From Approval in Principle to Oath: The Final Grenada CBI Stages

The approval-in-principle letter is the moment most applicants remember: the background checks are over and Grenada has agreed, subject to conditions, to grant citizenship. It is tempting to treat it as the finish line. In fact several important steps follow, each with its own deadline and paperwork, and mistakes at this stage can still cause delays or, in the worst case, put the approval at risk.

Broadly, the final stages are: making the investment within the time allowed, providing proof to the Investment Migration Agency (IMA), paying any remaining government fees, receiving certificates of registration, taking the oath of allegiance, and applying for and collecting passports. The Authorised Local Agent coordinates all of it, but the applicant has to act quickly at several points.

This page walks through each step, the things that commonly go wrong and the documents worth keeping for the long term. Procedures and fees change, so treat the details as indicative and confirm current requirements with your agent and the IMA.

What approval in principle actually means

Approval in principle is a conditional decision. It confirms that the applicant and the included dependants have passed due diligence and are approved for citizenship, provided the qualifying investment is made and the remaining requirements are met within the stated period. Until those conditions are satisfied, the applicant is not yet a citizen.

The letter normally sets out the investment option chosen, the amount due, the period within which it must be paid, and any outstanding fees. Read it carefully with your agent as soon as it arrives. Check that every family member is named correctly and that the investment amount reflects the family as approved; if a dependant was not approved, the amount and the paperwork will differ.

The period allowed for payment is limited, commonly a matter of weeks rather than months, although the exact term depends on the letter and current rules. Failing to complete the investment in time can lead to the approval lapsing, which is why preparing the payment route in advance matters so much.

Making the investment

National Transformation Fund route. The contribution is paid by bank transfer to the account specified by the government, usually coordinated through the agent. Use the exact reference the agent provides so the payment is matched to your file.

Approved real estate route. The purchase of the approved interest is completed under the sale agreement, together with the government fee for that route. This involves the developer, the lawyers and sometimes an escrow arrangement, so it takes longer than a single transfer. Start the conveyancing steps as soon as approval arrives.

Pay from the documented account. The money should come from the account identified in your source-of-funds evidence. A payment from an unexpected account, or from a third party, can reopen questions at the last moment.

Warn your bank. Large international transfers often trigger compliance holds at the sending bank. Give your bank the approval letter and supporting documents in advance to avoid a frozen payment near the deadline.

Get proof. Keep the transfer confirmation, the receipt issued by the government and, for real estate, the completed transfer documents.

Registration and the oath of allegiance

Once the IMA has confirmed that the investment has been received and any remaining fees are paid, the formal grant of citizenship follows. The usual sequence:

1. The agent submits proof of investment and payment of remaining fees to the IMA.
2. Certificates of registration as citizens of Grenada are prepared for the main applicant and each approved dependant.
3. Each adult takes the oath of allegiance, swearing or affirming loyalty to the Crown as Grenada's head of state and to Grenada, before a person authorised to administer it. The agent will explain where this can be done; arrangements abroad are commonly possible.
4. The signed oath is returned through the agent, and citizenship is formally recorded.
5. Certificates of registration are released, usually through the agent. These are the primary proof of citizenship and should be kept with care.

Applying for and receiving the first passport

With citizenship granted, passport applications can be submitted for each family member, usually prepared and lodged by the agent with Grenada's passport authorities. Expect to provide passport photographs to the required specification, signatures, the certificate of registration and the applicable fees. Under newer procedures, biometric capture may be required, and arrangements for it can affect where and when the application is completed.

Passports are typically delivered through the agent once issued. Check every passport carefully on arrival: names, dates and places of birth must match the certificate of registration and the documents in the file. Errors are far easier to correct immediately than when they surface at an airport.

Passport validity for investor citizens is under review. The 2026 amendment bill to the Citizenship by Investment Act proposed that the first passport issued to new investor citizens be valid for five years rather than ten, with renewal linked to new post-citizenship duties. Whether and when that applies to you depends on commencement and transitional rules, so ask the agent what validity your passports will have.

Documents to keep safe for the long term

The paperwork from these final weeks will matter for years, for renewals, adding dependants, property purchases and proving citizenship. Keep originals securely and copies separately:

• the approval-in-principle letter;
• proof of payment of the NTF contribution or completion documents for the approved real estate;
• government receipts for all fees paid;
• certificates of registration for every family member;
• copies of the signed oaths of allegiance;
• copies of each passport's biographical page and the passport numbers;
• for the real estate route, the title or share documents and evidence of the holding period start date;
• the agent's final report or closing letter, and contact details for the firm.
• Storage tip: keep originals in one secure place and high-quality scans in another, such as an encrypted drive. If a certificate of registration is lost, replacing it involves its own process with the authorities, and scans make that much easier.

Real estate investors: the extra steps at completion

On the approved real estate route, the period after approval in principle is busier. The purchase has to be completed under the sale agreement, which may involve releasing funds from escrow, executing transfer documents, registering the interest and paying the government fee for that route. The developer's lawyers and your own lawyer both play a part, and the agent then has to evidence the completed investment to the IMA.

Ask before approval arrives exactly what completion involves for the project you have chosen, who holds the funds, and how long each step normally takes. If the developer or its lawyers are slow, the approval deadline still applies to you.

Note the date from which the minimum holding period runs and keep evidence of it. When you eventually sell, you will need to show that the holding period was respected, and the documents generated at completion are the ones that prove it.

Pitfalls in the final stretch

Selling an approved property too early. Real estate investments must be held for the minimum period, widely stated as five years. Selling or transferring early can put citizenship at risk.

Changes in circumstances. A new criminal matter, a sanctions designation or a change in family status before citizenship is granted must be disclosed. Approval in principle does not freeze the facts.

Assuming the first trip can be booked. Do not book travel that depends on new passports until they are in hand.

Forgetting home-country rules. Some countries require citizens to report acquiring another nationality, or restrict it. Check your obligations once Grenadian citizenship is granted.

Ignoring future obligations. Proposed presence and integration requirements after citizenship were deferred in 2026 pending the regional regulator. Keep in touch with your agent so you learn promptly if they come into force.

Frequently asked questions