Investment opens door to residency, not citizenship, Nicholls tells MPs

Investors in approved national development projects could qualify for permanent residency under a revised Immigration Bill introduced to the House of Assembly on Tuesday, but Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls insisted they would not be able to buy Barbadian citizenship or passports.

Nicholls told lawmakers that Barbadian citizenship was not for sale.

Outlining several provisions, including a modernised immigration department, tougher safeguards for work permits and stronger penalties for people who abuse the immigration system, Nicholls said the bill would allow people making substantial investments in approved national development projects to become permanent residents. He explained that this was different from citizenship.