The passport by investment opens doors to visa-free travel worldwide, new markets, business opportunities, tax planning advantages, legal protection, and the freedom to choose your residence. The process can take as little as 1 month, as applicants avoid complicated bureaucracy and lengthy naturalization procedures. The best programs for 2025 are offered by Caribbean nations. The minimum investment thresholds are:
- $200,000 for Dominica
- $230,000 for Antigua and Barbuda
- $240,000 for Saint Lucia
- $235,000 for Grenada
- $250,000 for Saint Kitts and Nevis
Other popular options include programs from Vanuatu ($130,000), Egypt ($250,000), Turkey ($400,000), North Macedonia (€200,000), and Jordan ($1 million). Foreign nationals can gain citizenship by investing in government funds, real estate, securities, businesses, and other assets.
Typically, close relatives can be included in the application: spouses, sons and daughters, siblings, and parents, but this increases the investment threshold. On average, an additional applicant will cost between $20,000 and $50,000, depending on their age and degree of kinship.
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Citizenship by Investment in the Caribbean Islands
Dominica
To qualify for citizenship by investment, the main applicant must be of legal age, have no criminal record or serious health issues, and prove the legality of their income. Application processing takes at least six months. The main applicant can include their:
- spouse
- minor children
- financially dependent children aged 18–30 enrolled in higher education
- unmarried financially dependent daughters under 25 living with the investor
- financially dependent parents, grandparents over 65
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund | $200,000 | The funds are non-refundable. If up to 3 family members are included, the total increases to $250,000. Each additional minor costs $25,000, and each additional adult costs $40,000. |
| Real estate purchase | $200,000 | The applicant may buy government-approved property. The property can be sold only after 3 years to qualify for the program. |
| Government fees: $75,000 for one applicant, $100,000 for a family of four, $25,000 for each additional child under 18, and $40,000 for each adult. |
Antigua and Barbuda
Processing time takes at least six months. The requirements are similar to those of Dominica’s: legal age, legal income, no criminal record, or serious illness. Eligible dependents include:
- spouse with no criminal record
- children under 30
- disabled children of any age
- dependent parents, grandparents over 55
- disabled parents, grandparents of any age
- unmarried, childless siblings
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund | $230,000 | This is the most affordable option, but the funds are non-refundable. The number of family members does not affect the required amount. |
| Real estate purchase | $300,000 | Investments must be in government-approved shares or properties. Property may be resold after 5 years. |
| University donation | $260,000 | Intended for families of 6 or more. One applicant under 29 can study tuition-free for a year. Non-refundable. |
| Business investment | $400,000 | A $1.5 million investment in a business grants eligibility. For group investments of $5 million or more, the threshold drops to $400,000 per investor. |
Saint Lucia
Processing takes at least six months. A legally adult investor with lawful income and no criminal or serious health issues can include their spouse, financially dependent children under 30, parents over 55, and minor siblings of the couple with guardian consent.
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution to the National Economic Fund | $240,000 | Non-refundable. Increases by $10,000 per minor dependent beyond the fourth and $20,000 per adult dependent. |
| Purchase of government bonds | $300,000 | Zero-interest bonds refundable in 5 years. Administrative fee of $50,000. |
| Real estate investment | $300,000 | Amount doesn't depend on dependents. Government-approved property can be resold in 5 years. Admin fee starts at $30,000. |
| Business investment | $1 million | Solo investments must be at least $3.5 million. For group investments of $6 million or more, each must contribute $1 million. Must go to approved sectors like construction, agriculture, cruise ports, research, housing, or pharmaceuticals. Admin fee: $50,000. |
| Infrastructure projects | $250,000 | If investing in infrastructure projects (as above), the minimum for a family of four is reduced to $250,000. The admin fee is $15,000 for the investor and $5,000 per dependent. The fee increases by $10,000 for each dependent applicant, starting with the fifth. |
Grenada
Application processing begins from 8 months. Investors can include in their application an opposite-sex spouse with no criminal record, financially dependent children under 30 (both their own and those of their spouse), financially dependent parents or grandparents, and minor siblings of the couple who are unmarried and childless.
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution to the National Transformation Fund | $235,000 | Funds support tourism, renewable energy, and agriculture projects. Non-refundable. Additional amounts apply: $25,000 for a fifth child or dependent parent/grandparent over 55, $50,000 for a dependent parent/grandparent under 55, $75,000 for a sibling. |
| Real estate purchase | $270,000 | Applicants may invest in government-approved projects. Minimum investment starts at $270,000 for a share in tourism property or if two or more applicants jointly invest at least $440,000. For sole ownership, the minimum is $350,000. Resale permitted after 5 years. |
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Application processing takes at least six months. Eligible dependents include:
- opposite-sex spouse with no criminal record
- minor children
- financially dependent children aged 18–25 enrolled in secondary or higher education
- financially dependent parents of the couple over 55 living with the investor
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution to the Federal Consolidated Fund | $250,000 | Supports healthcare, education, tourism, culture, and renewable energy. Non-refundable, no return on investment. Additional amounts apply: $25,000 per minor beyond the fourth; $50,000 per adult dependent. |
| Real estate purchase | $325,000 | Includes condominiums or shares in hotels, resorts, or other government-approved developments. Private homes must be Approved Private Real Estate, starting at $600,000. Resale allowed after 7 years. |
| Infrastructure and social projects | $250,000 | Funds go toward approved infrastructure or social projects. Number of applicants does not affect the minimum threshold. |
Vanuatu Nationality by investment
This island nation offers the world’s fastest program. Application processing takes at least 1 month, with an average of 2–3 months. Applicants are not required to demonstrate knowledge of the local language or culture, nor do they need to reside in the country. Investors must be of legal age, have no criminal record or serious health issues, and have a bank account with at least $250,000.
The main applicant may include the following family members:
- spouse
- minor children
- financially dependent children aged 18–25, living with the investor and enrolled in higher education
- dependent parents over 50, living with the investor
The entire process can be completed remotely. There is no requirement to visit the islands even for biometric data submission or taking the oath. After obtaining citizenship, investors are not required to reside in or visit the country regularly.
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution to the Development Support Program | $130,000 | Non-refundable. For a couple, the contribution increases to $150,000. Each additional family member adds $15,000. |
| Purchase of shares in CNO Future Fund | $157,000 | Supports coconut oil production. Requires registering an international company. Shares must be held for at least 5 years. Expected annual return: 5%. Each dependent beyond the fourth adds $25,000. |
| Purchase of government bonds | AUD 150,000 (~$95,000) |
Issued by the Reserve Bank as zero-coupon bonds denominated in Australian dollars. Minimum investment depends on maturity:
|
Egyptian Nationality by investment
The country is popular among foreigners seeking Middle Eastern citizenship by investment. Processing takes at least 10 months. Residency or Arabic language tests are not required. The primary applicant must be of legal age, healthy, and have no criminal record. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 can apply for citizenship, though spouses can only receive their passports two years after the main applicant.
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable contribution | $250,000 | Non-refundable and non-income-generating. Can be paid in installments over 1 year. |
| Real estate purchase | $300,000 | Must be licensed by the government or listed in the land registry. Includes ready or under-construction residential or commercial properties and land plots. Resale allowed after 5 years. |
| Business investment | $350,000+$100,000 | You may invest in an existing business or start a new one. After 25 days, funds can be used at your discretion for development. Investments are refundable after 5 years. An additional non-refundable $100,000 contribution is required. |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 | Requires transfer to a non-interest-bearing account at the Central Bank. Funds refundable after 3 years. |
Nationality of Turkey by investment
Processing takes at least 3 months. Citizenship is available to adult foreign nationals with no criminal record or immigration violations. Restrictions apply only to citizens of Armenia, Cuba, Nigeria, North Korea, and Syria. The application can include the investor’s spouse and minor children. Residence permits are available for the investor’s parents and adult children under 25. Investments made under this program can be refunded after 3 years.
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate purchase | $400,000 | Applicants can invest in residential, commercial, or land properties. One or several properties may be purchased. The asset must be used only once for citizenship purposes, and the main applicant must be the sole owner. Mortgages are allowed if the investor's own capital is at least $400,000. The application may be submitted only after the TAPU (title deed) is issued. Companies with 50% or more foreign ownership cannot act as sellers. |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 | Funds must be transferred to a local bank and deposited in Turkish lira. The amount is calculated at the exchange rate on the day of account opening. |
| Securities purchase | $500,000 | Includes government bonds, promissory notes, and real estate or venture capital investment fund shares. |
| Business investment | $500,000 or creating 50 jobs | The investor may establish a company. To qualify, the investment must be at least $500,000 or 50 jobs must be created. |
Nationality of Northern Macedonia by investment
Foreign nationals seeking European citizenship by investment can obtain a North Macedonian passport through capital investment. Processing takes at least 2 months. The application may include the investor’s spouse and dependent minor children (the spouse receives the passport a year after the main applicant and children).
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Investment in a private fund | €200,000 | Investment of €200,000 per adult applicant into a private investment fund. Refund available after 2 years. |
| Business investment | €400,000 | Investment of €400,000 per adult applicant into a new company operating in any sector except hospitality and retail. Also requires the creation of 10 jobs for a minimum of 1 year. |
Citizenship of Jordan by investment
Processing takes about 3 months. Investors can include in the application:
- spouse
- unmarried, divorced, or widowed daughters
- minor sons
- financially dependent parents
| Option | Minimum investment | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business investment | $750,000 | Minimum for any project outside Amman. The applicant must also create 10 jobs. In Amman, the threshold starts from $1 million, with 20 jobs required. Funds can be refunded after 3 years. |
| Bank deposit | $1 million | Must be placed in a non-interest-bearing account at the Central Bank. Refundable after 3 years. |
| Treasury bond purchase | $1 million | Bonds must be held for at least 6 years. Interest rate determined by the Central Bank. |
| Securities purchase | $1.5 million | Investment in an active securities portfolio within the country. Refundable after 3 years. |
Countries offering сitizenship for real estate investments
Currently, citizenship for real estate investment is available in the following countries:
- Dominica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Saint Lucia
- Grenada
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Egypt
- Turkey
This option is especially popular among investors interested in acquiring liquid assets and a new status. Owners may live in the property, use it for vacation, rent it out, or sell it after the required period.
How to choose a Citizenship by Investment Program
When selecting a program, it is important to focus on your specific goals:
- Travel opportunities: If visa-free travel is the main priority, consider passport rankings. For instance, Caribbean citizens can access the UK and the Schengen Area.
- Application procedure: Speed is another key factor. Some countries (like Vanuatu) process applications in just 1–3 months and do not require personal visits.
- Minimum investment: The most affordable options start from $130,000 (Vanuatu). Consider all associated costs, including fees, agent services, and background checks.
- Tax system: Some jurisdictions, such as Dominica, do not tax global income. Others (like Egypt for residents) do. You may be required to report income or become a tax resident. This is crucial for those with international assets or businesses.
