St. Kitts and Nevis tops 2026 CBI Index for sixth consecutive year

St. Kitts and Nevis has secured the top position in the 2026 CBI Index for the sixth consecutive year. In the tenth-anniversary edition of the index, which evaluated 14 citizenship-by-investment programmes globally, St. Kitts and Nevis earned 78 out of 90 points.

Dominica followed in second place with 75 points. The top five rankings were entirely held by Caribbean nations, including Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Lucia. Other ranked jurisdictions included Nauru in sixth place and São Tomé and Príncipe in tenth.

The index, researched by James McKay, assesses programmes across nine pillars such as due diligence, processing ease, and programme stability. St. Kitts and Nevis was the only jurisdiction to receive a perfect 10/10 score for Due Diligence.

The report notes that the sector is facing increased international scrutiny, leading to a focus on regulatory transparency and stronger oversight. This includes the introduction of the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) to establish common regional standards.