing people toward Plan B options.

Enforcement capabilities under scrutiny

The experts diverge sharply on whether Caribbean governments can effectively monitor and enforce the five-year compliance period. Stevens expresses complete confidence, stating that “all the Caribbean Five have immigration systems that efficiently track people entering and departing” and that the necessary technology is “100%, it’s already in place.”

Aysever presents a more skeptical assessment, suggesting that “local immigration and passport offices in the Caribbean may currently lack the full technological and staffing capacity to manage long-term compliance tracking at the required scale.” She notes that effective implementation would require improved data sharing among participating states.

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The probability of enforcement action also draws different predictions. Stevens believes “the probability is high and rightly so” for passport revocation or financial penalties if applicants miss the 30-day requirement, calling it “a completely reasonable requirement.” Aysever takes a more measured approach, suggesting that while revocation remains “theoretically possible,” enforcement will more likely focus on “compliance at the time of renewal, issuing warnings, or administrative delays.”

Integration programs and service ecosystems

Stevens envisions integration programs combining “tourism and history, along with sitting down for lunch with the Prime Minister, visiting key government offices and banks, and maybe drinking a rum punch while taking in some island beats at sundown.”

Aysever suggests a more structured approach, proposing “a Caribbean version of the Life in the UK test or a short online civic course” as the most practical implementation. She anticipates the requirement will create new service ecosystems that “would not only support compliance but also stimulate local economic activity, particularly in hospitality, transportation, and real estate.”

Stevens dismisses the need for new intermediaries, asserting that compliance services fall “firmly within the remit of the existing stakeholders.” However, Aysever views enhanced client relationships as an opportunity that “will not only build loyalty but also open the door to referrals and repeat business.”

“Fundamentally different frameworks” from Europe

The experts unanimously reject comparisons between Caribbean CBI programs and European residency by investment (RBI) models, though for different reasons. Stevens bluntly states that “RBI and CBI have completely distinct target markets” and that “CBI is for people who want the absolute freedom of multiple citizenships.”

Emer provides a more detailed analysis, explaining that “Caribbean and European programs operate on fundamentally different frameworks.” She notes that European programs offer residency rights and EU mobility, while Caribbean programs provide “direct citizenship, and with it, global mobility tied to diplomatic visa agreements” that remain “inherently fragile.”

Aysever acknowledges that residency requirements “may gradually align Caribbean CBI programs with RCBI models” but emphasizes that viability depends on balancing compliance with “market expectations which value speed, simplicity, and flexibility.”

Despite varying levels of concern about the proposed changes, all three experts expect the market to adapt. Emer notes that “after a brief adjustment period, demand often grows, not declines” when programs introduce new restrictions, largely because global instability continues driving demand for backup citizenship options.

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