Antigua and Barbuda has retained fifth place in the 2026 CBI Index, scoring 65 points out of a possible 90 as Caribbean countries occupied all five leading positions.
St. Kitts and Nevis topped the assessment with 78 points, followed by Dominica with 75, Grenada with 72 and Saint Lucia with 71.
Antigua and Barbuda’s result, equivalent to 72% of the available points, placed it six points behind Saint Lucia and one ahead of Nauru, the highest-ranked programme outside the Caribbean.
The annual index compares 14 jurisdictions across nine categories, examining both citizenship-by-investment programme features and the wider appeal of the countries offering them. Eligible applicants can obtain citizenship through a qualifying investment or financial contribution, subject to programme requirements.
Although every jurisdiction retained its 2025 ranking, 11 recorded changes in their overall scores. The report said the unchanged order masked developments in programme competitiveness.
Antigua and Barbuda’s strongest result was in family provisions, where it earned the maximum 10 points. It received nine for investment options and thresholds, and eight each for due diligence and ease of processing.
The country scored seven each for standard of living, freedom of movement and certainty of product. It received six for mandatory travel or residence and three for citizenship timeline.
Each category carries equal weight, with a maximum of 10 points.
Among the countries ahead of Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis maintained its overall score of 78. Maximum marks for due diligence and certainty of product helped support its leading position, alongside a competitive citizenship processing timeline.
Dominica increased its total by two points to 75, strengthening its second-place position. The report attributed its improvement to gains in freedom of movement, family provisions and certainty of product.
Grenada also gained two points, reaching 72, while Saint Lucia recorded the largest overall improvement, adding three points to finish on 71.
Both retained maximum scores for mandatory travel or residence under the requirements currently in force. Saint Lucia also improved its citizenship timeline score and its assessment for certainty of product, with the programme passing the 10-year milestone.
The report described Caribbean leadership as entering a new phase, with cooperation moving beyond minimum investment thresholds and common background-check standards toward a more formal regional regulatory framework.
It said programme competitiveness increasingly depended on credible administration, regulatory safeguards and the practical value citizenship offers applicants and their families.
Outside the leading Caribbean group, Nauru scored 64 points, followed by Vanuatu with 59, Malta with 56, Türkiye with 55 and São Tomé and Príncipe with 54.
Egypt received 53 points, Austria 49, Jordan 47 and Cambodia 43.
Now in its 10th edition, the index combines quantitative information with qualitative assessments, drawing on official government sources, applicable laws, international institutions and industry expertise.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda ranks fifth in 2026 citizenship-by-investment index.