New: memberships with ongoing adviser support after your visa.See memberships
Book a consultationBook
Contact us

Citizenship by Investment

A second citizenship granted by states that run formal economic citizenship programmes. Below: the active jurisdictions, side by side.

Active programmes
6
Lowest entry point
From $130,000
Fastest processing
From 30–60 days

Key Facts at a Glance

Figures are drawn from the programme pages below and update when a programme changes.

  • Active programmes

    6

    Programmes listed on this page

  • Lowest entry point

    From $130,000

    Smallest qualifying investment across the listed programmes

  • Fastest processing

    From 30–60 days

    Shortest typical timeline quoted by a listed programme

  • Widest visa free access

    Up to 186

    Destinations for the strongest passport in this group

  • Family inclusion

    6 of 6

    Programmes that accept a spouse and children on one application

  • Countries

    6

    Jurisdictions covered on this page

What Citizenship by Investment Actually Is

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) is a legal pathway through which a sovereign state grants full nationality (a passport) in return for a qualifying contribution or investment. It is not a residency, and most programmes do not require physical presence: at the end of an approved file the applicant becomes a citizen of that state.

The active programmes listed here are run under formal statute. Five sit in the Eastern Caribbean (St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia) and share a harmonised framework agreed between the governments. Türkiye and Vanuatu complete the set. Each programme page sets out its qualifying routes, family rules and current status.

Who It Suits

  • Applicants who want a second passport without relocating, as most programmes have no residence requirement
  • Families who want to include a spouse, children and in some cases parents on one application
  • Investors who can document the lawful source of their funds in full
  • People planning for travel access, business mobility or a long term contingency

How It Works

  1. Choose a programme and route

    Compare the programmes and pick a qualifying route, such as a government fund contribution or approved real estate.

  2. Prepare the file

    Gather civil documents, police certificates, medical reports and evidence of source of funds and source of wealth.

  3. Due diligence and review

    A licensed agent lodges the file and the programme unit runs background checks on the main applicant and each adult dependant.

  4. Approval, investment and oath

    After approval in principle the investment is completed, then citizenship certificates and passports are issued. Some programmes require an oath or interview.

Active CBI Programmes

Filter by region or open a programme for its routes, eligibility and timeline.

  • St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme
    Citizenship (CBI)

    St. Kitts & Nevis

    Min. Investment
    $250,000
    Processing
    120–180 days
    Visa-Free
    157 countries
    Family
    Included
  • Malta Citizenship by Investment Programme
    Citizenship (CBI)

    Malta

    Min. Investment
    Closed (2025)
    Processing
    12–14 months
    Visa-Free
    186 countries
    Family
    Included
  • Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Programme
    Citizenship (CBI)

    Antigua & Barbuda

    Min. Investment
    $230,000
    Processing
    3–4 months
    Visa-Free
    151 countries
    Family
    Included
  • Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme
    Citizenship (CBI)

    Dominica

    Min. Investment
    $200,000
    Processing
    3–4 months
    Visa-Free
    145 countries
    Family
    Included
  • Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Programme
    Citizenship (CBI)

    Vanuatu

    Min. Investment
    $130,000
    Processing
    30–60 days
    Visa-Free
    75 countries
    Family
    Included
  • Jordan Citizenship & Residency Programmes
    Citizenship (CBI)

    Jordan

    Min. Investment
    From JOD 500,000
    Processing
    3–6 months
    Visa-Free
    52 countries
    Family
    Included

How They Compare

Headline figures side by side. Open a programme page for the full detail and official sources.

ProgrammeMinimum investmentProcessingVisa freeStay requirementFamily
Vanuatu Citizenship$130,00030–60 days75NoneYes
Dominica Citizenship$200,0003–4 months145NoneYes
Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship$230,0003–4 months1515 days/5yrYes
St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship$250,000120–180 days157NoneYes
Malta CitizenshipClosed (2025)12–14 months18612 monthsYes
Jordan CitizenshipFrom JOD 500,0003–6 months52NoneYes
Compare programmes in detail

Costs to Plan for

Beyond the qualifying investment, budget for these cost types. Each programme page sets out the official amounts with sources.

  • Qualifying investment

    The contribution or asset purchase itself. Real estate routes usually require holding the property for a set period.

  • Government and due diligence charges

    Per applicant charges set by each programme, which rise with family size.

  • Documents and translations

    Certified copies, apostilles, translations and medical reports for every applicant.

  • Ongoing costs

    Property upkeep, management and passport renewals in the years after approval.

Risks to Weigh

Every route carries trade offs. Weigh these before you commit capital.

  • Programme rules, investment levels and eligible nationalities can change at short notice
  • Visa free access depends on decisions by other countries and can be reviewed or withdrawn
  • Real estate routes carry resale, holding period and developer risk
  • Some home countries restrict or do not recognise dual citizenship
  • Incomplete source of funds evidence is a common reason for delays or refusal

Citizen Sure on Citizenship by Investment

We advise CBI applicants across the Eastern Caribbean, Türkiye and Vanuatu. Our work covers source of funds preparation for complex international portfolios, family inclusion planning and post-grant matters such as tax residency and banking. Speak to a Citizen Sure advisor for a confidential consultation.

Across the active programmes the main trade-offs are the qualifying route, the depth of due diligence and the travel access of the resulting passport. The Caribbean programmes share a harmonised framework, Türkiye is built around qualifying real estate and other investment routes, and Vanuatu runs a contribution model. Use the comparison table and programme pages to weigh them against your own priorities.

Speak to a senior adviser

Not Sure Which Programme to Choose?

Book a one to one video consultation. We look at your goals, family and budget, then set out which programmes fit you, with the costs, timelines and next steps.

  • Confidential, covered by an NDA
  • Led by a senior adviser
  • Final price shown before you book
Consultation

Programme Review

30 minutesVideo call
$200Fixed fee · usd
Next available times
Loading available times
See available times

You review your booking and pay securely on the next step.

Plan your next step

Compare live programmes on eligibility, timelines and family rules, check where you qualify, then read the country guides before you book a paid 60-minute consultation.

  • Browse live programmes

    Residency and citizenship by investment programmes that are currently open, with the qualifying routes for each country.

  • Compare programmes

    See two or more programmes side by side: investment routes, processing stages, family inclusion and residence rules.

  • Check your eligibility

    Answer a few questions about your nationality, family and goals to see which programmes may fit.

  • Read the country guides

    Plain guides to each programme: requirements, documents, due diligence and the steps from application to approval.

Frequently asked questions

How is CBI different from a Golden Visa?

A Golden Visa grants residency, the right to live in a country, often with a path to citizenship after 5–10 years. CBI grants citizenship directly, typically in months, with no residency requirement during processing.

Are CBI passports recognised internationally?

Yes. Once granted, the applicant holds the same passport, voting rights, and consular protection as native citizens. Caribbean and Maltese CBI passports give visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150+ countries including the UK and EU Schengen zone.

Can family members be included?

All current CBI programmes include the principal applicant's spouse and dependent children. Many also include dependent parents above a stated age. Rules on siblings and adult children differ by programme, so check the programme page or ask an advisor before you apply.

What due diligence is run on CBI applicants?

Every active CBI state runs multi-stage due diligence: background screening, third-party investigative checks, sanctions and PEP screening, source of funds documentation and, in most cases, biometric capture or an interview.

How long does CBI take end-to-end?

Timelines depend on the programme, the completeness of the file and the depth of due diligence on each applicant. Each programme page shows the processing range the government or programme unit publishes, and an advisor can tell you what to expect for your own case.

Which countries run citizenship by investment today?

The active programmes listed on this page include the five Eastern Caribbean states, Türkiye and Vanuatu. Each card shows the current status of the programme.

Do I need to live in the country?

Most citizenship by investment programmes do not require you to live in the country before or after approval, though some ask for a short visit, an interview or an oath.

Explore further

Programmes, guides, insights and tools related to this page.

Book a consultationPricing