Grenada delays 30 day physical stay rule for CBI applicants past Aug. 31

Grenada delayed its planned 30-day physical residence requirement for Citizenship-by-Investment applicants, leaving remote acquisition rules in place past Aug. 31.

Regional delays stall domestic enforcement

The Investment Migration Agency Grenada (IMA Grenada) confirmed through Circular No. 2 of 2026 that the mandatory stay rule won't take effect on the anticipated date. The suspension stems from regional triggers that haven't yet occurred, the agency stated.

The rule remains on hold until the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) becomes operational following regional ratification and member states formally agree on a launch date. Grenada's Parliament debated the CBI Amendment Bill in late July, but the minister hasn't published the required commencement order in the Government Gazette.

For now, foreigners navigating Grenada's residency rules can complete the entire CBI process without visiting the island.

What the delayed framework requires

Once regional authorities finalize an effective date, the amended law introduces strict post-grant obligations under sections 7A and 7B of the CBI Act:

• 30 days of total physical presence in Grenada during the first five years of holding citizenship.

• 5 days of physical presence for each dependent within their first 12 months.

• Completion of a civic integration program involving cultural orientation and an interview.

• Passports issued with an initial five-year validity, with the full 10-year renewal granted only after the government certifies compliance.

Families can accumulate the 30 days collectively, though days spent on the island together count only once toward the total.

Application exposure and retroactive risk

The stay requirement doesn't affect regular tourists, remote workers on independent permits or individuals who already hold naturalization certificates. Existing economic citizens are grandfathered out of the physical presence rule.

Active applicants face a different reality. Under section 7B(6) of the legislation, the minister retains the legal authority to apply the physical stay rules retroactively to files submitted prior to the commencement date. Investors submitting applications today can finalize their paperwork remotely, but they must prepare for mandatory post-citizenship travel and compliance interviews once the regional authority takes effect.