CBI in 2026: US demand, tighter requirements, and the rise of new players

Our research and analytics team has released the State of CBI Report—an overview of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) market based on where it stands today and where it appears to be heading. Each year, the final version includes at least one finding that makes you pause. This cycle had several—and they all directly affect how investors should approach choosing CBI programs.

CBI has been reshaped: “low” entry thresholds are giving way to premium offers

The market has changed structurally. The era of “entry” into CBI via Caribbean programs with thresholds below $100,000 is fading into the past. Previously, such schemes were a starting point for a broad range of investors. Now, countries are revisiting their positioning and raising the bar.

For example, in Grenada, the minimum threshold begins at $235,000, and by 2027 we expect the lower bound to be around $250,000 across the region. Caribbean governments are making programs more “premium”: strengthening due diligence (checks), tightening compliance, and raising standards for regulatory alignment.

In St. Kitts and Nevis, during the most recent cycle, 13 applicants lost citizenship due to payments below the minimum admissible level. It’s also noted that one marketing agent was added to a blacklist, while another was temporarily suspended. The conclusion is clear: the “race to the bottom” is over, and overall the market is becoming more quality-driven.

Why the Caribbean remains strong: legal frameworks, verification, and family coverage

Despite these changes, the Caribbean region remains one of the most resilient parts of the market. The reasons lie in the maturity of the legal mechanisms and the way verification procedures are structured. In addition, programs are often designed not only for the main applicant, but also for a family group: spouses, dependent children, and in most cases, parents and siblings.

Investors generally keep their existing citizenship and, as a rule, are not required to reside in the country. Citizenship can also pass to future generations. The tax environment in these jurisdictions further supports investors’ international income.

Rising prices in this context are not a sign of “worsening supply.” Rather, they reflect stricter compliance and stronger risk management. Put simply: in most cases, the “value” to applicants has increased.

A new “lower rung” under $100,000 is emerging: who is entering the market

Even though Caribbean thresholds are rising, a new segment is forming beneath them. Below $100,000, an “alternative” lower-tier area is beginning to take shape.

Sao Tomé and Príncipe launched its program in 2025. Botswana is in an advanced stage of preparation, awaiting the adoption of legislation on dual citizenship.

Why CBI programs require serious analysis—not automatic skepticism

Today, these programs are often met with either excessive caution or overly superficial scrutiny. Our answer remains consistent: you need to assess the substance, not rely on reflexive distrust.

The key question we always recommend asking is: what exactly does the naturalization certificate provide—in reality, not in marketing language. In other words, it’s about how the status changes access to visas, banking activity, and the operational usefulness of citizenship.

For instance, Sierra Leone—with pricing starting at $140,000—is often chosen for practical benefits: visa-free access and the right to settle under ECOWAS. This effect is rarely captured accurately when you only compare “price per program.”

US demand became one of the defining stories of 2026

One of the most visible trends this cycle is growing interest from American applicants. This is not entirely new—we’ve worked with clients from the US for many years. But the pace has changed, and it’s that acceleration that is shaping the current period.

Over the past year, demand from US citizens has risen significantly, and they are now among the largest applicant groups by number of applications in the CBI market.

The drivers are straightforward and can be summarized in several factors: political uncertainty, international tax planning considerations, and a broader rethinking of what it means to “rely on a single nationality” in everyday life. Requests from the US intensified during 2025 and, based on our observations, show no sign of slowing down until mid-term elections.

Visa access matters—but it’s often not the main reason people choose

Another key point: visa access is frequently overemphasized. Yes, conditions can change—and it’s genuinely visible. Recently, we’ve observed tightening of rules by both the United States and the UK.

However, looking at our client base, visa access rarely becomes the primary driver of the decision. Many applicants already had long-term US or Schengen visas at the time they applied.

For most CBI programs, it isn’t a “travel upgrade”—it’s a safety net and a fallback option. And the more governments restrict cross-border movement, the higher the value of a second citizenship becomes specifically as a “fallback” when rules change.

Forecast: no end to the CBI market in sight—this is an evolution

In our view, there are no signs that the citizenship by investment market is about to end. Instead, it’s undergoing an evolution.

Demand is expanding beyond traditional investor profiles, while governments are raising requirements. As a result, choosing a program in 2026 and beyond will require more analytics than ever: comparing terms, due diligence, practical benefits, and compliance resilience.

Where it used to be enough to rely on “price and a basic package,” the solutions that prove the status value in real scenarios now win—across visas, banking, and the day-to-day operational usefulness of citizenship.

The CBI market in 2026 is clearly tightening: minimum thresholds are rising, due diligence is getting stricter, and compliance standards are being raised as countries move away from “low-cost” entry options. To choose a program with reasonable risks and a clear family-focused strategy, it’s crucial to rely on up-to-date analytics and trusted guidance. Digital Nomad can help you navigate the market shifts and select the best-fit option through golden visa / CBI.

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