Do you hold Caribbean citizenship by investment from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, or Saint Lucia for visa free access to the Schengen area? Brussels is planning to stop honouring it. Read how to prepare so you stay covered.
Greek Golden Visa. Two words that come up more and more often in conversations with thousands of Caribbean passport holders, and that is no coincidence. In June 2026 the European Commission sent formal letters to five Eastern Caribbean nations, asking for the gradual phase out of their citizenship by investment programmes by 1 June 2028. If you hold such a passport, or if you have clients who do, the first reaction may be concern about the future of free access to Europe. The good news is that there is no need to panic. What you do need is a plan, and Greece already has one that is proven, welcoming to investors, and ready today.
What the European Commission asked of the Caribbean nations
The story begins in December 2025, when the European Commission published its eighth annual report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism. The report described the operation of citizenship by investment schemes by visa free countries as a serious security concern, and stated explicitly that the mere existence of such a programme can now be grounds for suspending visa free access to the Schengen area, regardless of how well the programme is run.
On 25 June 2026 the matter moved a step further. The European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, sent letters to the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, requesting the gradual phase out of their programmes by 1 June 2028. The Commission proposed a 24 month transition period, along with interim safeguards such as excluding individuals subject to EU restrictive measures and strengthening the vetting of applicants, with a deadline of September 2026.
The governments of the region did not stay silent. In July 2026 the leaders of the five countries met in Roseau, Dominica, and agreed a joint position toward Brussels, asking for clearer support for the public revenue that could be lost. The Commission is expected to assess progress in its next annual report, due in December 2026.
Why there is no need to panic, not yet
Let us be clear about what is not happening. There is no decision suspending visa free access to the Schengen area for Caribbean passport holders. This is a request from the Commission, with a transition period running to 2028, and active negotiation from the five countries involved.
That does not mean the issue should be ignored. Brussels’ direction is clear, and the sensible response is not fear, it is diversification. Anyone relying on a single passport for their European mobility now has the opportunity to build a steadier second line of defence.
The diversification strategy, why one passport does not cancel out the other
Experts in investment migration point out that families with a Caribbean passport do not need to choose between it and Europe. They can instead strengthen their position by adding a European residency route through real estate, without giving up anything they already have.
The logic is simple. A Caribbean passport offers global mobility, tax flexibility and privacy. A European residence permit offers something different, permanent access to the Schengen area and the right to live, invest and bank within the EU. Combining the two is not redundant, it is security.
Greek Golden Visa, how it works today
Greece has offered one of the most accessible and most tested golden visa programmes in Europe since 2013, with over a decade in operation and thousands of approved applications. Following the changes brought by law 5100/2024, the current terms are as follows.
Greek Golden Visa investment amounts by region
- Minimum 800,000 euros for a property anywhere in the Attica region, in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, in Mykonos, in Santorini, and on islands with a population above 3,100.
- Minimum 400,000 euros for a property in the rest of Greece.
- Minimum 250,000 euros in specific cases, such as properties converting from commercial to residential use under article 64 of law 5100/2024, as well as listed heritage properties.
What the Greek Golden Visa residence permit covers
- A five year residence permit, automatically renewable for as long as the investment is maintained.
- Covers the spouse, children under 21, and the parents of the investor or the spouse.
- No minimum physical presence in Greece is required to maintain the permit.
- Access to the Schengen area for business travel, holidays, or simply getting around.
- The invested property cannot be let short term through platforms such as Airbnb, worth keeping in mind when planning returns. It can however be let long term exactly as a Greek owner would, so before you choose a property ask us for the expected long term rental price too.
Why Attica attracts investors from the Caribbean
Attica combines what an investor from an island nation is often looking for, sea, sunshine, a cosmopolitan lifestyle, and direct access to the rest of Europe through Athens international airport. Long term rentals in the area offer realistic yields of around 4 to 6 percent a year, without the owner needing to live in Greece to collect them. For someone already used to thinking in terms of global mobility, the model feels familiar, just with Greek sunshine.
Frequently asked questions
Do Caribbean passport holders lose Schengen access immediately?
No. This is currently a request from the European Commission, with a transition period running to 2028, not an immediate suspension. That timeline does offer some security though, and time to find the right property without rushing.
Can someone keep their Caribbean passport and obtain a Greek residence permit at the same time?
Yes. The Greek Golden Visa does not require giving up another nationality, it works alongside it rather than instead of it.
What is the minimum investment for the Greek Golden Visa in 2026?
It depends on the region, 800,000 euros in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and the larger islands, 400,000 euros in the rest of Greece, with a special category at 250,000 euros for an office or shop converted into a home.
Is permanent residence in Greece required to keep the permit?
No, there is no minimum physical presence requirement.
What happens if the Caribbean nations do not comply by 2028?
The European Commission will assess progress in its next annual report, due in December 2026, and could move further within the Visa Suspension Mechanism. The five countries are negotiating jointly with Brussels.
If you are weighing how to combine an existing passport with a stable European base, the team at Epsilon Team Real Estate can guide you toward a property in Attica that meets the Greek Golden Visa requirements, and can also give you expected rental prices if you would rather not use the property yourself. Take a look at a few properties below. Get in touch for more information and suggestions.
- https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2529181
2. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2470663
3. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2450573
4. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2524276
5. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2512627
6. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2533321
7. https://www.epsilonteam.gr/en/properties/2525976
Sources
- European Commission, Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs, announcement on the eighth report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism, 19 December 2025, https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-reports-partner-countries-compliance-visa-free-travel-requirements-2025-12-19_en
- European Commission, full text of the eighth report under the Visa Suspension Mechanism (pdf), https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/225fea8b-3245-478f-a331-17868b0f9b56_en?filename=Eighth+Report+Under+The+Visa+Suspension+Mechanism.pdf
- Government of Antigua and Barbuda, official statement on the European Commission’s letter, July 2026, https://ab.gov.ag/detail_template.php?page=press_release%2F2026%2Fjuly%2F2026_july_07-govt_responds_to+eu_communication_on_cip
- Housing Policy Portal, Greek Government, minimum investment thresholds for the Golden Visa under article 64 of law 5100/2024, https://stegasi.gov.gr/programs/afxisi-oriou-elachistis-ependysis-se-akinita-gia-apoktisi-golden-visa/
Evita Eleftheroudaki
Phone, +30 6944 626 626
Website, www.epsilonteam.gr
Blog | Magazine, www.epsilonliving.gr
Email, evita@epsilonteam.gr
