Eight active programmes, compared on the terms that actually decide the outcome:
what it costs, how long it takes, where it lets you travel, and exactly which
members of your family can come with you.
A legal route to a second nationality, granted in months rather than decades.
Citizenship-by-investment programmes are written into national
law. A government sets a qualifying contribution or investment, runs an independent background check,
and grants full citizenship to applicants who clear it, without the years of physical residence
that ordinary naturalisation demands.
What you get is not a travel document. It is citizenship:
the right to live and work in that country for life, to pass it to your children, and in the Caribbean,
to move within a wider regional bloc. The passport is a consequence, not the product.
What it is not is a tax strategy, a way around a criminal
record, or a decision to make on price alone. The cheapest programme on this page is rarely the right one,
and the difference usually comes down to family: whether your parents qualify, whether a 26-year-old
still counts as a dependant, whether a sibling can be included at all.
All eight, side by side
Compare the programmes.
Sort by what matters most to you. Figures are the current headline terms
and change by government decision. We confirm costs in writing before you commit.
Sort by
Citizenship-by-investment programmes compared by investment, timeframe, visa-free reach, holding period and stay requirement
Full terms, benefits and family eligibility for each. Jump to the one you are
weighing, or read straight through.
St Kitts & Nevis
Established 1984
The world’s first citizenship-by-investment programme, established in 1984, and still the benchmark the industry measures itself against.
Visa-free reach
150+destinations
Investment from
$250,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
4+ monthsto approval
Holding period
7 yearson qualifying assets
Residency requirement None
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 150 international destinations.
Tax position
No income tax, no inheritance tax and no wealth tax.
Right to live and work
Full citizenship rights in St Kitts and Nevis. As an OECS member state, citizens may also hold rights in other member states.
Education and healthcare
Access to the country’s education system and healthcare facilities.
Dual citizenship
Retain your original nationality alongside the second passport.
Legacy
Citizenship is for life and can be passed to future generations.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleLegally married spouse of any age.
ChildrenEligibleUnder 18 qualify automatically. Aged 18 to 30 qualify in full-time attendance at a recognised institution and fully supported by the main applicant. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAged 55 or over, living with and fully supported by the main applicant.
GrandparentsEligibleAged 55 or over, living with and fully supported by the main applicant.
The widest travel reach in the Caribbean, paired with the region’s most generous definition of family.
Visa-free reach
164destinations
Investment from
$230,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
6+ monthsto approval
Holding period
5 yearson qualifying assets
Residency requirement Minimum five-day stay within the first five years of citizenship
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 164 destinations, including the United Kingdom, China, Qatar and the Schengen Area.
Tax position
No personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or wealth tax.
Right to live and work
Full citizenship rights in Antigua and Barbuda and throughout the member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, including the right to live, work and study.
US visa eligibility
Citizens may apply for a long-term US visitor visa valid for up to ten years.
Processing
Approvals typically issued within three to six months.
Legacy
Citizenship can be transferred to future generations.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleLegally married spouse of any age.
ChildrenEligibleUnder 30, including biological and legally adopted children. A recent change removed the requirement to prove financial dependence for these children. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAged 55 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
GrandparentsEligibleAged 55 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
SiblingsEligibleUnmarried siblings aged 18 or over with no children.
Spouse of a dependent childEligibleMay be added if they marry after the application is approved, provided the dependent child is not more than 35 years old.
The only Caribbean citizenship with a United States E-2 treaty: a working route to living in the US as a business owner.
Visa-free reach
150+destinations
Investment from
$235,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
8+ monthsto approval
Holding period
5 yearson qualifying assets
Residency requirement None
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 150 countries, including the Schengen Area, the UK, China, Singapore and Hong Kong.
US E-2 eligibility
The only Caribbean country with a treaty allowing citizens to apply for the US E-2 business visa, providing a route to live and work in the United States as a business owner.
Tax position
No tax on worldwide income, capital gains, inheritance or wealth.
Right to live and work
Full citizenship rights in Grenada and throughout OECS member states.
Education
Home to St George’s University, one of the most respected medical schools in the region.
No residency requirement
No requirement to live in Grenada before or after obtaining citizenship.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleLegally married spouse of any age.
ChildrenEligibleUnder 30 and financially dependent on the main applicant. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAny age, financially dependent on the main applicant.
GrandparentsEligibleAny age, financially dependent on the main applicant.
SiblingsEligibleUnmarried siblings aged 18 or over with no children.
One of the longest-running programmes, with contributions directed into climate-resilient and sustainable development.
Visa-free reach
140+destinations
Investment from
$200,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
6+ monthsto approval
Holding period
3 to 5 yearson qualifying assets
Residency requirement None
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 international markets, including the Caribbean, Latin America, the Schengen Area, Hong Kong and China.
Tax position
No capital gains tax, inheritance tax or wealth tax.
Right to live and work
Full citizenship rights in Dominica and throughout CARICOM member states, giving access to a unified economic space.
Sustainability
As the world’s first climate-resilient nation, programme funds support renewable energy, climate adaptation and sustainable development.
Investment sectors
Opportunities across tourism, agriculture, renewable energy and green technology.
Processing
Average processing times of three to six months.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleLegally married spouse of any age.
ChildrenEligibleUnmarried and under 18 qualify automatically. Unmarried, aged 18 to 30 and enrolled in full-time accredited higher education while financially dependent. Unmarried daughters under 25 living with and fully supported, regardless of student status. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAged 65 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
GrandparentsEligibleAged 65 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
A disciplined statutory framework under the Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015, where one contribution covers a family of four.
Visa-free reach
~145destinations
Investment from
$240,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
6+ monthsto approval
Holding period
5 yearson qualifying assets
Residency requirement None
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 145 countries, including the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Tax position
No tax on foreign-sourced income for non-resident citizens, no wealth tax, no inheritance tax and no capital gains tax at the local level.
Family inclusion
A single $240,000 National Economic Fund contribution covers a main applicant and up to three dependants.
Right to live and work
Full citizenship rights in St Lucia and throughout OECS member states.
Interview flexibility
The interview can be completed online or at a St Lucia embassy or high commission.
Cost of living
Relatively low compared with other Caribbean islands, with improving private healthcare and educational pathways.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleLegally married spouse of any age. Programme rules specify opposite sex only.
ChildrenEligibleUnder 21 qualify automatically with no dependency proof required. Aged 21 to 30 qualify if unmarried and financially dependent. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAged 55 or over and financially dependent. Any age if living with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
GrandparentsNot eligibleNot eligible.
SiblingsEligibleUnmarried siblings under 18 with no children, provided parental or guardian consent is obtained.
The most affordable citizenship-by-investment programme available, with privileged ties to the Portuguese-speaking world.
Visa-free reach
70+destinations
Investment from
$90,000plus fees & due diligence
Indicative timeframe
2+ monthsto approval
Holding period
Not applicableon qualifying assets
Residency requirement None
Key benefits
Global mobility
Visa-free travel to over 70 destinations, including South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong, with e-visa access to the UAE and Qatar.
CPLP privileges
Privileged ties with Portugal and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, offering facilitated entry, residence and work opportunities across the Portuguese-speaking world.
Affordability
One of the most affordable citizenship-by-investment programmes globally.
No travel required
No requirement to visit or reside in the country during the application process.
Fast processing
Within two months from submission.
Legacy
Stable, internationally recognised citizenship that can be passed to future generations.
Who you can include
SpouseEligibleSpouse or de facto partner of any age.
ChildrenEligibleUp to 30 years of age and dependent on the main applicant. Any age with a physical or mental disability and fully supported.
ParentsEligibleAged 55 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
GrandparentsEligibleAged 55 or over and financially dependent on the main applicant.
We also advise on citizenship routes in Egypt, Jordan and
Nauru. Terms for those programmes are issued on request, as they change more
frequently than the eight above.
How a CBI file runs
Five stages, in order.
01
Eligibility screen
A confidential assessment of your profile, family composition and source of funds, before
any programme is recommended and before you spend anything.
02
Programme selection
We shortlist against your travel needs, budget, timeline and (most often the deciding
factor) which dependants each programme will accept.
03
File preparation
Document collection, certification and translation, source-of-funds evidence, and the
authorised-agent engagement required by every programme.
04
Submission & due diligence
Government filing, independent background checks, interview where required, and
approval-in-principle.
05
Investment & passport
Contribution or purchase completed, certificate of naturalisation issued, passports
collected, and post-approval obligations tracked through the holding period.
What sits on top
The contribution is not the whole cost.
Every programme carries fees beyond the headline figure. They are predictable,
and we set them out in full before you decide.
Government & processing fees
Charged per applicant and per dependant, and payable to the issuing state. These are the
largest variable once a family grows beyond four.
Due diligence fees
Paid to the independent firms that run background checks. Charged per adult applicant,
typically also for dependants aged 16 and over, and non-refundable if an application is refused.
Professional & agent fees
Authorised local agent, legal certification, translation, courier and passport issuance.
Our own fee is fixed and agreed in writing at the outset.
A full fee schedule for your family composition is prepared as part of the preliminary
assessment, at no cost.
Common questions
Asked before every engagement.
No. Every programme on this page permits dual citizenship from the destination country’s side. What matters is your own country’s law: some states restrict or withdraw citizenship when a second one is acquired. We check your nationality’s position before you commit to anything.
In most cases, no. St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, St Lucia, Vanuatu and São Tomé and Príncipe have no residency requirement. Antigua and Barbuda requires a minimum five-day stay within the first five years. St Lucia’s interview can be completed online or at a mission.
Sometimes. Antigua and Barbuda, for example, allows the spouse of a dependent child to be added after approval, provided that child is not more than 35. Rules differ sharply by programme, and adding a dependant later is usually more expensive than including them at the outset. It is worth mapping the whole family before filing.
A contribution to a national fund is not; it is a donation, and it is the reason processing is fast. Real estate and enterprise routes involve an asset you hold for a defined period and may then sell, subject to the holding period shown for each programme. Türkiye is the only route here where the qualifying asset is property you own outright.
Passports are issued for a fixed term and renewed like any other. The citizenship itself is permanent and, in every Caribbean programme listed, can be passed to future generations.
Every programme runs an independent background check covering source of funds, criminal record, sanctions exposure and reputational risk. Applications are refused. We assess your file against these criteria before submission, and we will tell you plainly if we think it will not clear.
Not by itself. Most of these jurisdictions do not tax worldwide income, but citizenship and tax residence are different things, and your liability usually follows where you actually live. Take advice from a tax specialist in your own jurisdiction; we are not tax advisers and will say so.
Take the first step
Tell us where you want your family to be in five years.
Start with the free preliminary assessment, or book a private thirty-minute
consultation. Both are confidential, and neither commits you to anything.
We use essential cookies to run this site and, only if you accept, Google
Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use it. The booking
calendar loads Calendly, and its cookies, only once you choose to load it.
See our Privacy & Cookie Policy.
