US travel curbs hit Nigerians with Caribbean second passports

 

Nigerians who acquired second citizenships from Caribbean countries through citizenship-by-investment (CBI) schemes may be facing renewed travel difficulties following fresh restrictions announced by the United States.

The setback comes after Washington placed partial travel limitations on several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Nigeria, raising concerns for Nigerians who hold dual citizenship from the affected states.

Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, two Caribbean nations popular among wealthy Nigerians for offering citizenship without long-term residency requirements, were added to the US restriction list on Tuesday. Nigeria was also named among countries subject to the new measures.

The development means some Nigerians could now face travel limitations whether they attempt to enter the United States using a Nigerian passport or a Caribbean alternative.

According to the White House, the decision to include Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica was influenced by concerns over their citizenship-by-investment programmes. Nigeria’s inclusion, officials said, was linked to “screening and vetting difficulties” as well as persistent reports of visa overstays.

Citizenship-by-investment programmes allow foreigners to obtain passports in exchange for financial contributions. In Antigua and Barbuda, applicants are required to make a non-refundable donation of at least $230,000 to the National Development Fund. The same threshold applies to family applications, making it one of the most affordable routes to Caribbean citizenship.

Applicants may also qualify through investments in real estate, approved business ventures or contributions to the University of the West Indies Fund.

Holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 151 countries.

Similarly, Dominica offers citizenship through government fund donations or real estate investments, typically starting from $200,000. The Dominican passport allows visa-free travel to approximately 145 countries.

These options have remained attractive to high-net-worth Nigerians seeking to bypass the limitations of the Nigerian passport, which grants visa-free access to only about 45 countries as of March.

However, international scrutiny of CBI schemes has intensified in recent years. In 2023, the United Kingdom suspended its visa-waiver agreement with Dominica for all passport holders, citing abuse of the citizenship acquisition process.

Later the same year, the European Union announced plans to review visa arrangements with countries operating investment-based citizenship schemes, particularly where concerns exist over corruption perception and human rights records.

The EU noted that a significant number of applicants for such schemes originated from countries including China, Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria and Libya.