Most discussions of Grenada's citizenship by investment programme focus on how much it costs. Fewer explain when the money is actually paid, which matters just as much for planning: some payments are made months before a decision and are kept whatever happens, while the largest sum, the investment itself, is paid only after approval in principle. Knowing the sequence tells you how much is at risk at each stage.
At the time of writing, the National Transformation Fund (NTF) contribution is reported at US$235,000 for a main applicant and up to three dependants, and the approved real estate route at US$270,000 for a shared interest or US$350,000 for sole ownership, plus a government fee on that route. On top of either come application, due diligence, processing, passport and other government fees, and professional fees.
This page sets out the usual order of payments, what is refundable, how money should move, and how to avoid the transfer problems that trip up applicants near deadlines. Amounts and rules change; confirm the current fee schedule with the Investment Migration Agency (IMA) or your licensed agent before committing.
Stage one: engaging the agent
Professional fee deposit. Most Authorised Local Agents and international advisers ask for part of their fee on signing the engagement letter, with further instalments at filing and at approval. Terms vary widely between firms.
What it buys. This early payment typically covers screening, document review and preparation of the file. It is at risk if you later withdraw, depending on the engagement terms.
Real estate reservation. On the property route, a developer may ask for a reservation deposit to hold a unit. Check carefully whether it is refundable if the application is refused, and where it is held.
Third-party costs. Translations, apostilles, police certificates, medicals and couriers are paid as you go during preparation. They are modest individually but add up for a large family, and they are not refundable.
Get it in writing. Ask for a payment schedule showing every amount, when it is due, to whom, and the refund position at each stage.
Stage two: filing the application
When the file is lodged, the government side of the costs begins. The agent pays, usually from funds you provide, the non-refundable application or processing fees and the due diligence fees. Due diligence fees are charged per person above a set age, so a family with adult children, parents or siblings pays considerably more at this stage than a couple with young children.
These fees fund the background checks and the IMA's work in reviewing the file. They are generally kept whatever the outcome, including refusal or withdrawal after filing. That is the main reason to address any weakness in the file before lodging it: a refusal means losing these fees and the professional fees spent so far, though not the investment.
Ask your agent to pass on official receipts for every government and due diligence fee paid in your name. An agent's invoice that bundles government fees with its own charges makes it hard to verify what has actually reached the government.
If the review drags on and documents need to be renewed, there may be modest additional costs for new police certificates, medicals or translations. Budget a small contingency for this.
Stage three: after approval in principle
The investment itself is paid only after approval in principle, within the period stated in the approval letter. On the NTF route, that means a transfer of the contribution to the designated government account. On the real estate route, it means completing the purchase and paying the government fee for that route. Additional amounts apply for larger families on the NTF route, with higher amounts for certain categories of dependant.
Remaining government fees, such as fees connected with registration and the oath, may be due at the same time, along with the agent's final professional fee instalment. Passport fees follow when passport applications are lodged.
Because this is the largest payment, it carries the most practical risk: a transfer delayed by a bank's compliance review, a payment from the wrong account, or a conveyancing hold-up on the property route. The approval letter's deadline does not move to accommodate any of these, so preparation matters.
Making the large transfer safely
A few precautions protect both the money and the timetable. Before approval arrives, if possible:
- Confirm with the agent exactly which account the payment should go to, and verify the details by a second channel, not by email alone.
- Make sure the sending account is the one documented in your source-of-funds evidence and is in your own name.
- Tell your bank in advance that a large international transfer will be made and provide the documents its compliance team will want.
- Check any daily or single-transfer limits and whether currency conversion will be needed, and agree the exchange approach in advance.
- Use the payment reference the agent provides, so that the funds can be matched to your file.
- Keep the bank's confirmation and send a copy to the agent immediately; ask for the government receipt once issued.
Refunds: what usually happens
Refund rules depend on the fee, the agent's terms and the stage reached. As a general guide, which should be checked against your own documents:
- Due diligence fees: generally not refunded, whatever the outcome.
- Application and processing fees: generally not refunded once the file has been lodged.
- NTF contribution: paid only after approval in principle and not refundable once paid, including if you change your mind.
- Real estate purchase: governed by the sale agreement; deposits and escrow terms determine what happens if the application fails before completion.
- Professional fees: governed by the engagement letter; some firms refund part of the fee on refusal, others do not.
- Third-party costs: translations, apostilles, medicals and certificates are not refundable.
- Withdrawal before filing: if you stop before the file is lodged, you have usually lost only the professional fees paid so far and third-party costs. That is why it pays to raise doubts, about your file or about the programme, before lodging rather than after.
Building a realistic budget and cash-flow plan
Put the payments on a timeline rather than a single total. A family might pay professional fee deposits and document costs over the first two months, a significant block of government and due diligence fees at filing, then nothing for several months during review, followed by the investment, final fees and passport costs within a few weeks of approval in principle.
This shape matters if funds are tied up in investments, property or a business. The investment money needs to be liquid and sitting in the documented account by the time approval arrives, which may be sooner than expected for a clean file. Selling assets in a hurry at that point can also create a new source-of-funds question.
Currency is a second consideration. Fees and the investment are quoted in US dollars; applicants holding other currencies carry exchange rate risk between budgeting and payment. Grenada's own currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, is pegged at EC$2.70 to US$1, but that does not protect funds held in other currencies.
Warning signs around money
Personal accounts. Any request to pay government fees or the investment into a personal account, or into a company unconnected to the licensed agent or the government, should stop the process until it is verified.
Changed bank details. Emails announcing new bank details are a classic fraud pattern. Always confirm by calling a number you already hold, not one in the email.
Discount offers. Offers to reduce the investment below the published minimum, or to return part of it, conflict with programme rules and can jeopardise both the application and the citizenship.
Unclear bundling. A single "all-in" price with no breakdown makes it impossible to see what reached the government. Ask for a full itemisation.
Pressure to pay early. The investment is due after approval in principle, not before filing. Be cautious of anyone asking for it up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is any Grenada CBI money refunded if the application is refused?
Due diligence and application fees are generally kept. The NTF contribution is normally paid only after approval in principle, so a refused applicant has not usually paid it. Professional fee refunds depend on the engagement letter, so check before signing.
When is the National Transformation Fund contribution paid?
After approval in principle, within the period stated in the approval letter. It is not paid at filing. Once paid, it is non-refundable, and citizenship formalities follow once the IMA confirms receipt.
Can the investment be paid in instalments?
The NTF contribution is generally expected as a full payment within the approval window. On the real estate route, the payment structure follows the sale agreement and the programme rules. Ask your agent about current requirements before planning staged payments.
Can someone else pay the fees for the applicant?
Third-party payments raise source-of-funds questions. Where a family member is paying, the gift and the payer's own source of wealth should be documented in the file before filing. Discuss the arrangement with your agent early.
Are Grenada CBI fees the same for every family?
No. Due diligence fees are charged per person above a set age, and NTF amounts rise for larger families and certain dependants. Ask your agent for a costing based on your exact family before deciding who to include.
