The cheapest citizenship by investment programs in 2026 cost from about $96,000 for a single applicant, once official fees are added to the contribution. São Tomé and Príncipe, Nauru and Vanuatu sit at the bottom of the price range. The five Caribbean programs start at $200,000 and rise to $250,000 before fees.
A low price is only part of the story. The cheaper passports usually give fewer visa-free destinations, and some carry more regulatory risk than older programs. This guide ranks the lowest-cost options by their real total cost, using the figures on each government's official program website as of October 2026, and explains what you get for the money.
Key takeaways
- São Tomé and Príncipe is the lowest-cost program for a single applicant, at about $95,750 including official fees.
- Nauru lists a $90,000 contribution as a limited-time offer for applications filed before December 31, 2026.
- Vanuatu costs about $135,000 for one person, but its passport lost visa-free access to the EU and the UK.
- Dominica is the cheapest Caribbean option at $200,000, while the Caribbean programs give the widest travel access in this price range.
- Agent, legal and document costs come on top of every figure in this guide.
The cheapest programs ranked by total cost
The table below uses a single applicant and the lowest-cost route in each program. "Main fees" covers the official government, due diligence and passport fees that each program publishes. It excludes private agent and legal fees.
| Rank | Program | Contribution | Main official fees | Approximate total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Tomé and Príncipe | $90,000 | $5,000 submission, $750 documents | About $95,750 |
| 2 | Nauru | $90,000 (offer until Dec 31, 2026) | $5,000 application, $6,000 due diligence, $1,200 bank checks, $500 passport | About $102,700 |
| 3 | Vanuatu | $130,000 | $5,000 due diligence | About $135,000 |
| 4 | Dominica | $200,000 | $7,500 due diligence, $1,000 interview | About $208,500 |
| 5 | Grenada | $235,000 | About $9,000 in application, due diligence, processing and interview fees | About $244,000 |
| 6 | Antigua and Barbuda | $230,000 | $10,000 processing, $8,500 due diligence, $300 passport | About $248,800 |
| 7 | St Lucia | $240,000 | $2,000 processing, $8,000 due diligence | About $250,000 |
| 8 | St Kitts and Nevis | $250,000 | Per the unit's fee schedule | $250,000 plus fees |
Sierra Leone has also announced a lower-priced citizenship route. See our report on Sierra Leone's new citizenship route for the details as they stand.
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, formally launched its program in October 2025 under Decree-Law No. 07/2025. The official program page lists a donation of $90,000 for a single applicant and $95,000 for a family of two to four, plus $5,000 for each extra dependant. A $5,000 submission fee applies per application, and the certificate, passport and national ID cost $750 per person.
The unit says approval takes about two months, with another three to four months from approval to passport. There is no requirement to live in the country before or after the application.
The trade-off is travel access. The program claims visa-free or easy entry to more than 90 destinations, but Schengen and UK visits require visas. The country is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), which the program presents as a benefit for people interested in Portugal or Brazil. Membership does not give automatic residence in either country.
Nauru
Nauru, a Pacific island state, unveiled its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program at the COP29 climate conference in 2024. Contributions go to a fund for climate adaptation. The official contribution page lists $90,000 for a principal applicant as a limited-time offer available until December 31, 2026, and says a $25,000 discount applies from February 3, 2026.
On top of the contribution, Nauru charges a $5,000 application fee, $6,000 for due diligence, a bank due diligence charge of $1,200 for a single applicant, and $500 per passport. Each dependant aged 16 or over adds a $2,000 contribution, a $2,000 application fee and a $3,000 due diligence fee.
Nauru's FAQ gives a standard processing time of three to four months and says there is no residence requirement. It cites visa-free access to more than 85 countries, but does not list the Schengen Area or the UK. The UK has required visas from Nauru nationals since December 2025, citing the risks of the investor program. Because the current price is tied to a deadline, the cost may rise for applications filed in 2027.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu has sold citizenship for years and remains one of the lower-cost options. Its official fee table lists $130,000 for a single applicant, $150,000 for a married couple, $165,000 for a couple with one child and $180,000 for a couple with two children, plus a $5,000 due diligence fee charged by the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Vanuatu's passport has paid a price for the program. The EU suspended its visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu under its visa suspension mechanism, and the UK imposed a visa requirement on Vanuatu nationals in 2023. For anyone who wants easy travel to Europe, this is a large drawback at this price.
Dominica: the cheapest Caribbean option
Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund costs $200,000 for a single applicant and $250,000 for a main applicant with up to three dependants. Due diligence is $7,500 for the main applicant and $4,000 for each dependant aged 16 or over, and a mandatory interview costs $1,000 per person aged 16 or over.
Dominica's passport gives visa-free short stays in the Schengen Area, but Dominica nationals have needed a UK visa since 2023. Among its neighbors, St Lucia nationals have also needed one since March 2026. Most complete applications take three to six months, according to the program unit. Our Caribbean citizenship by investment guide compares Dominica with the other four island programs in detail.
What a family of four pays
Family pricing changes the ranking only slightly at the bottom, but it narrows the gaps further up. These estimates use a couple with two children aged 10 and 14, and official fees only.
| Program | Approximate family total |
|---|---|
| São Tomé and Príncipe | About $103,000 |
| Nauru | About $116,000 |
| Vanuatu | About $185,000 |
| Grenada | About $257,000 |
| St Lucia | About $258,000 |
| Dominica | About $264,000 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | About $267,000 |
At family level, Grenada and St Lucia overtake Dominica, because Dominica's family contribution jumps by $50,000 while some neighbors charge the same contribution for a family of up to four.
What a low price does not tell you
A cheaper program is not the same as better value. Before comparing prices, many applicants look at these points.
- Travel access: The Caribbean passports open the Schengen Area without a visa. The three cheapest programs do not. If visa-free Europe is the main goal, the extra $100,000 or more may matter.
- Regulatory risk: The EU revised its visa suspension mechanism through Regulation (EU) 2025/2441, and the European Commission lists the operation of an investor citizenship scheme as a ground for suspension. Newer and cheaper programs have a shorter track record with foreign governments.
- Time-limited prices: Nauru's offer ends on December 31, 2026. Prices in the Caribbean rose sharply in 2024, and the region is preparing a new regulator.
- Ongoing duties: Interviews, biometric enrolment and stay rules are spreading. Antigua and Barbuda already requires five days in the country during the first five calendar years.
- Bank and border treatment: Some banks, brokers and border officials may ask more questions of holders of investment-based passports, particularly when the passport is new and the holder has no other link to the country.
The cheapest route to a second passport is often not an investment program at all. Descent, marriage and long-term residence can lead to citizenship at a fraction of the cost. See how to get a second passport without investment, and compare citizenship with residence options in residency by investment vs citizenship by investment.
Where the next low-cost options may come from
New programs keep appearing, often priced to undercut the Caribbean. Argentina has announced a program from $350,000, due to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, though its legal basis is being challenged in court and in Congress. At the other end, several European programs have closed, and Malta ended its investor citizenship route after the EU Court of Justice ruled against it in 2025.
A new program's first price is not always its long-term price. Introductory offers, deadlines and early discounts are common, and so are later increases once demand is tested.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest citizenship by investment in 2026?
São Tomé and Príncipe, at about $95,750 for a single applicant including the official submission and document fees. Nauru is close behind at about $102,700, but its current price is a limited-time offer that runs until December 31, 2026.
What is the cheapest citizenship by investment with visa-free Schengen access?
Dominica, at $200,000 for a single applicant plus fees. All five Caribbean programs currently give visa-free short stays in the Schengen Area, while São Tomé and Príncipe, Nauru and Vanuatu do not.
Is there a citizenship by investment program under $100,000?
São Tomé and Príncipe lists a $90,000 donation for a single applicant, and its total stays under $100,000 with official fees. Nauru's contribution is also $90,000 under its current offer, but its fees take the total just over $100,000.
Are cheap citizenship by investment programs riskier?
They can be. Newer programs have less history with foreign governments, and the EU can now suspend visa-free travel for countries that run investor citizenship schemes. Price alone does not show this risk, so it helps to look at each country's track record and its relations with the EU, the UK and the US.
Do these prices include agent fees?
No. Every program here requires or expects a licensed agent, and agent, legal, translation and certification costs are extra. They vary widely by provider and by the complexity of the family.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.