The passport you hold is one of the most important factors in determining how free and prosperous your life can be.
Enter citizenship by investment: a swift route to a second citizenship offered by forward-looking countries that are seeking talented and wealthy individuals to become part of their citizenship base.
As global dynamics shift, citizenship by investment (CBI) programs have emerged as a gateway for individuals seeking enhanced mobility, personal freedom, financial diversification, and security. Here is our collection of the 10 best CBI programs in 2024 from a diverse array of forward-looking countries.
1. Grenada
Minimum investment: $150,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 3-4 Months
Grenada’s golden passport program is a standout choice for investors seeking access to America with it being the only Caribbean CBI country with US E-2 investor visa eligibility. Grenada’s passport features visa-free access to over 140 countries including Europe’s Schengen area, the UK, China, Russia, and Singapore. The program is enticing with the ability to include family members, ensuring your new Grenada citizenship benefits not only you but also your loved ones.
2. St Kitts and Nevis
Minimum investment: $250,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 4 Months
St Kitts and Nevis hosts the oldest and one of the most respected citizenship by investment programs in the world. The program originally started back in 1984, since then over 20,000 talented and wealthy individuals have become citizens in this forward-looking country. The government recently doubled the minimum investment requirement to the highest in the Caribbean. The high price tag also comes with a great passport unlocking travel freedom to over 150+ countries including Europe’s Schengen area, the UK, Russia, and Canada. There is a robust due diligence process to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship safeguarding their highly respected passport.
3. Antigua and Barbuda
Minimum investment: $100,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 3-4 Months
Antigua and Barbuda is one of the best Citizenship programs in the world with the ability to include your entire family with a minimum investment of just USD $100k. Antigua and Barbuda features a specifically tailored second citizenship program for families with the ability to include your spouse, dependent children under 31 (their children and spouse), parents and grandparents aged 55 and over, and unmarried siblings of the main applicant and/ or their spouse of any age, and the ability to add additional depends after citizenship has been granted to the main applicant. The program also requires a minimum of 5 days in 5 years residency requirement after becoming a citizen.
4. Dominica
Minimum investment: $100,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 3 Months
Dominica used to be considered one of the best citizenship by investment programs in not just the Caribbean but the entire world, a big change happened in 2023 with the UK revoking visa-free access for Dominica citizens and the European Union also threatening to follow suit. The Dominica citizenship by investment program is one of the fastest and most streamlined in the world, with the ability to become a citizen in under 3 months. The Dominica passport still has visa-free access to over 140+ countries including China, Russia, and Europe’s Schengen area. Making it an Ideal option for Caribbean dual citizenship.
5. Egypt
Minimum investment: $250,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 9-12 Months
Egypt has emerged as the only citizenship by investment program in Africa, offering a unique opportunity to gain citizenship on this rapidly developing continent. Egypt is a bridge between Africa, Asia, and Europe. The program specifics are perpetually evolving, with the program recently reducing the minimum investment requirement from USD $400k to $250k. The investment options are a non-refundable donation, real estate investment, or bank deposit. The Egyptian passport is one of the only golden passports to feature visa-on-arrival access to Nigeria, one of the top 5 economies in Africa.
6. Turkey
Minimum investment: $400,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 3-4 Months
Turkey is a strategic transcontinental country located between Europe and Asia. The Turkish CBI program allows talented and wealthy individuals to gain lifelong citizenship and access to a global financial hub. Turkish citizenship is also an excellent option for increased visa-free travel boasting access to over 111 countries including Russia, Singapore, Jordan, and Hong Kong. Turkey is also a European Union candidate with the prerequisite to join later. Turkish citizens are also eligible for the US E-2 investor visa giving you access to American markets.
7. St Lucia
Minimum investment: $100,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 3-4 Months
Saint Lucia’s citizenship by investment program boasts the most diverse investment options for Caribbean citizenship. With the ability to make a non-refundable donation, a real estate investment, purchase government bonds, and participate in a government-approved enterprise project. The Saint Lucian passport grants visa-free travel to over 145 countries, including Europe’s Schengen area, the UK, and Hong Kong. The island is an ideal tax optimization environment with 0% income tax, 0% capital gains tax, and no inheritance tax.
8. Malta
Minimum investment: $800,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 12-36 Months
Malta is home to the world's most prestigious golden passport program with it being one of the fastest options for EU citizenship. The passport is ranked 5th in the world, opening doors visa-free to over 180+ countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe’s Schengen area, and The UK. Maltese citizens have the right to live, work, and study in any EU country including Portugal, Austria, Greece, and Italy. With such a highly respected passport comes a high price, the program starts with a minimum direct investment of USD $800k for a residence period of 36 months or USD $969k for 12 months (including property lease). The program also features the highest standards of due diligence in the world requiring a 100% clean criminal record to gain Malta citizenship.
9. El Salvador
Minimum investment: $1,000,000 USD
Time to citizenship: TBD
Disclaimer: This program was recently announced and we are still learning the specific details.
El Salvador just announced the newest citizenship by investment program in the world dubbed the ‘freedom visa.’ The program is one of the priciest in the world with a minimum investment of USD $1 million in Bitcoin or USDt. The timeframe for citizenship is currently unclear and the program specifics are evolving. The El Salvadorian passport currently has visa-free access to over 132 countries. The program is aimed at individuals bullish on the country's future with their Bitcoin-focused president Nayib Bukele wanting to turn El Salvador into a hub for technology, innovation, and safety. If the President can deliver on his promises, we could see the El Salvadoran passport become one of the most powerful in the world.
10. Vanuatu
Minimum investment: $130,000 USD
Time to citizenship: 6 weeks
Vanuatu offers a unique application process with the ability to complete naturalization and receive your shiny new passport in just one month. Making it the fastest and one of the cheapest citizenship by investment programs in the world. The program requires a donation of USD $130k to the national development fund. Vanuatu also boasts some of the most straightforward due diligence processes. If you need a second passport and you need it quick. Vanuatu is your go-to. The Vanuatu passport provides visa-free access to over 100+ countries including Ireland, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Israel.
Conclusion
The Investment migration landscape is perpetually evolving, unfortunately, the trend is towards more restrictions with higher minimum investment requirements. In recent years many CBI programs have closed up shop including Cyprus, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Cambodia. If you are ready to apply for a program, become a global citizen, increase your freedoms, and protect your assets. The time is now, the program you want to complete could increase in price or straight up close down in the coming months and years. Some alternatives to CBI programs for foreign investors are golden visas, often requiring a lesser investment with a longer pathway to citizenship, usually granting you a residence permit with flexible physical presence requirements, and sometimes direct permanent residency.
