U.S. President Donald Trump has expanded immigration restrictions by introducing partial visa bans on two Caribbean states — Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. Both countries operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs. The new measures will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica will no longer be eligible for a number of U.S. visas. The ban applies to all major categories — family-based, employment-based, and other forms of immigration, including:
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B-1/B-2 — business, tourism, and visitor travel
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F and M — academic and vocational education
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J — exchange programs
Reason for the restrictions: CBI programs
The Trump administration has directly linked the introduction of these bans to investment citizenship programs. According to U.S. authorities, a citizen of a country subject to visa restrictions may obtain a passport through a CBI program in a third country not under sanctions and then use that passport to apply for a U.S. visa, effectively bypassing the original restrictions.
Identified risks include:
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concealment of true identity and sources of funds;
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circumvention of migration, financial, and banking restrictions.
Notably, other Caribbean Basin countries with similar CBI programs — Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia — were not included in the decree.
Reaction of Antigua and Barbuda
Prime Minister Gaston Browne sharply criticized the U.S. decision, calling it unjustified. He rejected claims that the CBI program operates without residency requirements, emphasizing that Parliament recently passed legislation mandating 30 days of physical presence to obtain citizenship.
According to Browne, Antigua’s ambassador promptly contacted the U.S. State Department, whose representatives reportedly said the decree came as a surprise to them. The Prime Minister also expressed readiness for full cooperation and announced plans to send official letters to Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking restoration of normal visa relations.
Position of Dominica
Dominica’s authorities adopted a more measured approach. The government confirmed the introduction of restrictions and stated its readiness for immediate dialogue with the U.S. Consultations are currently underway with the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown to clarify the scope, legal basis, and consequences of the new measures. Dominica also declared its intention to work closely with U.S. authorities to address the identified concerns.
Broader scope of restrictions
The decree of December 16 extended visa restrictions to a total of 38 countries.
Full ban (19 countries): Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria. Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial restrictions to a full ban.
Partial restrictions (19 countries):
Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Angola, Benin, Burundi, Venezuela, Gabon, Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga.
Exemptions apply to:
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individuals holding valid visas issued before January 1, 2026;
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lawful permanent residents of the United States;
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dual nationals traveling on a passport of a country not on the list;
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holders of diplomatic and official visas (A-1, G-1, etc.);
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athletes participating in major international sporting events;
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individuals whose travel is deemed to be in the national interest of the United States (case-by-case exemptions).
In addition, the decree instructs consular services to shorten the validity of other nonimmigrant visas issued to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. A 180-day review cycle is предусмотрен to determine whether the restrictions should be maintained or lifted.
Situation in Norway
According to IMI, starting in August 2025 Norway effectively began denying entry to and deporting holders of investment citizenship from five Caribbean countries: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Saint Lucia.
This practice is being applied despite the fact that the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has officially denied any changes to visa-free entry rules and the absence of publicly issued regulations.
Border authorities at Oslo and Bergen airports conduct individual interviews to determine how Caribbean citizenship was obtained. Entry refusals are issued under Article 17(1)(a) of the Immigration Act, which concerns the invalidity of travel documents.
Norwegian authorities consider CBI passports invalid within their territory, citing internal standards that require personal presence when applying for a passport — a requirement often absent in CBI procedures of other sovereign states.
As a result, Norway effectively restricts visa-free travel for CBI passport holders without formally violating the Schengen Agreement, since it challenges not the visa status but the validity of the document itself. Travelers receive no prior warning and have virtually no effective means of appeal at the border.
Lawyers and industry representatives confirm the systematic nature of these refusals. Moreover, the government of Dominica has acknowledged that Norway has implemented an unpublished operational policy banning entry for all holders of Caribbean CBI passports.
This marks the first documented case of a Schengen country systematically denying entry to citizens with investment citizenship. Importantly, these issues are currently limited exclusively to Norway — no obstacles have been recorded when entering other EU or EEA countries.
Investment Citizenship of Türkiye: Benefits and Conditions
Against the backdrop of tightening visa regimes and increasing pressure on Caribbean CBI programs, Türkiye’s investment citizenship program remains one of the most stable and widely recognized in the world.
What Turkish citizenship offers:
1. A full-fledged national passport of a major state
Türkiye is a G20 country with a developed economy, a stable legal system, and broad international ties. Turkish citizenship is not considered “high-risk” or “nominal,” unlike some CBI passports.
2. Visa-free travel
A Turkish passport provides:
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visa-free or facilitated access to more than 110 countries;
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access to Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East;
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the ability to apply for Schengen, UK, and U.S. visas through standard procedures, without additional restrictions related to the passport’s origin.
3. The right to live, work, and do business in Türkiye without limitations
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no need to renew residence permits;
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the right to work legally without special permits and to open a business;
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freedom to plan a future and pursue any profession.
4. Social and state guarantees
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public and private healthcare;
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education, including public universities;
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pension system and social insurance.
5. Family citizenship
Citizenship extends to the spouse and children under 18. No additional investment is required for family members.
6. No residency requirements
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no mandatory period of residence in Türkiye;
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no language requirements;
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no obligation to renounce current citizenship (dual citizenship is allowed).
Conditions for Obtaining Turkish Citizenship by Investment
The most popular and practical option is real estate purchase.
Key requirements:
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real estate investment of at least USD 400,000;
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purchase of one or multiple properties is allowed;
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residential or commercial property is permitted;
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a commitment not to sell the property for 3 years.
Alternative investment options:
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bank deposit of USD 500,000 (for 3 years);
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purchase of government bonds;
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business investment with job creation.
The average processing time to obtain passports is around 6 months. Physical residence in Türkiye during this period is not required.
Advantages of Turkish citizenship through real estate investment:
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citizenship is not a “nominal” investment passport;
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real estate remains a liquid asset and may generate income;
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no risk of sudden cancellation of visa-free regimes for political reasons;
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Turkish passports are not challenged by EU or Schengen border authorities, unlike Caribbean CBI passports.
Amid increased scrutiny of investment passports and growing entry refusals, Turkish investment citizenship is increasingly seen as a more reliable, long-term, and legally stable alternative.
If the goal is not just a second passport, but real mobility, family protection, and investment in a tangible asset, Türkiye remains one of the most advantageous options today.
Leave a request for a consultation on real estate in Türkiye for citizenship purposes. Stay Property offers a wide selection of properties suitable for acquisition under the Turkish citizenship-by-investment program.