GrenadaCitizenship by descent

Citizenship by descent in Grenada

The programme provides for the registration of citizenship for children of Grenadian citizens born outside the country. The procedures differ for people under and over eighteen. Applications are processed by the Department of Home Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office. Citizenship is treated as lifelong, with no residence requirement. Dual citizenship is permitted and recognised by the state.

Visa term

Citizenship is granted for life.

Work

A Grenadian citizen works without a work permit — it is only needed by foreign employees.

Source: Embassy of Grenada — Applying for Citizenship

Routes to registering citizenship

Citizenship is registered through several routes depending on the age of the child and the status of the parent.

Child under 18

The parent is a Grenadian citizen by birth
The application is filed by a parent or guardian
Form Schedule 3 Regulation 5

Child over 18

The parent is a Grenadian citizen by birth
The application is filed by the child (as an adult)
Form Schedule 1 Regulation 3

Grandchild of a Grenadian

A grandfather or grandmother is a Grenadian citizen
Documentary proof of the full line of descent is required
A separate form for grandchildren

When the programme will not suit you

The parent was never a Grenadian citizen, or obtained citizenship through investment rather than by birth

The Citizenship by Investment programme or naturalisation through marriage

There is no way to prove the relationship and the parent's citizenship with documents

Approach the Department of Home Affairs to clarify the requirements for your particular situation

A foreign national who wants citizenship without Grenadian ancestry

The Citizenship by Investment programme or naturalisation through marriage to a Grenadian

What it costs

Citizenship registration feeThe main government fee	250 XCD
Fee for written translation of documentsIf the documents require official translation	5,1 XCD
Equivalent from the United StatesThe rate between XCD and USD is roughly 1 to 0.37	94,9 XCD
Equivalent from the United Kingdom and CanadaIncludes the main fee and the translation fee converted for these countries	255,1 XCD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Equivalent from the United States” branch replaces the “Citizenship registration fee” line — 100 XCD; the “Equivalent from the United Kingdom and Canada” branch replaces the “Citizenship registration fee” line — 260,2 XCD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	255,1 XCD

Paid separately

Issue of a passport — The passport is a separate document and is paid for at a separate rate
Consular services at an embassy — Applications are processed in Grenada rather than at embassies, so no consular fee applies

Documents to gather

The set of documents differs depending on the category of the child and is published on the official government portal.

Child's birth certificate (certified copy)
Birth certificate of the Grenadian parent or their naturalisation document
Passport or identity document of the Grenadian parent
Parents' marriage certificate (if applicable)
Divorce certificate (if applicable)
Police clearance certificate (for applicants over 18)
Passport-size photograph (35 x 45 mm)
Certified translations of documents into English (if the originals are in another language)
Completed official form signed by a Justice of the Peace
Reference letter from a person of standing in the community (for applicants over 18)

How the process runs

Registration involves several stages and may differ for children under and over 18.

1
Preparing the complete set of documents
1-2 weeks
Collect all the necessary documents from the list and make sure you have certified copies, translations and signatures. The documents must be sent by post to Ministerial Complex, 6th Floor, Botanical Gardens, Tanteen, St. George's, Grenada.
2
Sending the application by post
1-3 days
Send the set of documents with an international money order or bank draft made out to “Government of Grenada”. Make sure the documents are protected and trackable.
3
Processing of the application by the Department of Home Affairs
4-6 weeks
The Department of Home Affairs checks that the documents are complete, carries out the necessary checks and prepares a decision. Additional documents may be requested at this stage.
4
Notification of the decision
a few days
You will be notified of the outcome by post or through the contact details given in the application. If the decision is positive, a certificate of registration of citizenship is issued.
5
Applying for a passport (optional)
1-2 weeks
Once you have the certificate of citizenship you can apply for a Grenadian passport. Passports for children are valid for 5 years, for adults — 10 years.

Who you can bring with you

Citizenship by descent extends to family members in certain cases.

Children under 18 of a Grenadian citizen

They automatically acquire Grenadian citizen status when born outside the country if one of the parents was a Grenadian citizen at the time of birth. Registration is required.

Children over 18 of a Grenadian citizen

They may apply to register citizenship themselves if one of the parents was a Grenadian citizen at the time of their birth. A police clearance certificate and a reference letter are required.

Grandchildren of a Grenadian citizen

They may register as citizens where there is documentary proof of the full line of descent through a grandfather or grandmother. The procedure is more complex and requires a detailed review of each case.

Spouse of a Grenadian citizen

Obtains citizenship through the separate naturalisation-by-marriage programme rather than by descent. Proof of an official marriage and residence in Grenada or the fulfilment of other conditions is required.

Renewal and the grace period

Citizenship obtained by descent is treated as lifelong and does not need to be renewed. The passport issued on the basis of that citizenship has a limited validity period (5 years for children, 10 years for adults) and must be renewed, but citizenship itself remains permanent. Physical presence in Grenada is not required to keep citizenship.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Citizenship by descent	Work permit	Citizenship by marriage
Visa term	Citizenship is granted for life	The renewal application is filed three months before the current permit expires	Citizenship is granted for life
Money	Fee of XCD 250 plus XCD 5.10 for translation	Application fee USD 100	Fee of XCD 1000 plus XCD 5.10 for translation
Work	A Grenadian citizen works without a work permit — it is only needed by foreign employees	Gives the right to work for a specific employer	A Grenadian citizen works without a work permit — it is only needed by foreign employees

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

There is no need to go through permanent residence separately: descent gives citizenship straight away.

Route to citizenship

Applications are considered by the Prime Minister's Office in Grenada, not by embassies. The set of documents is sent to the Permanent Secretary: Ministerial Complex, 6th Floor, Botanical Gardens, Tanteen, St. George's.

Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by descent

What does it cost to register citizenship for a child of a Grenadian?

The fee is XCD 250 plus XCD 5.10 for written translation if the documents require translation. That is the equivalent of roughly USD 94.90, or XCD 255.10 from the United Kingdom and Canada. Payment is accepted in the form of an international money order or a bank draft.

How long does it take to process an application for citizenship by descent?

Processing usually takes four to six weeks after the complete set of documents is filed. In periods of high demand, however, it may take longer. The timeline may be extended if additional documents or checks are required.

Are the requirements different for children under and over eighteen?

Yes, the differences are substantial. For children under eighteen the application is filed by a parent or guardian using form Schedule 3 Regulation 5. Applicants over eighteen file for themselves using form Schedule 1 Regulation 3, and a police clearance certificate and a reference letter from a person of standing are required.

Is residence in Grenada required to keep citizenship?

No, physical presence in Grenada is not required to keep citizenship. Grenadian citizens by descent may live abroad permanently with no consequences for their citizenship status. The Grenadian system recognises and supports the diaspora.

Does Grenada allow dual citizenship?

Yes, Grenada fully recognises and allows dual and multiple citizenship. You can keep the citizenship of another country while obtaining Grenadian citizenship by descent at the same time. This is particularly useful for globally mobile people and their children.

Which documents from the Grenadian parent are needed to prove their citizenship?

A Grenadian passport, a Grenadian birth certificate, a certificate of naturalisation or a certificate of registration of citizenship may be submitted. The documents must be certified copies in English or accompanied by an official translation.

Other ways to move to Grenada

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Grenada.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.