Nigerians who acquired second citizenship through Caribbean citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programmes may now be facing a double setback following fresh United States travel restrictions.
The development followed Washington’s decision to impose partial entry curbs on several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, two Caribbean states popular among wealthy Nigerians for offering citizenship without long-term residency requirements.
Both countries were added on Tuesday to the United States’ updated list of nations facing partial travel restrictions. Nigeria was also named among the affected countries, a move that means some Nigerians could now encounter limitations whether travelling on Nigerian passports or on Caribbean documents obtained through CBI schemes.
The White House said its decision to include Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica was influenced by concerns linked to citizenship-by-investment patterns.
Nigeria, on its part, was listed owing to “screening and vetting difficulties” as well as reports of US visa overstays.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes allow foreigners to obtain passports in return for financial contributions to host countries.
In Antigua and Barbuda, applicants are required to make a non-refundable contribution of at least $230,000 to the National Development Fund, according to the country’s CBI unit. The same minimum applies to family applications, making it one of the more affordable routes to Caribbean citizenship.
Other options include investments in real estate, business ventures and the University of the West Indies Fund.
Holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports enjoy visa-free access to 151 countries.
Similar investment routes apply in Dominica, where applicants can contribute to a government fund or invest in approved real estate projects, typically starting from $200,000. A Dominican passport grants visa-free travel to 145 countries.
These passports have long attracted high-net-worth Nigerians seeking easier global mobility, especially given the limitations of the Nigerian passport, which offered visa-free access to just 45 countries as of March.
Concerns over CBI schemes are not new. In 2023, the United Kingdom suspended its visa-waiver agreement for all Dominican nationals, citing abuse of the passport acquisition process.
Later, the European Union announced it would review its visa mechanisms with countries operating CBI programmes, particularly those linked to nations with high corruption perception and weak human rights records.
The EU noted that the bulk of applicants for such schemes came from countries including China, Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria and Libya.
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