UAE residents holding a second passport obtained through Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes now face significantly restricted travel and immigrant visa access following major US and EU policy changes in late 2025 and early 2026. As of January 1, 2026, Presidential Proclamation 10998 imposes partial travel bans on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica — the first time CBI programmes have been directly cited in a US travel restriction. Separately, immigrant visa issuance was halted for nationals of 75 countries on January 21, 2026.
Do This Next
- If you hold a CBI passport, check the current US State Department travel ban list before travel
- Confirm whether your CBI-issuing country is on the 75-country immigrant visa pause
- Consider UAE Golden Visa as a residence-based alternative — AED 2 million property threshold
Table of Contents
What Is a CBI Second Passport and Why UAE Residents Bought Them
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) refers to programmes where a country grants citizenship in exchange for a qualifying financial contribution — typically a donation, real estate purchase, or government fund investment. Families acquiring CBI passports from Caribbean and other jurisdictions have typically spent between $115,000 and $330,000, with these passports historically promising access to more than 140 countries.
UAE residents — particularly Indian, Pakistani, and other South Asian expatriates — were drawn to these programmes for three reasons: visa-free travel to Europe and the UK, tax planning flexibility, and a second nationality option given that India does not permit dual citizenship. Henley & Partners’ 2024 Private Wealth Migration Report notes that 4,300 wealthy Indians gave up their citizenship in 2023, with many choosing Caribbean or other CBI programmes while living in the Gulf.
Which CBI Countries Face US and EU Restrictions in 2026
The policy landscape shifted substantially between July 2025 and January 2026. Two separate US actions now affect CBI passport holders — a travel ban under Presidential Proclamation 10998, and a separate immigrant visa pause.
Countries on the US Partial Travel Ban (Effective January 1, 2026)
Two CBI jurisdictions are named on the December 2025 travel ban list specifically because they offer citizenship by investment programs, which are noted as posing additional screening challenges: Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. These restrictions block B, F, M, and J visa entry for their nationals.
Countries on the US Immigrant Visa Pause (Effective January 21, 2026)
The State Department suspended immigrant visa processing on January 21 for 75 countries, blocking permanent residency applications from 10 nations operating CBI programs: Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, Egypt, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, and Jordan. The pause affects immigrant (permanent resident) visas only — tourist, student, and business visas are not affected.
The dual-national exemption matters. The only exception to the immigrant visa ban is for dual nationals who are citizens of both a banned country and a non-banned country, and who are applying for an immigrant visa using the nationality of the non-banned country. A UAE resident who gave up their original citizenship to hold only a CBI passport has no second nationality to fall back on.
Pro Tip: If you still hold your original nationality alongside a CBI passport, apply for any US visa using the non-restricted nationality — this is the only exemption written into the 2026 pause.
The UAE Does Not Offer Citizenship by Investment
The UAE has no CBI programme of its own. UAE citizenship cannot be bought through property investment, a financial contribution, or any similar direct pathway.
The United Arab Emirates does not offer a formal citizenship by investment program. There is no application form, no set investment threshold, and no guaranteed path from investment to an Emirati passport. What the UAE does offer is a nomination-based citizenship route introduced in 2021 for investors, specialised professionals, scientists, doctors, and individuals with exceptional talent — but this requires nomination by UAE authorities and Cabinet approval, not an application.
Does UAE Allow Dual Citizenship?
The UAE’s nationality law did not allow people to retain their other nationality after becoming UAE citizens until 2021, when the government changed this rule. The new law permits some foreigners to retain their original nationality under certain conditions, but only selected people can apply and they must be nominated for it by the government. Emirati-born citizens are not permitted to hold dual citizenship.
The UAE dual citizenship rule is therefore the opposite of what most CBI programmes offer: where Caribbean CBI is transactional and open to anyone who pays, UAE dual citizenship is government-initiated and reserved for a nominated few.
UAE Golden Visa: The Residence-Based Alternative
The UAE Golden Visa has become the primary alternative for UAE residents reconsidering their CBI investment. It is a long-term residence permit, not citizenship — and that distinction is now being viewed as an advantage, not a limitation.
The UAE Golden Visa grants 10-year self-sponsored residence to investors committing AED 2 million or more, entrepreneurs investing AED 500,000, and specialized talents. It is administered by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) under Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022.
| Feature | UAE Golden Visa | Typical Caribbean CBI |
|---|---|---|
| Type | 10-year residence permit | Citizenship with passport |
| Minimum investment | AED 2 million (property) | USD 100,000–$250,000 (donation or property) |
| Current US travel access | Unaffected by 2026 bans | Restricted for Antigua, Dominica; immigrant visas paused for 10 CBI nations |
| Schengen access | Via UAE residence (no direct visa-free) | Recently restricted or under EU review |
| Requires renunciation of original nationality | No | Sometimes — India requires it |
| Path to citizenship | No automatic path | Immediate |
As of February 2026, the UAE removed the previous 50% down payment requirement for real estate Golden Visas. Qualification is now based on a Dubai Land Department valuation confirming a total property value of AED 2 million, regardless of mortgage status. Financing through approved UAE banks is fully accepted with a No Objection Certificate from the lender. This change lowered the liquidity barrier meaningfully for CBI holders considering a pivot to UAE residency.
For a full overview of UAE residency options and document requirements, the UAE visa guide covers residency checks, renewals, and the connected ICP and GDRFA processes. If you are considering the Emirates ID implications of a UAE residence switch, the Emirates ID fees guide details the costs tied to 2-year and 3-year residence visas.
What CBI Passport Holders in the UAE Should Do Now
The policy direction is clear. The inclusion of CBI jurisdictions in 2026 US policy reflects a direct linkage between investment migration programs and perceived national security risks. White House statements have explicitly cited citizenship by investment without residency as a reason for restriction, stating that such programmes make it too easy for citizens from visa-ban countries to purchase a new passport and subsequently apply for a US visa.
Three practical considerations apply:
Verify your current travel access. The US travel ban and immigrant visa pause are distinct policies affecting different visa categories. Check the current official list before any planned US travel.
Do not renounce your original nationality based on CBI marketing from 2023 or earlier. Agencies that aggressively marketed these programmes often did not account for dual-national exemption clauses now being enforced in 2026 US policy.
Keep documentation of any legitimate residency and tax ties in your CBI-issuing country if you have them — CBI programmes with genuine residency requirements are being treated differently from pure purchase-based citizenship by both US and EU policy.
FAQs
Does UAE allow dual citizenship for residents?
No, not through an application process. UAE dual citizenship was permitted by law in 2021, but only for foreigners nominated by UAE government authorities — typically investors, scientists, doctors, engineers, and individuals with exceptional talent. Ordinary UAE residents cannot apply for dual citizenship on their own. Emirati-born citizens are not permitted to hold dual citizenship under current law.
Can UAE residents still use their Caribbean CBI passport for US travel?
It depends on the CBI country and visa type. As of January 2026, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica are under partial US travel ban covering tourist, student, and exchange visas. For immigrant visas (permanent residency), 10 CBI countries including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Grenada are under an indefinite pause. Holders of CBI passports from non-restricted countries can still travel on their passport, but should verify the current list with the US State Department before travel.
Is the UAE Golden Visa the same as citizenship by investment?
No. The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence permit, not citizenship, and does not grant a UAE passport. Holders remain foreign nationals. The Golden Visa provides long-term residency, tax benefits, and family sponsorship rights, but there is no automatic pathway from Golden Visa to UAE citizenship — that remains a separate government-initiated nomination process.
Why did the US add Antigua and Dominica to the 2026 travel ban?
The December 2025 Presidential Proclamation 10998 specifically cited these countries’ offering of citizenship by investment without residency requirements as posing additional screening challenges. The US position is that CBI passports without a physical residency requirement allow nationals of otherwise restricted countries to acquire a second passport and apply for US visas under that nationality, undermining the travel ban system.
What should Indian UAE residents do if they already gave up Indian citizenship for a CBI passport?
This is a particularly difficult situation because India does not allow dual citizenship, so many CBI applicants had to surrender their Indian passports. The dual-national exemption written into the January 2026 US immigrant visa pause does not apply to those who hold only one citizenship. Affected residents should seek legal advice from an immigration specialist — the UAE Golden Visa does not restore prior citizenship but can provide a stable residence base while policy develops.
Last verified: April 2026
Reviewed by: UAE Content Team
Source: US Department of State, Presidential Proclamation 10998, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), UAE Government Official Portal
