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Best for
Under $250K Total.
The full estate of citizenship and residency programmes accessible below the quarter-million-dollar mark.
Shortlist at a glance
Programmes ranked6
Countries6
From$130K
Fastest route2 mo
Top visa-free186
Recipe applied live to the Programmes collection, what you see is what is currently active.
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Independent
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Live data
Filtered from the Programmes collection
Senior-advisor reviewed
Every recipe signed off by a partner
Why these programmes
Best for under
The sub-$250K segment of investment migration is dominated by the Caribbean CBI cluster (post-harmonisation USD 200K minimum donation), Vanuatu's $130K donation, and Greece's lowest tier at €250K outside prime zones. Real-estate routes generally start higher; donation routes drive the floor. Important caveat: 'cost' here means the qualifying contribution. Total cost adds government fees ($25K–$50K), legal and advisory fees ($30K–$80K), and due diligence fees ($7,500–$15K per applicant). A clean Dominica or St. Kitts application typically lands at $260K–$320K total for a single applicant.
Ranked by cost
Top picks
6 programmes ranked for under
1
Vanuatu
Min. Investment
$130,000
Processing
30–60 days
Visa-Free
75 countries
Family
Included
Editor pick: $130K — lowest absolute threshold in operative CBI. Trade-off: 98-country reach + cautious Western banks.
2
Dominica
Min. Investment
$200,000
Processing
3–4 months
Visa-Free
145 countries
Family
Included
Editor pick: Lowest CBI donation in the harmonised Caribbean. Cleanest family economics under $200K.
3
Antigua & Barbuda
Min. Investment
$230,000
Processing
3–4 months
Visa-Free
151 countries
Family
Included
4
St. Kitts & Nevis
Min. Investment
$250,000
Processing
120–180 days
Visa-Free
157 countries
Family
Included
Editor pick: Same harmonised threshold as Dominica + the strongest Caribbean brand recognition.
5
Greece
Min. Investment
€400,000+
Processing
3–6 months
Visa-Free
186 countries
Family
Included
6
Portugal
Min. Investment
€500,000
Processing
6–8 months
Visa-Free
186 countries
Family
Included
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Frequently asked questions
What's the absolute cheapest CBI in 2026?
Vanuatu at ~$130K total. Within the harmonised Caribbean five, Dominica or St. Kitts at $200K donation + ~$60K total fees.
Are there hidden costs beyond the headline contribution?
Yes — government fees ($25K–$50K), due diligence fees per applicant ($7.5K–$15K), legal/advisory ($30K–$80K), and recurring banking and substance costs. Budget +30% on the headline.
Can a recoverable investment be cheaper than a donation?
In net-of-recovery terms yes — Turkey returns capital after 3 years. Headline cost ($400K) is higher but the deposit recovers. Real-estate liquidity at exit depends on the local market.
Which sub-$250K programme has the best banking acceptance?
St. Kitts and Dominica — Western correspondent banks treat the Caribbean five better than Vanuatu. Banking acceptance correlates with diligence depth.
Why is a programme missing from this list?
A programme only appears if it meets the criterion for this list and is currently active. Closed or suspended programmes are removed automatically.
Can I see the full details for each programme?
Yes. Every card links to the programme page with qualifying routes, eligibility, family rules, timelines and the latest changes.
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Programme perspective
More Citizen Sure perspective on under
Most genuine sub-$250K work falls in the Caribbean cluster. Citizen Sure's diligence files for these programmes are designed to bank — clean source-of-funds documentation, real address documentation, and post-grant compliance support. The practice handles roughly 120 Caribbean files per year; the gap between a $200K donation and a successful grant is the diligence file, not the capital.