Visa Free Travel to the United Kingdom(UK)
GRENADA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
Circular Notice
9th October, 2017
Visa Free Travel to the United Kingdom(UK)
Increasingly it has come to our attention during the due diligence process that there are applicants who would have been refused a UK Visa. As you are aware Grenada has visa free travel to the UK. However, Section 8 (3) (f) of the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Act 2013 states that an applicant who - “has been denied a visa to a country with which Grenada has a visa-free travel and who has not subsequently obtained a visa to the country that issued the denial, shall not be approved for permanent residence or citizenship under this Act”.
In order to reduce the possibility of the citizenship application being denied or delayed for cause, it is recommended that local agents and marketing agents enquire of potential applicants as to whether they have applied for and being refused a UK Visa. If they have applied for the being refused a UK Visa before the citizenship application is submitted, the applicant should apply for a UK Visa. Once obtained only then can the citizenship application be submitted.
It is advisable to follow this course of action so that if the applicant has been refused a UK Visa twice, then it will not be sensible to submit a citizenship application as under Section 8 (3) (f) of the CBI Act, citizenship will not be granted in these circumstance.
If the applicant has never applied for a UK Visa or has applied for and obtained a UK Visa, prior to the Citizenship application being submitted, there is no need to apply for the obtain a UK Visa and the citizenship application can be submitted.
Please be aware that in cases where a citizenship application has been submitted and it is revealed during due diligence checks that the applicant has been refused a UK Visa, the application will be delayed for cause in order that the applicant can avail themselves of the opportunity to apply for and obtain a UK Visa.
Finally, please note that although Grenada has visa free travel to the UK, entry into the UK is subject to the policies of UK Immigration that are in existence at any point in time.