Cheapest Citizenship by Investment Programmes in 2026

Citizenship by investment (CBI) programmes offer a legal pathway to a second passport in exchange for a qualifying economic contribution. Pricing varies from under USD 110,000 to over EUR 1,000,000 depending on the country, investment route, and family size. This guide ranks every active programme by cost for a single applicant and a family of four.

Active CBI Programmes Ranked by Cost (Single Applicant)

1. Dominica — From USD 100,000

Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) requires a non-refundable contribution of USD 100,000 for a single applicant. The real estate option starts at USD 200,000 (held for 3 years from approval). Due diligence fees add USD 7,500, and government processing fees bring the total to approximately USD 113,000 for a single applicant.

Visa-free access: 145+ countries including UK, Schengen, Singapore, and Hong Kong Processing time: 3-4 months Physical residency requirement: None

2. St Lucia — From USD 100,000

St Lucia's National Economic Fund contribution starts at USD 100,000 for a single applicant. Government fees and due diligence add approximately USD 10,000-12,000.

Visa-free access: 146+ countries Processing time: 3-4 months Physical residency requirement: None

3. Vanuatu — From USD 130,000

Vanuatu's Development Support Programme (DSP) requires USD 130,000 for a single applicant, inclusive of most government fees. Additional due diligence and legal costs bring the total to approximately USD 140,000-150,000.

Visa-free access: 96+ countries Processing time: 30-60 days (the fastest globally) Physical residency requirement: None

4. St Kitts and Nevis — From USD 250,000

The Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) is USD 250,000 for a single applicant. The real estate route also starts at USD 200,000 (approved developments, held 7 years). Government fees and due diligence add approximately USD 15,000-20,000.

Visa-free access: 156+ countries including UK, Schengen, and most of Asia Processing time: 3-6 months (accelerated processing available at additional cost) Physical residency requirement: None

5. Antigua and Barbuda — From USD 230,000

The National Development Fund contribution is USD 230,000 for a family of up to four (USD 130,000 for a single applicant, but the programme is primarily marketed to families). The University of the West Indies fund option is USD 150,000 for a family of six+.

Visa-free access: 151+ countries Processing time: 3-4 months Physical residency requirement: 5 days within 5 years

6. Grenada — From USD 235,000

The National Transformation Fund contribution is USD 235,000 for a single applicant. The real estate option requires USD 270,000+ (approved projects). Due diligence fees of USD 5,000 apply.

Visa-free access: 148+ countries US E-2 treaty access: Grenada is the only Caribbean CBI country with a US E-2 investor visa treaty Processing time: 4-6 months Physical residency requirement: None

7. Turkey — From USD 400,000

Turkey requires USD 400,000 in real estate (held for 3 years) or USD 500,000 in fixed capital investment. No government contribution option exists — the investment must be in a qualifying asset.

Visa-free access: 110+ countries US E-2 treaty access: Yes Processing time: 3-6 months Physical residency requirement: None

8. Jordan — From USD 750,000

Jordan's CBI programme requires a USD 750,000 investment in government-designated projects or treasury bonds. It is less established than Caribbean programmes and offers fewer visa-free destinations.

Visa-free access: 55+ countries Processing time: 3-6 months

9. Malta — From EUR 690,000+

Malta's MEIN (Maltese Exceptional Investor Naturalisation) programme is the only CBI programme offering EU citizenship. Costs include:

• EUR 600,000 contribution (or EUR 750,000 for 12-month residency track)
• EUR 50,000+ in qualifying property purchase or EUR 16,000/year rental
• EUR 10,000 philanthropic donation
• Government fees, legal costs, and due diligence

Total cost for a single applicant: approximately EUR 750,000-900,000.

Visa-free access: 190+ countries (EU passport) Processing time: 12-36 months (includes mandatory residency period) Physical residency requirement: 12 or 36 months depending on contribution level

Family of Four Cost Comparison

Programme	Single	Family of 4	Passport Strength
Dominica (EDF)	~USD 113,000	~USD 200,000	145+ countries
St Lucia (NEF)	~USD 112,000	~USD 195,000	146+ countries
Vanuatu (DSP)	~USD 145,000	~USD 195,000	96+ countries
St Kitts (SISC)	~USD 270,000	~USD 300,000	156+ countries
Antigua (NDF)	~USD 145,000	~USD 245,000	151+ countries
Grenada (NTF)	~USD 240,000	~USD 305,000	148+ countries
Turkey (RE)	~USD 410,000	~USD 415,000	110+ countries
Malta (MEIN)	~EUR 800,000	~EUR 950,000	190+ countries

Beyond the Headline Price

The contribution or investment amount is only part of the total cost. Additional expenses include:

• Due diligence fees: USD 5,000-15,000 per adult applicant
• Legal and advisory fees: USD 10,000-30,000 depending on programme complexity
• Passport and courier fees: USD 500-1,500 per applicant
• Medical examinations: USD 200-500 per applicant
• Notarisation and apostille: USD 500-2,000
• Local agent fees (where required): USD 2,000-5,000
• Travel costs for biometrics or oath of allegiance (where required)

For a family of four, total all-in costs including advisory fees typically add USD 25,000-50,000 to the headline investment amount.

Real Estate vs Donation Routes

Most Caribbean programmes offer both a government fund contribution and a real estate investment option:

Government fund (donation):

• Lower total outlay
• Non-refundable (no asset recovery)
• Simpler process
• No property management obligations

Real estate:

• Higher upfront cost
• Asset retained (can be sold after hold period — typically 3-7 years)
• Rental income potential (but yields on CBI-approved developments are often modest)
• Property management and maintenance costs
• Risk of property value decline

For most applicants, the donation route offers better value when total costs — including property management, maintenance, and opportunity cost of capital — are properly calculated.

Due Diligence Standards

The price of a CBI programme correlates roughly with due diligence rigour:

• Malta: The most thorough due diligence globally, conducted by the Community Malta Agency with multi-agency background checks lasting 12+ months
• St Kitts, Grenada, Dominica: Robust due diligence using international verification agencies (Exiger, IPSA International, etc.)
• Vanuatu: Due diligence has improved significantly but remains lighter than Caribbean programmes
• Turkey: Standard background checks through Turkish government agencies

Stronger due diligence protects the programme's reputation and, by extension, the value of the passport to all holders.

Key Takeaways

• Dominica and St Lucia offer the lowest entry point at USD 100,000 for single applicants, with strong visa-free access to 145+ countries
• Vanuatu is the fastest programme globally (30-60 days) but offers fewer visa-free destinations than Caribbean alternatives
• Grenada is uniquely valuable for US market access through its E-2 treaty — the only Caribbean CBI with this feature
• Malta is the only route to an EU passport via investment, but at EUR 750,000+ it is in a different cost category
• All-in costs including due diligence, legal fees, and ancillary expenses typically add USD 25,000-50,000 to the headline price
• The donation route is generally more cost-effective than real estate when total costs are properly compared
• Due diligence standards vary significantly — programmes with stronger vetting protect passport value for all holders