Buying Property in Grenada as a Foreigner: What to Know

Who can buy

Grenada places no general restriction on foreign ownership of real estate. The US State Department's 2024 Investment Climate Statement notes that investors may purchase or lease privately owned land, with no limits on foreign ownership or control outside narrow public-interest exceptions.

What distinguishes non-nationals from Grenadians is the licence requirement. Under Grenada's aliens landholding legislation (the full text is available on the government's Laws of Grenada portal), a non-citizen must hold a licence before acquiring land — and the same regime catches purchases of shares in Grenadian companies that hold land.

The alien landholding licence and its 10% fee

The licence is the single biggest extra cost of buying as a foreigner. According to the US State Department report, non-nationals pay a 10% fee on the purchase of real estate or of shares in a Grenadian registered company. On a US$400,000 villa, that is US$40,000 before you have paid a lawyer.

Applications are made to the government, and the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC) publishes guidance on the process. Your attorney will normally prepare and file the application; expect to supply identity documents and background information, and build the approval time into your purchase timetable.

Taxes when you sell

Transfer taxes in Grenada fall more heavily on non-national sellers. The US State Department report notes that a sale of real estate or landholding-company shares attracts a property transfer tax of 15% payable by the seller where the seller is a non-Grenadian.

Factor this into your exit maths from day one: roughly 10% in on the licence and 15% out on transfer tax means Grenada suits buyers planning to hold for the long term, not flippers. Rates and rules change — confirm current figures with Grenada's Inland Revenue Division or a local attorney before you commit.

How a purchase typically runs

Conveyancing follows a familiar English-law pattern — Grenada is a common-law jurisdiction — but always use a local attorney. Prices are commonly quoted in US dollars or East Caribbean dollars; Grenada is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's currency union, and the EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar, which removes day-to-day exchange risk between the two.

• Engage a Grenadian attorney early — they handle title checks and the licence application
• Agree the sale and purchase terms, usually with a deposit held in escrow
• Apply for the alien landholding licence and wait for approval before completion
• Budget the 10% licence fee plus legal fees and stamp costs on top of the price
• Confirm all current rates with the Inland Revenue Division and GIDC — they change

The citizenship route is a separate track

If your goal is a Grenadian passport rather than simply a home, the citizenship by investment programme works differently: it requires buying into a government-approved project at the programme's own thresholds and fee schedule, administered by the CBI unit. For most buyers who just want a house or holiday villa, the ordinary licence route is simpler and opens up the whole market rather than a short list of approved developments. Habio's Grenada listings and buyer guides cover both ends of that market.