An island nation, Grenada is situated in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea. On the island of Grenada, south of the Grenadine Islands is where this country is situated. Located in the Lesser Antilles group, this state is located 120 kilometers south of Trinidad. Find out how to get a Grenadian passport by scrolling down.
Overview
Grenadian citizenship is available to native born and adopted children, spouses of Grenadians, naturalizes and investors. In order to obtain a passport, foreigners need to fulfil the conditions of residence in the country and other statutory requirements or make large investments in the economy. The migration policy of the state is largely focused on attracting foreign investments, which allows migrants to obtain a Grenada passport in a simplified regime. The procedure for granting the status is regulated by the Law “On Citizenship”.
The country is independent, but it is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Therefore, to acquire a Grenadian passport means to open the way for free travel to the UK, Schengen states. Grenada is a popular region among travellers, 70% of GDP of which is made up of tourism revenues.
Grenada’s Passport Ranking
The ranking is based on how many countries a document holder can visit without a visa. In addition, the ranking is influenced by countries where the visa is issued on arrival or online. Grenada passport ranking is as follows:
Rating | Number of countries where you can enter without a visa | Number of countries where visa is issued on arrival | Number of countries for which a visa must be applied for online | Number of countries where a visa is required | |
Grenadian passport | 36 | 114 | 27 | 30 | 55 |
Examples of States | — | Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Lithuania, Zambia | Bolivia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Turkey | Australia, Georgia, Mongolia, Oman, Thailand | Belarus, Chad, El Salvador, Ghana, United States of America |
Kenya, Sri Lanka, South Korea require an electronic permit to enter.
Benefits of Grenada’s Passport
A Grenadian passport provides the holder with the following benefits:
- visa-free travel to 144 countries around the world, including the UK, EU countries, Singapore, China and many other popular destinations;
- working and doing business in a favourable tax environment;
- studying in UK educational institutions on favourable terms.
It is also possible to keep your current passport and obtain a Grenadian passport as a second passport.
Visa-Free countries with Grenada Passport
In general, 114 countries can be visited without any authorisation. The most popular destinations include such Grenada passport visa free countries as:
- Argentina;
- Belgium;
- Great Britain;
- Germany;
- Denmark.
Visa-free regime is also available for less popular destinations. For example, the list of Grenada visa free countries includes Mauritius, New Caledonia, Romania, Tanzania, and Uzbekistan.
Taxation Laws and Business Incentives
Taxation Laws in Grenada
- Corporate Tax:
The corporate tax rate is 30%. - Personal Income Tax:
Grenada does not levy personal income tax on foreign income for residents. However, residents are taxed on income earned within Grenada.
For local income, the personal income tax rates are progressive, ranging from 10% to 30%. - Value Added Tax (VAT):
The standard VAT rate is 15%.
Certain goods and services may be zero-rated or exempt. - Withholding Tax:
Dividends, interest, and royalties paid to non-residents are subject to withholding tax at a rate of 15%. - Property Tax:
Property tax is levied based on the market value of the property. Rates typically range between 0.2% and 0.5%. - Import Duties:
Import duties vary depending on the type of goods, generally ranging between 0% and 40%.
Business Incentives in Grenada
- Investment Incentives:
Businesses in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and IT can receive tax holidays, customs duty exemptions, and tax credits. - Free Zones:
Businesses in free zones benefit from exemptions on customs duties, corporate taxes, and property taxes. - Economic Citizenship Program:
Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Program offers citizenship in exchange for significant investment, either via a non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund (NTF) or an approved real estate project. - Export Incentives:
Exporting businesses benefit from duty-free imports of raw materials, equipment, and packaging materials. - Tourism Incentives:
Approved tourism projects can receive tax holidays and duty exemptions under the Tourism Development Act. - Small Business Development:
Support programs include access to finance, training, and technical assistance for small businesses.
Regulatory Environment
- Ease of Doing Business:
Grenada has implemented reforms to simplify business registration and construction permits processes. - Investment Promotion:
The Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC) facilitates investment by providing support services and assistance with permits and licenses.
Summary
Grenada offers a favorable environment for business with various tax incentives, special economic zones, and support for key industries. Its economic citizenship program is particularly attractive for investors seeking dual citizenship. Importantly, residents are not taxed on foreign income, making Grenada a potentially attractive location for individuals with significant income earned abroad.
Grenada’s Citizenship
Children who are born to one or both Grenadian parents automatically become citizens. In case of adoption of a minor child of foreign origin by a citizen couple or a single Grenadian, the person receives the status on the day the guardianship order is issued.
Acquisition of Grenadian citizenship status by applying to the Minister of Citizenship and undergoing a simple registration procedure is available to three categories of applicants – Commonwealth citizens, Republic of Ireland citizens, spouses of Grenadians. Separate conditions of status apply in each case. The following requirements apply to prospective Commonwealth and Irish citizens:
- to be of good character, not to have committed any offences;
- have a sufficient command of the English language to communicate;
- reside or serve in Grenada for 5 years or less as determined by the Minister for Citizenship (but not less than 12 months);
- confirm the intention to remain in the State.
A person cannot be registered as a citizen of Grenada unless he or she takes an oath of allegiance to the State. Spouses of Grenadians are subject to registration irrespective of fulfilment of any conditions such as majority and capacity. An application for citizenship for a minor applicant may be made by a parent or guardian.
How to Apply
An applicant who intends to stay in Grenada for more than 12 months may submit a request to the Immigration Officer. Prior to the expiry of the temporary residence permit issued, the applicant may re-apply to the authorised authority for its renewal.
An applicant who intends to reside permanently in Grenada after 3 years of temporary residence and who has proven himself or herself to be a person of good character may apply for a permanent residence permit.
As part of the citizenship procedure, a full medical examination must be completed and the results submitted to the authorised body. The certificate from a registered medical practitioner must include a chest X-ray, Mantoux test, malaria, serum creatinine, syphilis and HIV tests. The applicant needs to update immunisation status for measles, rubella, tetanus, hepatitis B, and epidemic mumps. Persons who have moved from regions with a high incidence of malaria are required to undergo prophylaxis.
The dossier for obtaining citizenship by naturalisation includes:
- a form completed and signed by a justice of the peace or a notary public;
- a letter of recommendation from a reputable person in the applicant’s country of birth or residence and Grenada;
- a police certificate from the applicant’s state of citizenship/residence, not older than 6 months;
- four certified passport-sized photographs;
- original and one copy of the birth certificate;
- a letter stating the date of relocation and the length of stay in Grenada, the motivation for becoming a citizen;
- a medical certificate of health.
Download application form from State Government official website. Various categories of applicants have different requests. Citizenship requests are sent to the Office of the Prime Minister of Grenada through the Department of Home Affairs. Once the application has been granted, it is mandatory to swear an oath in front of an authorized person, declaring readiness to join the country and comply with regulations. For this reason, the applicant is presented with a certificate of nationality.
In 2023, all passports issued to Grenadian citizens are biometric with an embedded chip. The document looks like a book but allows for a more secure reading of the holder’s data and makes travelling abroad easier. To obtain an ID card, the applicant should go to the Grenada Department of Immigration and Passports or to a consulate in case of processing from abroad. The applicant needs to produce a certificate of citizenship, marriage/divorce/death of partner as per the person’s current situation, 21⁄2 x 2 inch photographs. The cost of the e-passport is 250 USD and the production time is 2-3 weeks. For an additional fee of 50 USD, the document can be expedited in one day. All passports are issued for 5 years.
Grenada’s Passport Requirements
Naturalization is the prolonged residence of an applicant in a foreign country for the purpose of integrating into the local society and eventually obtaining a passport. The duration of the process in Grenada is 8 years, but this period can be shortened in some cases by decision of the Minister of Citizenship. The requirements for naturalisation are quite favourable. According to the latest version of the Citizenship Act, applicants are not required to prove knowledge of the State language. Initially, a foreigner may apply for a residence permit in Grenada on one of the available grounds:
- Employment;
- Business;
- Family reunification;
- Other reasons that do not contradict the immigration laws.
By complying with the conditions of the first residence permit, it is possible to extend the status for three years up to the possibility to apply for a permanent residence permit.
The state has developed an attractive investment programme that allows migrants to make profitable investments and immediately obtain citizenship. Foreigners are offered to invest from 150,000 USD in the National Transformation Fund or from 220,000 USD in an approved property project. In each case, the applicant may include family members (spouses, children and other relatives) in the application.
For investments in the National Transformation Fund, the amounts vary depending on the number of applicants:
- A minimum donation of $235,000
The investment will be made under the main applicant and up to 3 dependents* (so a single applicant to a family of 4);
In real estate investments or Projects investment , a single sum is given regardless of the number of applicants ($270,000 And Higher), but in addition to application processing’s fees.
To be eligible for the programme, an investor must have legal age, no previous criminal record, and good health status (which includes a medical examination). An application is submitted to the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Committee (CBIC) with the assistance of a marketing agent. The authorized body is not accessible to applicants, so all routine matters are dealt with by a trusted agent. There is no requirement for the applicant to travel, either on a visit to Grenada before or during the application/processing process. It is not necessary for investors to take an oath. There is no notification regarding the status of this case, however, the processing time for this case is quite short – within 60 working days if the documents are in order.
Renewing The Passport Of Grenada
Renewal of the passport 60 months after it has been issued. The same applies to all Grenadians. You must apply for a renewal of the document at least six months before your passport expires. And Grenada is certainly attractive as potential places for business registration. In addition, obtaining nationality in the country for investment or other purposes will provide visa-free entry to different countries.