TL;DR: Legacy planning is no longer just about writing a will, it’s about building a global structure that protects wealth, preserves family values, and ensures smooth inheritance across generations. For high-net-worth individuals, Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs are now key to this process. By offering second citizenship in tax-neutral jurisdictions with strong legal systems and inclusive family policies, CBI programs support legacy financial planning, asset protection, and intergenerational continuity. Whether securing mobility, diversifying jurisdictional risk, or simplifying estate transfer, these legacy planning solutions offer a powerful framework for long-term security.
Legacy planning is about more than passing down assets, it’s about creating a structure that can protect your family’s wealth and simplify inheritance. For high-net-worth individuals, legacy planning is now a key part of securing their long-term future..
A growing number of families are using Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs as part of their legacy plan. These programs offer a practical way to establish a presence in countries with favourable tax regimes, stable legal systems, and reduce barriers to wealth transfer.
What is Legacy Planning?
Legacy planning is the process of preparing your assets, affairs, and values for the next and future generations. In a wealth management context, it involves more than writing a will or setting up a trust, it’s about building a lasting framework for how your wealth will be managed, preserved, and passed down.
For high-net-worth individuals, legacy financial planning often includes a combination of tax planning, succession arrangements, and asset protection across multiple jurisdictions. The goal is to reduce complexity, maintain control, and match future financial decisions with personal and family priorities.
So, what does legacy planning mean in practice? Legacy estate planning involves establishing structured systems to ensure ongoing support for the people and causes that matter most to you in the future. Whether it involves passing on a family business, transferring real estate, or safeguarding investment portfolios, it provides clarity, continuity, and stability during periods of transition.
Why Legacy Planning Is Important to HNWIs
A well structured legacy plan gives you the ability to remain in control of how your wealth, business interests, and values are carried forward. It ensures continuity for your family, protects what you have built, and strengthens you and/or your families ability to respond to future challenges.
By clearly setting out your intentions and establishing the appropriate structures, a legacy plan reduces uncertainty and provides a stable framework to guide your family and assets through future transitions. This includes safeguarding assets from unnecessary taxation, legal disputes, or political risk, and making sure wealth is passed on according to their values and intentions.
Legacy planning is also about preparing the next generation to handle wealth wisely. Whether it’s setting up a family office, creating a trust, or using international structures, more HNWIs are choosing strategies that not only protect their assets legally but also give future generations the flexibility and support.
Legacy planning isn’t just about managing assets, it’s also about providing a structure for the people who will inherit them. By setting clear expectations around roles, responsibilities, and how decisions are made, families can reduce the risk of conflict, encourage open communication, and keep their shared values and long-term vision aligned across generations.
Using Citizenship by Investment to Plan Your Legacy
As legacy planning becomes more complex, high-net-worth individuals are turning to Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs as an alternative option for securing their family’s future. Obtaining a second citizenship offers tax advantages, geopolitical diversification, and intergenerational security.
What Is Citizenship by Investment?
Citizenship by Investment refers to the legal acquisition of a second nationality through a qualifying economic contribution to a host country. In return, investors and their families receive full citizenship rights, including an official travel document, which opens access to global markets, financial institutions, and visa-free travel.
For high-net-worth individuals, CBI has evolved beyond its original role as an emergency backup. It is now used to optimize wealth structures, support legacy legal planning, and create futureproof pathways for wealth transfer, succession, and international mobility.
Why the Caribbean?
The Caribbean remains the leading choice for Citizenship by Investment. These countries were among the first to offer CBI programs.
Key reasons HNWIs choose Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs:
- Low tax burden: Most Caribbean CBI jurisdictions enforce no taxes on wealth, inheritance, or worldwide income
- Family inclusion: Most programs allow for the inclusion of spouses, children, and even dependent parents or siblings under one application
- Political and economic stability: These nations offer a secure environment for legacy estate planning
Tax Efficiency & Wealth Structuring
One of the biggest attractions of Caribbean CBI programs is their potential for tax-efficient citizenship.
Common tax advantages include:
- Zero inheritance tax, capital gains tax, or wealth tax in most CBI jurisdictions
- No tax on foreign income for non-residents
- Simplified cross-border wealth transfer through legal entities such as offshore trusts, private foundations, and holding companies
Family legacy planning
Citizenship by Investment in the Caribbean allows families to ensure that their heirs inherit not just wealth, but also a second citizenship and its associated benefits.
Here’s how second citizenship for children supports long-term family goals:
- Continuity in times of crisis: Families gain access to a safe and stable jurisdiction, reducing exposure to geopolitical risks
- Education and healthcare access: A Caribbean passport can enable visa-free access to world-class universities and medical systems
- Succession planning: Citizenship rights can often be passed down automatically, eliminating the need for future applications or legal hurdles
Legacy Focused Overview of Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs in the Caribbean offer well established programs specifically designed for high-net-worth individuals focused on legacy planning. These programs provide strong legal foundations, efficient application processes, and inclusive provisions for family members, making them well-suited for long-term wealth preservation and multi-generational planning.
Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program
Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Program, established in 1993, is globally respected for its transparency, affordability, and robust due diligence. It consistently ranks as one of the best-value options for second citizenship, making it an attractive starting point for families looking to integrate CBI into their broader legacy financial planning strategy.
Investment Options
- Non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) – starting at USD 200,000
- Government-approved real estate investment – minimum USD 200,000
Legacy Planning Benefits
- No wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax
- Inclusive family eligibility for children up to age 30 and parents/grandparents over 65
- Affordable entry point allows HNWIs to allocate additional capital toward trusts, family offices, or global estate vehicles
St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program
As the world’s oldest CBI program (established in 1984), St. Kitts & Nevis remains the first choice for credibility, legal security, and investor confidence. The program has built a reputation for supporting legacy estate planning through its tax regime and unique trust legislation in the island of Nevis.
Investment Options
- Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) – USD 250,000 (family of up to four)
- Approved real estate investment – starting at USD 325,000
Legacy Planning Benefits
- No personal income, capital gains, estate, or inheritance tax
- Citizenship is granted for life and is transferable to future generations
- St Kitts & Nevis’ legal framework is globally recognized for its offshore asset protection trusts
- Ideal jurisdiction for HNWIs prioritizing legal continuity and protection of long-term wealth
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program
Antigua & Barbuda’s CBI program, launched in 2013, is renowned for its family-friendly approach and cost-efficiency for larger households. The jurisdiction’s progressive policies make it an ideal choice for HNWIs with evolving or extended family structures.
Investment Options
- National Development Fund (NDF) – USD 230,000 (family of four)
- Real estate investment – minimum USD 300,000
- University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund – USD 260,000 (families of six or more)
Legacy Planning Benefits
- Permits inclusion of spouse, children (up to age 30), dependent parents, and even unmarried siblings
- Option to add future spouses or children after citizenship is granted
- No estate, gift, wealth, or worldwide income tax
- A strategic option for families with complex succession goals or expanding generational needs
Grenada Citizenship by Investment Program
Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, established in 2014, has emerged as an option for high-net-worth families with commercial or lifestyle interests in the United States.
Unlike other Caribbean jurisdictions, Grenada holds an E-2 Treaty agreement with the U.S., enabling its citizens to apply for the U.S. E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, a non-immigrant visa that allows individuals to live and operate a business in the U.S.
This singular feature positions Grenada as a jurisdiction that offers a gateway to the U.S. market. Through Grenadian citizenship, investors can unlock residency options for themselves and qualifying family members in the United States, without the lengthy waiting periods or permanent immigration commitments of other U.S. visa categories.
Investment Options
- National Transformation Fund (NTF) – USD 235,000 (single applicant)
- Government-approved real estate – Minimum USD $350,000 for the full ownership of a property or USD $270,000 for each share in a unit.
Legacy Planning Benefits
- Citizens are eligible to apply for the U.S. E-2 Visa (requires 3-year domicile in Grenada as of 2022)
- No tax on worldwide income, capital gains, or inheritance
- Valuable tool for succession planning where business expansion or U.S. residency is a consideration for future generations
- Offers a blend of Caribbean tax neutrality with long-term U.S. access potential
Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program
As the newest Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, Saint Lucia’s program, launched in 2015, offers a modern, investor-focused approach to second citizenship. It was designed with the benefit of hindsight, drawing on lessons learned from older programs in the region and has quickly gained recognition for its strong governance standards, strong due diligence, and balanced investment options.
What sets Saint Lucia apart is its conservative financial structuring, particularly the availability of a fully refundable government bond option, the only such route among Caribbean CBI jurisdictions.
This makes the program especially attractive to wealth advisors, estate planners, and high-net-worth individuals who prioritise capital preservation within their broader legacy strategy.
Investment Options
- National Economic Fund (NEF) – USD 240,000
- Government-approved real estate – USD 300,000
- National Action Government Bonds (NAB) – USD 300,000 (refundable after 5 years)
Legacy Planning Benefits
- The only Caribbean CBI program offering a fully refundable government bond investment
- No inheritance, gift, or capital gains tax
- Strong financial institutions and international banking network
- Well-suited for families seeking a low-risk, capital-preserving path to global legacy planning
Which Program is Right for Your Legacy Plan?
Selecting the most appropriate Citizenship by Investment program for legacy planning depends on a combination of financial, legal, and family-related considerations. Key areas of consideration include:
- Scope of family inclusion: Can your spouse, children, parents, and siblings be included? Can future family members be added post-naturalization?
- Tax neutrality: Does the jurisdiction offer zero or low taxes on wealth, inheritance, and international income?
- Jurisdictional strengths: Are there advanced trust laws, access to the U.S. via E-2 Visa, or legal frameworks for estate continuity?
- Investment return and cost structure: Do you prioritize donations, real estate, or refundable bonds?
- Processing speed and discretion: How long will it take to secure citizenship, and how transparent is the due diligence process?
By carefully evaluating these programs within the context of a well-structured legacy plan, high-net-worth individuals can secure a legally resilient, globally mobile, and tax-efficient foundation for wealth transfer across generations.
With decades of experience advising HNWIs on investment migration and estate structuring, Harvey Law Group is uniquely positioned to guide you through every step of the process. Contact us to explore how Caribbean Citizenship by Investment can support your long-term legacy goals
Why HNWIs Prefer the Caribbean for Legacy Solutions
For high-net-worth individuals, legacy planning has moved far beyond traditional domestic estate arrangements. Today, Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs offer a reliable option,including legal certainty, tax efficiency, and long-term generational security.
Here’s why the Caribbean remains a preferred region for HNWIs seeking second citizenship as part of their legacy strategy:
Fast, Discreet, and Efficient Application Processes
Caribbean CBI programs are built for efficiency and privacy. Most applications do not require physical residence, language tests, or cultural integration. These jurisdictions also offer strong confidentiality protections, making them attractive to individuals who value discretion and low-friction planning.
Tax-Neutral Structures for Wealth Preservation
A key advantage of Caribbean CBI programs lies in their tax treatment. Most jurisdictions offer:
- No inheritance or estate tax
- No wealth or capital gains tax
- No global income tax for non-residents
This consistent tax neutrality allows families to structure trusts, estates, and family offices in a way that preserves wealth, minimizes tax exposure, and ensures control across generations.
Broad Family Inclusion for Multi-Generational Planning
Caribbean programs are among the most inclusive when it comes to eligible dependents. In most cases, applicants can include:
- Spouses and dependent children (often up to age 30)
- Parents and grandparents (typically aged 65 and above)
- In some cases, siblings and future family members
This flexibility enables families to secure legal status, mobility rights, and asset protection under a unified framework.
Strong Legal Foundations and International Standards
Caribbean CBI jurisdictions operate under common law systems and align with global transparency and compliance standards. This provides peace of mind for estate planners looking for predictability and legal enforceability.
Notable advantages include:
- St. Kitts & Nevis – Leading trust and asset protection legislation through Nevis
- Grenada – Access to the U.S. through the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
- Saint Lucia – A fully refundable government bond option ideal for conservative investors
Harvey Law Group: Trusted Advisors in Investment Migration and Legacy Planning
With over 30 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals on second citizenship and wealth structuring, Harvey Law Group offers tailored guidance to help you integrate Caribbean CBI into your long-term legacy plan. Our global team of lawyers and advisors can support you in selecting the right program, managing the application, and structuring your assets for lasting protection and flexibility.
Contact us today to learn how Caribbean Citizenship by Investment can become a cornerstone of your legacy strategy.
FAQs About Legacy Planning Through Citizenship by Investment
For many high-net-worth individuals, considering international wealth strategies, including Citizenship by Investment (CBI) into a wider legacy plan brings up important legal, practical, and timing considerations. Below, we’ve addressed some of the most frequently asked questions to help families navigate these complexities and make confident, well-informed decisions.
What is legacy planning in simple terms?
Legacy planning refers to the process of preparing how your wealth, assets, values, and responsibilities will be preserved and transferred to future generations. While it traditionally includes drafting a will or trust, modern legacy estate planning is broader. It often involves cross-border tax strategies, succession structures, and governance frameworks that protect family wealth while supporting continuity, control, and long-term goals.
How does second citizenship protect family wealth?
Second citizenship, especially through structured programs like those in the Caribbean, offers a legal and compliant way to diversify your family’s tax residency, reduce exposure to political and regulatory risks, and anchor assets in stable, tax-neutral jurisdictions.
Benefits include:
- Access to countries with no inheritance, capital gains, or wealth tax
- Freedom to structure family offices, trusts, or holding companies offshore
- Safe jurisdictions for holding assets during times of political or economic uncertainty
These programs form part of a broader financial legacy planning strategy that ensures wealth is preserved and passed on efficiently.
Which Caribbean Citizenship by Investment program is best for estate planning?
Each Caribbean program offers unique features, but suitability depends on your specific legacy planning goals:
- Dominica: Best for affordability and inclusive family eligibility
- St. Kitts & Nevis: Offers strong trust legislation through Nevis for asset protection
- Grenada: Ideal for families seeking U.S. access via the E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
- Saint Lucia: Best for conservative investors seeking capital preservation through refundable government bonds
- Antigua & Barbuda: Highly flexible for large, multi-generational families
Can I include children and future generations in my Citizenship by Investment application?
Yes. Caribbean CBI programs are specifically designed to support multi-generational legacy planning. Most programs allow you to include:
- Spouse
- Children (often up to age 30)
- Parents and grandparents (typically aged 65+)
- Some even allow unmarried siblings or the addition of future children and spouses post-naturalization
This makes it possible to secure legal continuity, residency options, and mobility rights for your entire family within one investment structure.
Is legacy planning legal with offshore citizenship?
Yes, when structured properly. Legacy planning through Citizenship by Investment is a legal and internationally recognized strategy, commonly used by private wealth advisors, family offices, and estate lawyers.
Caribbean programs are government-approved and operate under established legal frameworks that comply with global regulatory standards (e.g., FATCA, CRS).
It is highly recommended to work with legal advisors who specialize in both investment migration and cross-border estate planning, to ensure all structures are compliant and effective.
Conclusion: Citizenship by Investment as a Legacy Planning Option for Global Families
Legacy planning has evolved from a domestic financial concern into a comprehensive, cross-border strategy. For high-net-worth individuals and their families, securing wealth across generations now requires more than traditional wills and trusts; it requires mobility, tax neutrality, and jurisdictional flexibility.
This is where Caribbean Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs have become a cornerstone of modern financial legacy planning. By offering legally recognized second citizenship in stable, tax-efficient jurisdictions, these programs allow families to:
- Protect generational wealth through zero inheritance, capital gains, and foreign income tax
- Establish global mobility for heirs, ensuring access to international education, healthcare, and business opportunities
- Anchor estates and trusts in stable legal systems that support privacy, asset protection, and long-term planning
- Include multiple generations in a single application, enabling seamless multi-generational legacy continuity
Whether your goals include diversifying geopolitical risk, securing mobility for future generations, or optimizing your global estate planning, Citizenship by Investment offers a proven, efficient, and strategic path forward.
At Harvey Law Group, we have over 30 years of experience advising high-net-worth families on second citizenship, wealth protection, and legacy planning across jurisdictions. Our global legal team is here to help you identify the right program and structure a legacy plan that aligns with your values, priorities, and long-term vision.
Contact us today to begin exploring how Caribbean Citizenship by Investment can serve as a foundational pillar of your family’s global legacy.
