Here’s what Americans need to know.
Wealthy Americans have increasingly explored so-called “golden visas” and second citizenship programs in recent years, often described as a form of financial or geopolitical insurance during uncertain times.
But while some U.S. citizens look overseas for alternative residency options, the Trump administration is moving in a very different direction — tightening entry rules and cracking down on foreign citizenship-for-sale programs it says pose real national security risks.
U.S. officials have long warned that citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs can be exploited by individuals from restricted or high-risk countries. According to federal authorities, these programs may allow foreign nationals to legally obtain new passports and potentially bypass American travel bans, financial controls, or banking restrictions.
On December 16, President Donald Trump reinstated and expanded executive actions aimed at restricting the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States. The proclamation was issued as part of a broader effort to strengthen border security and protect U.S. interests.
The order specifically identified several Caribbean nations, including Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda, citing concerns about their citizenship-by-investment programs and what U.S. officials described as insufficient residency and screening standards.
According to the proclamation, an individual from a country subject to U.S. travel restrictions could legally purchase citizenship from a second country not facing those restrictions. By obtaining a new passport, that individual could then apply for a U.S. visa — effectively sidestepping the original travel limitations.
Federal law enforcement agencies and the State Department have warned that such programs have historically been vulnerable to abuse. Officials say risks include identity concealment, financial opacity, and the potential evasion of U.S. travel or banking safeguards.
In some cases, the physical presence requirements are minimal. Applicants for so-called “golden passports” may be required to spend as little as five days over a five-year period in the country after citizenship is granted.
In Antigua and Barbuda, applications are processed through the Citizenship by Investment Unit, the government body responsible for administering the program.
Holders of these passports often receive visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 countries, including much of Europe’s Schengen Area. The programs also allow applicants to retain their original citizenship while gaining a second passport. Antigua and Barbuda promotes additional tax advantages, including no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, and no inheritance tax, with citizenship granted for life.
Security concerns intensified following a 2023 investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, which reported that approximately 7,700 individuals — including figures linked to war crimes connected to Russia and Iran — obtained Dominican citizenship through investment programs.
Caribbean officials have disputed claims that their systems lack oversight. Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated that his government enacted significant legislative reforms in October to strengthen background checks and improve financial transparency.
Skerrit emphasized Dominica’s long-standing cooperation with the United States on regional security, arguing that threats to American security are also threats to the Caribbean.
Industry insiders were also surprised by the inclusion of Antigua. Mo Bennis, an associate vice president at Arton Capital, said the country has steadily increased vetting standards and now relies on international security firms comparable to those used globally.
Bennis suggested the move reflects evolving U.S. border enforcement policies rather than a breakdown in Antigua’s screening process, noting that similar investment and residency programs also exist in the United States and Europe.
For the Trump administration, however, the priority remains clear: strong borders, strict screening, and national security first — even as global citizenship programs grow more popular among the world’s wealthy.
