Most Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes refuse Iranian nationals or accept them only under strict conditions. Here is where each programme stands in November 2026, with official sources.
The short answer: among the well-known citizenship-by-investment programmes, Türkiye is the only one whose rules do not exclude Iranian nationals. Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda accept Iranians only if they have lived outside Iran for at least ten years and have cut their ties there. St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada currently do not accept Iranians, and an EU Commission report says the same of Saint Lucia. Argentina's new programme is not operating yet, North Macedonia's is paused, and Malta's has closed. Nationality rules are the first thing to check, before any investment or fee, and they change often. This article sets out each programme's position as published by its own government, checked on November 5, 2026. It is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
Summary table
| Programme | Iranian nationals | Minimum investment (for everyone) |
|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | Not excluded | US$400,000 in property held 3 years, or US$500,000 bank deposit or capital |
| Dominica | Only if 10+ years living outside Iran, with no assets or business there | US$200,000 fund contribution or approved property |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Only if 10+ years of permanent residence elsewhere, with no economic ties to Iran | US$230,000 fund contribution (family of up to 4) |
| Grenada | Currently not accepted | — |
| St Kitts and Nevis | Not accepted | — |
| Saint Lucia | Not accepted, according to the EU Commission | — |
| Argentina | Not yet operating; nationality rules not published | — |
| North Macedonia | Paused | — |
| Malta | Closed in 2025 | — |
Türkiye: the programme without a nationality bar
Türkiye's citizenship-by-investment regulation applies to foreigners generally and names no excluded nationalities. Iranians are among the largest foreign buyers of homes in Türkiye, according to the Turkish statistics agency. The main routes are: See our Türkiye citizenship by investment page for the full process.
- Property worth at least US$400,000, with an undertaking not to sell for three years recorded on the title deed. The value is set by a licensed appraisal report, not the contract price.
- A US$500,000 deposit in a Turkish bank or fixed capital investment, held for three years.
Dominica and Antigua: only after years outside Iran
Dominica. Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Unit says Iranian applicants will be refused unless all three of these are true: they have not lived in Iran for at least ten years, they have no substantial assets in Iran, and they do no business with Iran. Every applicant aged 16 or over must attend an interview. The minimum is a US$200,000 contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund, or approved real estate of the same value held for three years. Details are on our Dominica page. Antigua and Barbuda. Iran is on Antigua's restricted-country list. Its official FAQ allows an exception only for people who have kept permanent residence in a country that is not on the list for at least ten years and who keep no economic ties to the restricted country. The main route is a US$230,000 contribution to the National Development Fund for a family of up to four, and new citizens must spend at least five days in Antigua within the first five years. See our Antigua and Barbuda page.
In practice, both exceptions fit Iranians who emigrated long ago and have settled elsewhere, not people living in Iran today. Both also require clear proof, so plan for documents on your residence history, assets and business ties.
Grenada, St Kitts and Saint Lucia: closed to Iranians
- St Kitts and Nevis publishes a list of countries whose citizens' applications are not accepted, and Iran is on it.
- Grenada currently does not accept Iranian nationals; the EU Commission's December 2025 review lists Iran among Grenada's restricted nationalities.
- Saint Lucia: the same EU review lists Iran among Saint Lucia's restricted nationalities. Saint Lucia's own website does not publish its full list, so treat any agent who says otherwise with caution and ask for the official confirmation in writing.
Argentina, North Macedonia and Malta
- Argentina announced its programme on October 2, 2026 (a US$350,000 contribution or a US$800,000 bond) and said it would start taking applications in the fourth quarter of 2026. It is not operating yet, it faces legal challenges, and no nationality rules have been published. Our article on the announcement has the details.
- North Macedonia's programme is currently paused and is not accepting new applications. It may reopen, but no date has been announced.
- Malta ended its investor citizenship route after the EU Court of Justice ruled against it in April 2025.
What a second passport means in Iran
Iran does not recognise dual nationality. According to the UK and Canadian governments' travel advice, if you hold Iranian nationality, the Iranian authorities treat you as an Iranian national, you must enter and leave Iran on your Iranian passport, and obligations such as military service still apply. A second passport is useful for travel and residence abroad, not inside Iran.
Travel to Europe and the US on a second passport
Europe. Caribbean passports currently allow visa-free short trips to the Schengen area, but that is no longer secure. In late 2025 the EU gave itself a new ground to suspend visa-free travel for countries that sell citizenship without a genuine link, and the European Commission has said these schemes carry security risks for the Schengen area. Vanuatu has already lost visa-free access, from February 2025. United States. The US has fully suspended entry for Iranian nationals since June 2025. Its December 2025 proclamation also partly suspends visitor, student and immigrant visas for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and of Dominica. Both proclamations exempt dual nationals travelling on a passport from a country that is not designated, but US visas are still decided case by case.
Next step
Before you pay any agent or any government fee, get written confirmation from the programme's official unit that your nationality and your residence history are eligible. If you would like a licensed consultant to look at your options, including residency-by-investment programmes, which follow different rules, start with our free assessment or see our residency by investment page. The information in this article was checked on November 5, 2026 against the official websites of each programme, EU documents, US proclamations and UK and Canadian travel advice. Nationality rules change often, so check again before you act.
