Malta is the only program that delivers EU citizenship, meaning the right to live and work in any of 27 countries. Every Caribbean and Pacific program combined cannot replicate that single benefit, which is why Malta commands a price five to seven times higher than Dominica.
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts runs the world's oldest CBI program, launched in 1984, and its passport opens visa-free access to roughly 157 countries including the UK, Schengen, and Singapore. The minimum donation route sits at $250,000 for a single applicant, with processing running 45 to 60 days under the Accelerated Application Process. There is no residency requirement, no interview, and no worldwide income tax for new citizens. Caribbean CBI programs compared in full detail here.
Dominica
Dominica is consistently the most affordable CBI program globally, with a single-applicant donation starting at $100,000 to the government fund. Processing typically takes 3 to 4 months and passport holders access roughly 145 countries visa-free, including Schengen and the UK. The program has no residency requirement and Dominica imposes no tax on foreign-source income.
Malta
Malta's program, the Malta Naturalisation for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment, is the only active EU citizenship-by-investment route and delivers a passport with access to all 27 EU member states plus roughly 186 countries total. The minimum outlay is around 690,000 euros for the fast track (12-month residency requirement) or 600,000 euros for the standard 36-month track, plus a mandatory property lease or purchase and a 10,000 euro charitable donation. Due diligence is rigorous and processing is slow relative to Caribbean options, but no other program comes close on passport power. For a deeper comparison of EU programs, see the full EU citizenship by investment rankings.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu's Development Support Program is the fastest CBI program in the world, with approvals regularly issued in 30 to 60 days. The minimum contribution is $130,000 for a single applicant and Vanuatu has zero income tax, zero capital gains tax, and zero inheritance tax. The passport covers roughly 98 countries visa-free, which is limited compared to Caribbean or EU options, but the speed and tax structure make it a strong utility passport for applicants who already hold a strong primary document.
Turkey
Turkey requires a minimum real estate purchase of $400,000 or a $500,000 bank deposit or capital investment, with citizenship granted in roughly 3 to 6 months. The Turkish passport accesses about 110 countries visa-free, but its main draw is strategic: Turkey has dual-citizenship agreements with dozens of countries, sits at the intersection of Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, and offers a relatively low cost of living for those who want to use it as a base. The program is popular with applicants who want a Muslim-majority country passport alongside a Caribbean or European one.
Jordan
Jordan's CBI program is the only active option in the Arab world, requiring a minimum deposit of $1,000,000 in a Jordanian bank for three years (interest-free) or a $750,000 investment in an approved project. Processing takes around 3 to 6 months and the passport covers roughly 50 countries visa-free, which is the weakest travel document on this list. The program's value is almost entirely strategic: Jordanian citizenship can open doors in the GCC and broader MENA region that other passports cannot, and it provides a credible Arab-world identity for business and residency purposes.
Things people ask first.
Which citizenship by investment program is the cheapest?
Dominica is the least expensive legitimate CBI program, with a single-applicant government fund donation starting at $100,000. Total cost including due diligence and agent fees typically lands between $125,000 and $150,000 all-in.
Which CBI passport gives the most visa-free access?
Malta delivers the highest visa-free count at roughly 186 countries, including full EU mobility. Among Caribbean programs, St. Kitts leads at around 157 countries, ahead of Dominica at approximately 145.
How long does citizenship by investment take?
Vanuatu is fastest at 30 to 60 days. Caribbean programs average 3 to 6 months. Malta takes 12 to 36 months depending on the track chosen, because it requires actual physical residency.
Do I have to live in the country to get citizenship by investment?
Most programs, including all Caribbean ones and Vanuatu, have no residency requirement at all. Malta is the main exception, requiring either 12 or 36 months of documented residency before naturalization.
Will I owe taxes in my new CBI country?
Caribbean CBI countries like Dominica and St. Kitts impose no tax on foreign-source income. Vanuatu has no income tax at all. Turkey and Malta have conventional tax systems, though Malta offers favorable remittance-basis regimes for non-domiciled residents.
Can I use a CBI passport to escape taxes in my home country?
Acquiring a second passport alone does not change your tax residency. You must also formally break tax residency in your home country, which typically means ending domicile, meeting exit tax obligations if applicable, and establishing substantive ties elsewhere.
Which CBI program actually fits your passport stack?
The programs above are the starting point. The Offshore Playbook walks through how to stack a CBI passport against your existing citizenship, structure the tax break correctly, and avoid the compliance mistakes that make a second passport worthless.
Get the Playbook