Best citizenship by investment programmes in 2026, compared

It is a lawful route, set out in each country’s legislation, under which the government grants citizenship to applicants who make a qualifying contribution or investment and pass security and source-of-funds checks. The final decision always rests with the government. Many people call it economic citizenship, as in Dominica economic citizenship or Grenada economic citizenship.

The table below shows the lowest qualifying amount published by each official programme source, before government and due-diligence fees.

Per the official sources: São Tomé and Príncipe from US$90,000 for a single applicant (US$95,000 for a family of up to four), then Dominica from US$200,000 for a single applicant. In the Caribbean, the Antigua (US$230,000), Grenada (US$235,000), St Lucia (US$240,000) and St Kitts (US$250,000) contributions each cover a family of up to four, so for families they can compare better than the single-applicant price suggests.

Yes. Each programme has its own list of restricted or excluded nationalities, and the lists change over time. That is why we always start by checking your current nationality before recommending anything.

The five states agreed a regional minimum of US$200,000 from July 2024 and made interviews mandatory. A regional regulator (ECCIRA) has been created but is not yet operating, and the EU is discussing the future of visa-free access for these states. We review these developments weekly and explain them to you plainly before any decision.

Start with three questions: does the country accept your nationality, how many family members will you include, and do you prefer a non-refundable contribution or a property you hold? Then compare fees, processing and travel options. Our programme pages cover each one in detail, for example St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment, St Lucia economic citizenship and Antigua and Barbuda residency requirements.