Due diligence is the set of background checks a government carries out before it grants residence or citizenship. Every programme has it, every adult applicant goes through it, and it is the part families worry about most. It need not be. If you know what is coming, it is mostly a matter of paperwork.
What is checked
- Who you are. Your identity, family details and where you have lived.
- Your record. Police certificates from the countries you have lived in.
- Where your money comes from. How you earned or received the funds you are investing, and your wealth more widely.
- Sanctions and public roles. Whether you appear on a sanctions list, or hold or have held a senior public position.
- Your history with other countries. Earlier visa refusals and immigration problems.
- What is publicly known about you. News reports and public records.
The checks are carried out by the government and by specialist firms it appoints.
Who is checked
Every adult on the application. In citizenship programmes this often includes dependants from the age of 16.
What you will be asked for
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Passports and birth certificates | Identity |
| Marriage certificate | Family details |
| Police certificates | Your record |
| Bank statements | Where the funds are held |
| Employment contracts, company accounts, sale agreements or inheritance papers | Where the funds came from |
| Proof of address | Where you live |
| A short account of your career or business | Your background |
Your exact list depends on the programme, and you receive it in writing.
The interview
The Caribbean citizenship programmes now include an interview, usually by video. It is short. The questions confirm what is in your application: who you are, what you do, and why you are applying.
How long it takes
From a few weeks to several months. The checks themselves are rarely the cause of a long wait. Missing, out-of-date or inconsistent documents are.
What causes problems
- Leaving something out. An old visa refusal, a change of name, a past conviction. These are found. Declaring them, with an explanation, is almost always better than hoping they are missed.
- Funds that cannot be traced. Money that arrives without a clear origin raises questions, however lawful it is.
- Documents that do not match. Different spellings of a name, or dates that disagree.
- Eligibility. Some programmes are not open to every nationality, and people on a sanctions list are refused.
Declare everything. An omission causes more trouble than the fact itself.
How to make it smooth
- Start gathering documents early. Police certificates and certified translations take time.
- Keep a simple record of how your wealth was built: what you earned, sold or inherited, and when.
- Explain anything unusual at the start, before you are asked.
- Make sure names and dates are identical on every document.
Is it confidential?
Yes. What you provide is used to assess your application and is seen only by those who need it to do so.
Figures are indicative and reviewed on 4 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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