Citizenship by investment programs vary significantly in cost depending on the number of family members, the structure of fees, and the type of investment. The same program may be the most advantageous for a single person and at the same time lose out to competitors for a family with children. Learn more about the real cost of a passport under CBI programs in different countries around the world and which one is best for your family

The advertised cost of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs is often misleading. A donation of $200,000 often turns into $267,000+ in practice when fees for verification, document processing, interviews, and passport issuance are added. It becomes even more complicated when it comes to family applications: the program with the lowest threshold for a single person may not be the most profitable for a married couple with children.

Which CBI programs offer the lowest cost per passport for different types of families? We will discuss this further in this article.

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How is the actual price of a passport under the CBI program determined?

The base contribution or minimum investment is only part of the final amount. Each CBI program has its own structure of additional fees: due diligence, application processing, interview, oath, naturalization certificate, and passport issuance. These costs are fixed government fees that do not depend on the agent or intermediary.

That is why, for a correct comparison, it is important to consider the full cost: all mandatory payments included in a single amount. At the same time, agent commissions, taxes, bank transfers, medical examinations, and notarization of documents are not included in this calculation, as they vary significantly depending on the specific situation of the applicant. For an objective comparison, it is best to use standardized scenarios: a single applicant, a family of 4 (applicant, spouse, two minor children), a family of 6, and a family of 8.

About the cheapest countries to live in in 2026, where you can live comfortably and without spending a lot — we talked about this in our previous article.

The cheapest CBI programs in the world: São Tomé and Príncipe and Nauru

Two relatively new programs top the ranking of the lowest cost. São Tomé and Príncipe offers the most affordable entry: $95,750 for a single applicant and $103,000 for a family of four. This means the cost of a single passport is $25,750. The program charges a fixed application fee of $5,000 and $750 per person for documents, with no separate due diligence fee. Each additional family member costs $5,750.

Nauru offers $101,000 for a single person and $116,000 for a family of four ($29,000 per passport). It is worth noting that the current price is valid as part of a limited time offer (LTO) until June 30, 2026. After this date, the base fee will increase from $90,000 to $115,000. São Tomé remains more affordable for families of any size: the difference ranges from $5,250 (single person) to $6,000 (family of eight). Neither of these passports provides access to the Schengen area, the UK, or North America: Nauru has 87 visa-free destinations, and São Tomé has 75.

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Caribbean CBI programs: five countries in the $12,500 range

Five Caribbean programs for a family of four fall within the range of $258,000 to $270,544. The lowest cost among them is Saint Lucia (NEF) — $258,000 ($64,500 per passport). Grenada is only $300 behind — $258,300. Next are Antigua and Barbuda (NDF) — $264,700, Dominica (EDF) — $267,944, and St. Kitts and Nevis (SISC) — $270,544.

The ranking changes significantly depending on the number of family members. Dominica offers the lowest price among Caribbean countries for singles — $210,361, but for a family of four, it is inferior to three competitors. Antigua and Barbuda has two donation funds: NDF is more advantageous for families of up to 6 people, and the UWI fund is for larger families ($36,988 per passport for 8 family members — the best price in the Caribbean for large families). Antigua also has the broadest eligibility criteria: spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents over 55, and unmarried siblings of any age.

Which countries allow triple citizenship — read here.

Turkey and Egypt: CBI programs outside island states

Turkey requires a $400,000 investment in real estate with a three-year holding period. Spouses and children under 18 are included in the application at no additional CBI-related fees.

Mandatory government expenses in addition to the investment are estimated at approximately $5,000. The key difference is that real estate is traded on an open liquid market, so the investor has a real opportunity to recoup their investment or even make a profit after the sale. At the same time, the criteria for obtaining citizenship are narrow: no parents, no adult children, no siblings.

Egypt charges a donation of $250,000 plus a fixed government fee of $10,000 regardless of family size. This makes the program attractive to large families. However, there is a significant nuance: the applicant's spouse does not receive citizenship at the same time as other family members — she only becomes eligible for naturalization after two years. In fact, at the time of issuance, a family of four receives three passports, not four.

By the way, we previously reported on where in Europe it will be cheapest to buy real estate in 2026.

Vanuatu and Sierra Leone: speed versus affordability

Vanuatu (DSP) costs $135,000 for a single person and $185,000 for a family of four. The main advantage is the speed of processing: 30 to 60 days, the fastest among all CBI programs. The FIU verification fee of $5,000 is charged once per application, not per person. The Vanuatu passport has lost visa-free access to the Schengen area and the UK in recent years, retaining mobility mainly in the Pacific and Asian regions.

Sierra Leone (GO-FOR-GOLD) offers $145,000 for a single applicant and $175,000 for a family of four. Following the expansion of the program in October 2025, eligibility will also extend to siblings under the age of 30, multiple spouses, and even unrelated business partners (for $30,000 each). Passport mobility is limited: 66 visa-free destinations, mainly within ECOWAS, and from January 2026, Sierra Leone citizens will be completely banned from entering the US.

Who the EU plans to issue long-term visas to — we explain here.

Real estate or donation: can you get your investment back?

Donation routes involve lower mandatory costs for families of any size. Caribbean real estate programs add government fees of $50,000 to $100,000 on top of the investment itself.

However, a donation is a non-refundable expense, while real estate offers the chance of a partial or full return on investment.

For example, a $270,000 property in Grenada, sold after five years of ownership, can reduce the effective cost of a single passport for a family of four to approximately $9,575 — the lowest among Caribbean programs. The Turkish scenario is even more attractive thanks to its liquid real estate market: a purchase for $400,000 and a sale for as little as $390,000 gives an effective cost of about $3,750 per passport. However, both scenarios depend on successful resale, which is always a risk.

Choosing a CBI program is a difficult decision that requires careful analysis of family structure, tax implications, and legal nuances of a particular jurisdiction. The Visit World portal offers the services of a personal business lawyer who will help you navigate these issues. The specialist provides full legal support: from business registration and choice of taxation system to relocation abroad, work visa processing, and remote launch of a representative office. A personal lawyer also minimizes tax risks, provides notary services, and helps resolve disputes with counterparties.

Legal support becomes critically important in many business situations — from lawsuits against the company to complex negotiations with government officials. Working with a specialist will help you avoid unpleasant consequences and resolve legal issues in your favor.

Order a consultation with a personal lawyer for business on the Visit World portal — a reliable partner who will protect your business, money, and time!

Reminder! Moving to Europe often starts with work or study, but over time, most foreigners think about getting an EU passport. Naturalization requirements vary so much from country to country that your choice of destination can significantly affect the speed and complexity of obtaining citizenship. Find out more about the European countries with the simplest naturalization requirements at the link.

Photo: Wealthyexpat.com

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