Knowing how to choose a CBI agent starts with verifying the submission route, then assessing compliance, costs and accountability.
Quick Verification Checklist: Key Takeaways
- Confirm current authorization for your chosen program.
- Identify the entity submitting your application.
- Obtain an itemized quote and written contract.
- Verify payment recipients independently.
- Reject guaranteed approval or shortcuts around due diligence.
Agent Comparison Scorecard
This suggested framework compares evidence, not approval prospects. Rate each criterion 0 (unverified), 1 (partial) or 2 (documented). Award weight × rating ÷ 2; total the results out of 100.
| Criterion | Weight | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Authorization | 30 | Current status and submission partner |
| Track record | 15 | Relevant cases and consented references |
| Compliance process | 20 | Screening and document-review procedure |
| Fee transparency | 20 | Itemized costs and refund terms |
| Communication | 10 | Named manager and update schedule |
| Aftercare | 5 | Defined services and charges |
Unverified submission authority or serious red flags override any score.
What a CBI Agent Does
A citizenship by investment agent helps assess eligibility, organize documents, coordinate submission and communicate with the relevant authority. Where intermediaries are involved, the authorized submitting agent handles formal government correspondence.
Ask which services cover citizenship completion, passport applications and later renewals. Clarify charges for document replacement and family additions where permitted.
Authorised Agent vs Consultant or Marketing Intermediary
“CBI consultant” describes an advisory role; it does not establish submission authority. An authorised CBI agent holds a program-specific status.
Marketing intermediaries may be legitimately authorized, but their role differs. In St Kitts and Nevis, international marketing agents work through authorized agents. Grenada’s published process directs applicants through an authorized international marketing agent and then a local agent.
Why Agent Authorisation Matters
Verifying a licensed citizenship by investment agent helps establish who can represent your application. A business license, professional membership or government logo does not establish CBI submission authority. Authorization in one country does not establish status in another.
Authorization also does not guarantee approval, service quality or investment returns. Citizenship decisions remain with the relevant government authorities.
How to Verify an Agent’s Licence or Status
Understanding how to verify a CBI agent requires checking the correct official category.
| Program guide | Official verification route |
|---|---|
| Dominica citizenship by investment | CBIU: authorized agents and, where relevant, promoters. |
| St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment | CIU: authorized agents and international marketing agents. |
| Grenada citizenship by investment | IMA Grenada: international marketing and local agents. |
| Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment | CIU: licensed agents and authorized representatives. |
| Saint Lucia citizenship by investment | CIP: authorized agents, marketing agents and promoters. |
Match the legal name, license details where published, website and contact information. Check current notices, suspensions and renewal status. Request confirmation through independently sourced official contacts if anything is unclear. Verify both intermediary and submitting agent; retain dated evidence. Contact the listed firm independently to confirm that your salesperson genuinely represents it.
Experience, Compliance and Due-Diligence Standards
Ask about experience with your nationality, family structure and source of wealth. Request anonymized examples or references shared with consent.
Expect questions about identity, criminal history, previous refusals, source of funds and source of wealth. Initial screening cannot replace government due diligence. Ask who accesses sensitive documents and how they are securely transferred and stored.
Fees, Contracts and Payment Transparency
Separate the qualifying investment from government charges, due-diligence fees, professional fees and document expenses. Require payment milestones, beneficiaries, exclusions and refund terms for rejection, withdrawal or delay.
Verify each beneficiary against the relevant official payment instructions or documented contractual arrangements. Independently confirm changed bank details. Avoid personal-account payments and unexplained third-party transfers.
The contract should identify each entity’s responsibilities, termination rights, governing law and dispute procedure.
Questions to Ask Before Appointing an Agent
Ask your citizenship by investment consultant:
- Who submits my application, and where can I verify their status?
- What could make my case ineligible?
- Which costs are non-refundable, and when?
- Do you receive commissions from recommended investments?
- Who handles updates, complaints and post-citizenship support?
Request written answers before signing.
Red Flags and Common CBI Scams
CBI agent red flags include:
- Guaranteed approval or claims of special government influence.
- Promises to bypass checks or conceal refusals.
- Unofficial discounts below required government investment amounts.
- Copied license certificates or mismatched company identities.
- Pressure to transfer funds before verification.
A lower professional fee is different from reducing a mandatory government requirement. If fraud is suspected, pause payments, preserve records and contact your bank promptly.
Comparing Multiple CBI Agents
Compare two or three providers using the same family profile, program, investment route and service scope. Apply the scorecard to written evidence; investigate omissions in unusually cheap quotes. If one quote excludes due-diligence charges and another includes them, their totals are not comparable.
Use our Caribbean citizenship by investment comparison to assess program fit before selecting representation.
CBI Agent Selection Checklist
Before appointment, retain:
- Verified status for every relevant entity.
- Written eligibility concerns and document requirements.
- Signed scope, itemized fees and refund conditions.
- Confirmed payment instructions and receipts.
- Named contacts, escalation arrangements and aftercare terms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can an agent guarantee approval?
No. Government authorities assess applications; an agent cannot override their decision.
Must my consultant hold the submission license?
Not necessarily. Permitted structures differ, but any required intermediary authorization and the submitting agent’s status must be verified.
Is a refund guarantee enough protection?
No. Check which payments it covers, exclusions and enforceability. A contractual refund promise cannot guarantee citizenship.
