Iraq Ranks Fourth Among Applicants for Grenadian Citizenship by Investment

Iraq ranked fourth among the nationalities applying for Grenadian citizenship through investment during the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 7% of total applicants, according to a report published by US-based CEOWORLD magazine.

Nigeria topped the list with 24% of applications, followed by China at 15% and the United States at 9%, placing Iraq in fourth position.

The report indicated that Grenada received 103 citizenship applications during the first three months of 2026, down from 123 applications in the same period of 2025, representing a decline of approximately 16%. However, the number of individuals granted citizenship increased to 539, compared with 491 during the corresponding period last year.

It also revealed that 76 of the newly submitted applications, representing around 74% of the total, opted for investments in the real estate sector, while the remaining applicants chose to make non-refundable contributions to the National Transformation Fund.

Regarding the programme's performance in 2025, Grenada received 469 applications and granted citizenship to 1,124 individuals. The programme generated approximately 153 million Eastern Caribbean dollars in net contributions to central government revenue, equivalent to around USD 57 million.

Iraq's position among the leading applicant nationalities comes amid mounting international pressure on Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programmes. The European Commission has called on five countries, including Grenada, to terminate such schemes by June 1, 2028, to avoid losing visa-free access to the Schengen Area.

In response, Grenada has moved to tighten its citizenship requirements. The revised rules require new citizens to spend at least 30 days in the country during their first five years of citizenship. Dependents must also spend a minimum of five days in Grenada during their first year, in addition to completing an integration programme and attending mandatory interviews.