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

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: The Caribbean's proposed 30-day residency requirement for citizenship by investment, referred to as CBI programs, has divided industry experts on whether the changes will enhance or diminish the appeal of these long-standing programs.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Nick Stevens, CEO of NTL Trust, champions the requirement as a positive development that aligns with best practices.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: Stevens believes that, quote, 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.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: I am totally in favor of the requirement to visit and get to know the islands, Stevens explains, adding that he cannot imagine ever traveling on the passport of a country I have never visited, end quote.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: However, Serhan Isover, managing partner and executive committee member of Beyond Global Partners, takes a more cautious stance.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: Isover argues that, quote, introducing a 30-day residency requirement would reduce the appeal of Caribbean CBI programs for high net worth individuals, end quote, because it introduces complexity and reduces flexibility.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: She points out that one of the key attractions has been the ability to obtain citizenship without the need for physical presence.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: Gokchi Amer, Director of Business Development at Get Golden Visa, offers a nuanced perspective that acknowledges both sides.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Amer notes that while the 30-day rule, quote, may bring more legitimacy to Caribbean CBI programs, it reduces the simplicity that made them attractive in the first place, end quote.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: She warns that with Caribbean options, no longer the cheapest or most hands-off, investors might increasingly consider other alternatives.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: All three experts agree that the residency requirement will likely drive increased interest in real estate-based investments over contribution-only models.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Stevens confirms this shift 100% and says that is why NTL Trust has developed an online real estate hub.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: He believes developers should ensure they include adequate occupancy rights, while agents can offer footprint services to enable real connections with new homelands.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: ASIVR sees this potential redirection as beneficial, suggesting the requirement, quote, 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, end quote.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: She notes that investors naturally tend toward options with tangible returns when given the choice.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Emmer 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.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_00: The experts diverge sharply on whether Caribbean governments can effectively monitor and enforce the five-year compliance period.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: Stevens expresses complete confidence, stating that, quote, all the Caribbean five have immigration systems that efficiently track people entering and departing, and that the necessary technology is 100%.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: It's already in place.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: She notes that effective implementation would require improved data sharing among participating states.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: The probability of enforcement action also draws different predictions.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: ASVR 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.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Stevens envisions integration programs combining, quote, 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, end quote.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: ISEVER 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.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Stevens dismisses the need for new intermediaries, asserting that compliance services fall firmly within the remit of the existing stakeholders.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: However, ASIVR views enhanced client relationships as an opportunity that will not only build loyalty, but also open the door to referrals and repeat business.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: The experts unanimously reject comparisons between Caribbean CBI programs and European residency by investment models, though for different reasons.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: Emmer provides a more detailed analysis, explaining that Caribbean and European programs operate on fundamentally different frameworks.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: 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.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: ISIV 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.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Despite varying levels of concern about the proposed changes, all three experts expect the market to adapt.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Amer 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.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: This episode first appeared as an article by Amada Bas on IMIDaily.com.
• 7:14
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