If you are applying for Caribbean citizenship by investment, the short answer is this: the core document package is usually built around identity documents, civil status records, police clearances, medical reports, and proof of source of funds. The exact list varies by jurisdiction, but official guidance from Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia shows a clear pattern: applicants are expected to prove who they are, where their money comes from, and whether their file is complete, consistent, and legally verifiable.
Key Takeaways
- Most Caribbean CBI applications require the same five core categories: passport/identity records, civil documents, police certificates, medical documents, and source-of-funds evidence.
- Documents usually have to be submitted in English or accompanied by an authenticated English translation.
- A weak file usually fails because of incomplete financial evidence, expired certificates, inconsistent details, or poor document preparation, not because the applicant missed one glamorous requirement.
- Dependants often trigger extra paperwork, especially for school enrollment, support affidavits, and relationship evidence.
- Applications are generally handled through an Authorised Agent, who helps assemble and submit the file properly.
The Core Documents Almost Every Applicant Needs
Across the Caribbean CBI landscape, the same document logic appears again and again. Authorities want to confirm your identity, your background, your health, and your financial legitimacy. Dominica’s official application guidance, for example, lists valid passports, birth and marriage certificates, police certificates, medical reports, proof of source of funds, financial statements, and employment verification among the standard components of a file.
| Document category | What it usually includes |
| Identity | Passport copy, passport photos, proof of address |
| Civil status | Birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce or name-change records if relevant |
| Background | Police clearance certificates |
| Medical | Medical form, blood and urine tests, sometimes HIV test depending on rules |
| Financial | Bank statements, source-of-funds affidavit, employment or business records |
This is the best starting framework for understanding the document checklist. The exact form names may differ, but the logic is broadly the same.
Identity and Civil Status Documents
Every application starts with proof of identity and personal status. Dominica’s current guidance explicitly calls for a valid passport with at least six months before expiry, along with certified and apostilled or legalized copies of key civil documents such as birth certificates. Where relevant, marriage certificates and name-change documents also become part of the file.
Identity and civil status documents usually include:
- Valid passport copy
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate, if applicable
- Divorce certificate, if applicable
- Name-change records, if applicable
- Proof of residential address
- Passport-size photographs
Police and Medical Documents
Background screening is one of the most important parts of the process, so police and medical documents are standard. Dominica requires police certificates from the applicant’s country of birth, current country of residence, and any country where the person has lived for more than six months in the previous ten years, with the certificates issued within the three months before submission. The same page also requires a medical form and blood, urine, and HIV tests that are no more than three months old at submission.
Grenada’s application guide also requires a medical examination and supporting documents, while Saint Lucia confirms that its due diligence process applies to applicants aged 16 and over.
This part of the file usually includes:
- Police clearance certificates
- Medical examination form
- Blood and urine test results
- HIV test results where required
- Fingerprint or verification forms where applicable
Financial and Source-of-Funds Documents
This is the section applicants underestimate most often. Official Caribbean CBI guidance repeatedly emphasizes that applicants must prove the lawful origin of their funds. Dominica’s process materials reference proof of funds, financial statements, and employment verification, while its required-document list also includes a notarised affidavit of source of funds, 12 months of bank statements, and detailed business background information or a CV.
Financial documents often include:
- Bank statements
- Employment letter or income verification
- Financial statements
- Affidavit of source of funds
- Asset verification or business background records
- Resume or CV in business-owner cases
A clean file is not just a complete file. It is a file where the financial story makes sense from start to finish.
Extra Documents for Dependants
Family applications often require more than simply adding names to the file. Dominica’s official list includes school recommendations for children aged 12 to 18, university transcripts or enrollment confirmation for dependants aged 18 to 30, and a notarised affidavit of support for each dependant aged 18 or over, other than the spouse.
Dependant-related documents may include:
- School letter or report
- University enrollment confirmation
- Affidavit of support
- Relationship documents proving dependency or eligibility
Language, Translation, and Certification Rules
This is one of the most practical parts of the process. Saint Lucia states that supporting documents must be submitted in English, or in the original language together with an authenticated English translation. Grenada’s application guide similarly states that supporting documents must be in English and, if not, officially translated. Dominica’s document lists also state that documents must be provided in English.
Do not overlook:
- Certified true copies
- Apostille or legalization requirements
- Authenticated English translations
- Date-validity windows for police and medical records
Final Thought
The best way to think about Caribbean CBI documents is not as a random checklist, but as a legal story you have to prove. You need to show who you are, where your money comes from, whether your background is clear, and whether your supporting records hold together under review. Applicants who understand that usually prepare better files — and better files usually move more smoothly.
