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Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.
Head-to-head Comparison
St. Kitts & Nevis vs Vanuatu Citizenship
The harmonised Caribbean five vs the world's fastest CBI. Speed, mobility, and due diligence compared.
Quick verdict
Vanuatu has the lower minimum investment ($130,000 against $250,000 for St. Kitts & Nevis). Vanuatu is usually quicker to process, 30–60 days against 120–180 days. St. Kitts & Nevis reaches more visa-free destinations (157 against 75), and both include a spouse and dependent children.
Caribbean CBI vs Vanuatu
St. Kitts & Nevis
Min. Investment
$250,000
Processing
120–180 days
Visa-Free
157 countries
Family
Included
Vanuatu
Min. Investment
$130,000
Processing
30–60 days
Visa-Free
75 countries
Family
Included
| Dimension | St. Kitts & Nevis | Vanuatu |
|---|---|---|
| Min. investment | $250,000 | $130,000 |
| Processing time | 120–180 days | 30–60 days |
| Visa-free countries | 157 | 75 |
| Family included | Yes | Yes |
| Tax benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship pathway | Direct | Direct |
Citizen Sure verdict
Vanuatu wins on speed alone — 30–60 days end-to-end is unmatched. The Caribbean five (St. Kitts here as proxy) win on everything else: visa-free reach, Western banking acceptance, due-diligence credibility. Vanuatu's diligence is the shallowest among operative CBIs and Western correspondent banks treat Vanuatu passports cautiously. The decision: pick Vanuatu only when timeline is the binding constraint. For everything else, the Caribbean is the better passport for marginally more cost and a few extra weeks.
Pick St. Kitts & Nevis when…
- Visa-free reach 157 vs Vanuatu 98
- Stronger Western banking acceptance
- Caribbean diligence regime — institutional credibility
Pick Vanuatu when…
- World's fastest CBI — 30 days possible
- Capital threshold comparable to Caribbean post-harmonisation
- Limited reach — primarily Asia + select Schengen access
Trade-offs to know
- UK suspended Vanuatu visa-free access in 2023 — verify current status.
- Vanuatu passports face heavier KYC weight at Western banks.
- Speed alone is rarely the right reason to pick a passport with weaker reach.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better, St. Kitts & Nevis or Vanuatu?
It depends on what matters most to you. Vanuatu has the lower minimum investment ($130,000 against $250,000 for St. Kitts & Nevis). Vanuatu is usually quicker to process, 30–60 days against 120–180 days. St. Kitts & Nevis reaches more visa-free destinations (157 against 75), and both include a spouse and dependent children. Vanuatu wins on speed alone — 30–60 days end-to-end is unmatched. The Caribbean five (St. Kitts here as proxy) win on everything else: visa-free reach, Western banking acceptance, due-diligence credibility. Vanuatu's diligence is the shallowest among operative CBIs and Western correspondent banks treat Vanuatu passports cautiously. The decision: pick Vanuatu only when timeline is the binding constraint. For everything else, the Caribbean is the better passport for marginally more cost and a few extra weeks.
St. Kitts & Nevis vs Vanuatu: what is the cost difference?
St. Kitts & Nevis starts at $250,000; Vanuatu starts at $130,000. The cheaper headline doesn't always reflect total cost, recoverable investments (Turkey, some real-estate routes) net out differently from non-recoverable donations.
St. Kitts & Nevis vs Vanuatu: which has the shorter processing time?
St. Kitts & Nevis processes in 120–180 days; Vanuatu processes in 30–60 days. Verify current timing with a senior advisor, published windows assume clean diligence files.
Can family members be included?
St. Kitts & Nevis includes spouse and dependent children. Vanuatu includes spouse and dependent children. Inclusion of parents and siblings varies, see each programme's detail page.
{{a}} vs {{b}} passport strength: which has more visa-free access?
St. Kitts & Nevis grants visa-free access to 157 countries; Vanuatu grants visa-free access to 75. Reach is a moving target, check current bilateral status before relying on it for travel planning.
Do these programmes lead to citizenship?
Citizenship is direct citizenship. Citizenship is direct citizenship.
Can I compare other programmes as well?
Yes. Open the compare tool to add up to five programmes side by side, or browse the other pair pages linked below.
Are the figures on this page up to date?
Each row is drawn from our programme records, which are reviewed when governments publish changes. Check the programme page and the changes log for the latest updates before you decide.
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