by Linda Straker
- CBI regulations provide for name changes after 2 years
- Change of name notice published in 24 December Government Gazette
- Number of CBI citizens who have changed their names after obtaining Grenada citizenship is unknown
A citizen of the City of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates who was approved to become a citizen of Grenada through the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme with the name Maria Decava has changed her name, according to a notice from her attorney, Peter David. Published in the 24 December 2025 Government Gazette, the change of name notice is dated 22 December.
David, a former government minister, current Member of Parliament for the Town of St George, and political leader of the recently launched Democratic People’s Movement, became a licensed local agent for the CBI programme as of 13 October.
The notice said, “Take notice that by a deed poll dated 31st October 2025 and duly enrolled in the Deeds and Land Registry of Grenada in Liber 32-2025 at page 493 on the 11th December 2025 MARINA KABASHENKO of T1-803, Boulevard Heights in the City of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates lately called MARIA DECAVA a citizen of Grenada by Citizenship By Investment renounced and abandoned the name MARIA DECAVA.”
The CBI regulations provide that any person granted citizenship may change their name after 2 years by presenting certain legal documents to the CBI Unit, now rebranded as the Investment Migration Agency (IMA).
Whoever is going through the process of changing their name must, through their local agent, provide the CBI Unit and the Committee with an original excerpt of the birth certificate or a certified copy of the full birth certificate, showing parents’ details such as the name of the family or household register, the family book, or a similar document. They must also submit, via a specific form, a copy of any official name change from the country of origin, including a marriage certificate or other legal document showing the change of name.
The number of approved CBI citizens who have changed their names after obtaining Grenada citizenship is unknown.
Grenada’s CBI programme began in 2014, and to date, more than 23,000 people from more than 100 nations worldwide have been approved for citizenship. As a citizen, each person is afforded a passport which allows them to enjoy the same rights and privileges as native-born citizens when using the passport to travel.
Grenada has earned billions through the programme, but the European Union (EU) has expressed concern about Grenada and the other Eastern Caribbean countries, which operate a CBI programme. The programme provides for approved nationals to pay a certain amount to a real estate project or to the National Transformation Fund (NTF)to become a citizen following due diligence background.
The EU said that the CBI schemes in the 5 Eastern Caribbean states “continue to raise concerns due to high volumes, short processing times and low rejection rates, despite some steps taken to strengthen due diligence and information-sharing.”
