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Saint Kitts Announces CBI Residency Clause as Dominica Breaks Silence on US Travel Ban

"A residency clause will be part of the new [CBI] law," Drew emphasized. "Let me say that clearly, residency clause and the biometrics."

“A residency clause will be part of the new [CBI] law,” Drew emphasized. “Let me say that clearly, residency clause and the biometrics.”

Prime Ministers Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica have both responded to reports of potential US travel restrictions by promising major reforms to their citizenship by investment (CBI) programs.

Drew announced mandatory residency requirements for the Citizenship by Investment program (CIP), while Skerrit broke his government’s silence with pledges of new legislation within days.

Both leaders confirmed that their governments had received no official communication from Washington regarding a State Department memo suggesting travel bans in 36 countries.

The coordinated response follows weekend discussions among regional leaders with CBI programs, who agreed on uniform reforms to address US concerns about investment migration programs.

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Saint Kitts Introduces CBI Residency Requirements

Drew announced the most substantial policy change affecting Caribbean CBI programs, confirming that Saint Kitts will require residency for all future applicants.

“A residency clause will be part of the new law,” Drew emphasized during a ZIZ Radio interview. “Let me say that clearly, residency clause and the biometrics, those will be part of the new law, which is to pass very, very soon, within a few weeks.”

The residency requirement represents a fundamental shift for Caribbean CBI programs (with the exception of Antigua & Barbuda), which have historically attracted international investors precisely because they offered citizenship without relocation obligations.

The leaked US memo explicitly cited “the availability of citizenship by monetary investment without a requirement of residency” as grounds for potential restrictions.

Saint Kitts plans to implement comprehensive biometric systems alongside the residency clause. All CBI applicants will complete in-person or verified virtual interviews, while the application process will incorporate biometric data collection, according to official government statements.

Drew positioned these changes as strategic rather than reactive, arguing that “this is not seen as disingenuous. This is actually a path that we have been traveling since day one.”

Drew emphasized transparency in his reform approach, declaring that “the CBI is not a private club, it is the business of the people.” He described the reforms as essential for program credibility, noting that “this is about safeguarding our national interest, preserving the strength of our passport, and upholding our responsibility as a trusted member of the international community.”

Saint Kitts has received nine deportees from the United States this year, though Drew affirmed that his country remains welcoming to returning citizens. “Our citizens are always welcome back,” he stated while noting that safeguards will be in place to ensure public safety when deportees return. Drew reassured travelers that “everything remains totally normal” for current visa applications and travel arrangements.

Saint Kitts activated diplomatic channels immediately after reports surfaced, contacting the US Embassy in Barbados for clarification.

However, embassy officials indicated they “had not received any formal communication about this so-called list,” according to Drew. Ambassador Jacinth Henry-Martin met directly with State Department officials in Washington, though Drew reported that officials are “waiting for an update from the embassy in Barbados on communication with the State Department to determine what is the way forward with this.”

Dominica Promises Swift Legislative Action

Skerrit told Dominicans at a Monday press conference that “there is really no need or cause for panic,” marking his first public comments since reports emerged. His government had remained notably silent while regional counterparts in Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts issued earlier responses.

The Prime Minister emphasized his government’s commitment to protecting citizens while managing the situation diplomatically. “I assure the people of Dominica that we take the matter seriously and the government is addressing this through appropriate diplomatic channels,” Skerrit declared.

He added that his government is “committed to protecting our national interests, the integrity of our international partnerships, and most importantly, the rights and freedoms of the Dominican people.”

Dominica will implement its own legislative changes targeting CBI program concerns. Skerrit revealed that Caribbean leaders agreed during weekend meetings on “a complete ban on the ability of any African to change their names” during or after the CBI application process. “So once you become a citizen under the program, you will not have the ability to change the names to benefit from the citizenship of our countries,” he added.

The Prime Minister promised additional reforms beyond name change restrictions, noting that there are “some other administrative things, all of which we believe would be captured in the new legislation, which we will share with the public in the next few days.”

He emphasized that Caribbean leaders already established an independent regulatory authority among member states with CBI programs.

Skerrit confirmed his government’s willingness to work with international partners on addressing concerns. He confirmed that his government is “prepared to address the concerns raised by international partners through appropriate diplomatic and cooperative means.”

From informal diplomatic engagement, the government learned that US concerns include illegal migration and visa overstays by Dominican citizens.

Skerrit acknowledged that “one of them being illegal migration of Dominicans who are residing in the United States beyond their legal stay, people who are overstaying their visas.”

Skerrit promised transparency in handling the situation, telling citizens that “whatever information we have, we’ll share with you. Whatever actions we’re taking, we’ll also share with you.” He described the United States as “an important partner for many reasons, on cultural, economic, political, and many fronts.”

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