Iraq secured fourth place among the leading nationalities applying for Grenadian citizenship through investment in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 7% of total applicants, according to a report by US-based CEOWORLD magazine.
Nigeria topped the rankings with a 24% share, followed by China at 15% and the United States at 9%, while Iraq ranked fourth.
Grenada received 103 citizenship applications during the first three months of 2026, compared with 123 applications in the same period of 2025, marking a decline of approximately 16%. Despite the drop in new applications, the number of individuals granted citizenship rose to 539, up from 491 in the corresponding quarter last year.
Regarding investment preferences, 76 applicants, representing approximately 74% of all submissions, chose the real estate investment route. The remaining applicants opted to make non-refundable financial contributions to the National Transformation Fund.
For the full year 2025, the programme recorded 469 applications and granted citizenship to 1,124 individuals. Its net contribution to central government revenue reached 153 million Eastern Caribbean dollars, equivalent to approximately USD 57 million.
The figures come as Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes face growing pressure from the European Union. The European Commission has urged five countries, including Grenada, to discontinue their programmes by June 1, 2028, to avoid losing visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
In response to these concerns, Grenada has introduced stricter citizenship requirements. New citizens must spend at least 30 days in the country during their first five years, while dependents are required to stay for a minimum of five days during their first year. The updated framework also includes mandatory integration procedures and interviews.
