Tool
Find your Caribbean residency program
Five questions, three personalized recommendations. Results are guidance only — always confirm with a local attorney.
Compare every program at a glance
All major Caribbean retirement, residency and citizenship programmes side by side. Sort by what matters to you and use the wizard above for a guided shortlist.
| Country / Programme | Min age | Min income (USD/mo) | Investment | Processing | Tax on foreign income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇯🇲 Jamaica Returning Residents Programme | 18+ | — | — | 2–6 months | Worldwide income taxable if resident; pension reliefs. |
🇧🇧 Barbados Welcome Stamp | 18+ | 4,167 | — | 1–2 months | No personal income tax on foreign income during stamp. |
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands Residency for Persons of Independent Means | 18+ | 12,000 | USD 1,200,000 | 3–6 months | Zero income, capital gains, and inheritance tax. |
🇧🇸 Bahamas Annual Residence Permit | 18+ | 4,000 | USD 750,000 | 2–4 months | No income, capital gains or inheritance tax. |
🇵🇦 Panama Pensionado Visa | 55+ | 1,000 | — | 4–6 months | Foreign income not taxed in Panama. |
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic Pensionado / Rentista | 45+ | 1,500 | — | 3–6 months | Foreign pension income exempt for first years. |
🇧🇿 Belize Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) | 45+ | 2,000 | — | 3–6 months | All foreign income tax-free; no capital gains tax. |
🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment | 18+ | — | USD 230,000 | 3–6 months | No personal income tax for residents. |
🇩🇲 Dominica Citizenship by Investment | 18+ | — | USD 200,000 | 3–6 months | No worldwide income tax; no inheritance tax. |
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment | 18+ | — | USD 240,000 | 3–6 months | No tax on foreign income for non-residents. |
The documents you'll actually need
Almost every Caribbean retirement programme asks for the same core packet. Order apostilles early — they take longer than the visa itself.
- 1Valid passport (≥6 months) and certified copies of every photo page
- 2Apostilled birth and marriage certificates (issued within 6 months)
- 3FBI background check / Police certificate (apostilled, ≤6 months old)
- 4Notarised proof of pension or recurring monthly income
- 5Last 6–12 months of bank statements
- 6Medical certificate of good health (incl. recent HIV/TB screening)
- 7Two passport photos (programme-specific size)
- 8Application fee + processing fee receipts (USD)
- 9Local attorney engagement letter (required in most jurisdictions)
Common pitfalls — and how to dodge them
- Shipping before approval
Returning Residents (JM) and QRPs (BZ) lose duty concessions if goods arrive before the official approval letter. Wait. Always.
- Apostille gaps
Most countries require apostilled documents issued within the last 6 months. A year-old apostille is usually rejected on the desk.
- Underestimating proof of income
"Net" pay-stub income is not enough. Bring notarised pension award letters, tax returns and 12 months of bank statements showing the deposits.
- Buying property before residency
Some islands restrict non-resident purchases (Alien Landholding Licence in OECS, Welcome Stamp prerequisites in Barbados). Talk to a lawyer first.
- Tax surprises back home
US citizens file forever. UK pensioners may face frozen state-pension uplifts. Map both jurisdictions before you fly.
- One-shot CBI applications
Citizenship-by-investment files rejected for missing paperwork are rarely re-opened cleanly. Use an authorised agent for the first submission.