Italy vs Caribbean: Golden Visa Programmes Compared
The lowest qualifying amount is €250,000 in Italy and $200,000 in Eastern Caribbean (five states). Here is how the two programmes differ on time in the country, the path to citizenship and processing, side by side.
At a glance
| Italy | Caribbean | |
|---|---|---|
| Programme | Investor Visa for Italy (visto per investitori) | Citizenship by Investment Programmes |
| Status | Structurally unchanged since 2017; suspended for Russian and Belarusian nationals | All five accept applications, but the EU has asked for phase-out by June 2028 |
| Lowest qualifying amount | €250,000 | $200,000 |
| Time you must spend there | No minimum stay set | None, except five days in five years for Antigua |
| Route to citizenship | 10 years of actual legal residence | Immediate citizenship |
| Typical processing | Nulla osta often weeks; visa and permit add months | Reported averages about 5 to 18 months by country |
| Main routes |
|
|
Which is cheaper, Italy or Caribbean?
The lowest qualifying amount is €250,000 in Italy and $200,000 in Eastern Caribbean (five states). The cheapest route is not always the practical one: some low-entry routes are donations or contributions you never get back, while others are investments that can lose value independently of the permit. Add government fees, legal costs and, where relevant, family members before comparing totals.
How much time do you have to spend in each?
Italy: No minimum stay set. Eastern Caribbean (five states): None, except five days in five years for Antigua. A permit that asks for little time in the country is convenient, but a path to citizenship usually depends on genuinely living there.
Which leads to citizenship?
Italy: 10 years of actual legal residence. Eastern Caribbean (five states): Immediate citizenship. Naturalisation rules are set separately from the investment programme and can change while you are part of the way through.
The biggest caveat for each
Italy: The permit is easy to hold from abroad, but only real registered residence in Italy counts toward the ten-year naturalisation requirement.
Caribbean: Visa-free access has already been withdrawn or restricted by the UK and the US, and the EU has asked all five states to end the programmes by June 2028.
More programme comparisons
Information reflects our own independent research as understood in September 2026. These rules change often and differ by nationality. Plain Investor does not sell or advise on any programme. This is general information, not legal, immigration or tax advice; check the official government source and a licensed immigration lawyer before committing money.