The cheapest second passport is usually a Caribbean citizenship by investment route, but the headline donation is only part of the cost. This page explains where the low entry points sit and what else you need to budget before you call any route the cheapest.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
For a second passport obtained directly through investment, the lowest published entry points are in the Caribbean. As of 2026 the headline donation routes start around USD 200,000 for Dominica, with Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia reported in a similar band of roughly USD 230,000 to USD 240,000 for the donation option. These five Eastern Caribbean programmes agreed a shared price floor, so the donation minimums cluster closely.
These are donation routes, meaning the contribution is given rather than recovered. Some countries also offer a real estate route at a higher figure that can in principle be resold later. Confirm the current minimum and the exact route conditions with the country's Citizenship by Investment Unit, since these change.
The donation minimum is the start of the budget, not the end. On top of it you pay government due diligence fees, processing fees, application fees and passport fees, and these rise with the number of family members included. A single applicant and a family of four can face very different totals from the same headline figure.
You also budget for professional help, document gathering, translations and travel. When you add these, the cheapest headline programme is not always the cheapest in total for your specific family. Compare the full cost for your exact family size, not the advertised minimum.
A passport that is cheap to obtain but weak in travel access, or one from a programme with a shaky reputation, may cost you more in practice. Look at visa free travel, the stability and track record of the programme, due diligence standards and whether the country allows dual citizenship for your nationality.
Some applicants find that a residence route leading to citizenship by naturalisation is cheaper over time than a direct purchase, although it is much slower. Weigh speed, total cost and what the passport actually unlocks together.
Build a like for like comparison. For each programme, write down the donation or investment minimum, all government and due diligence fees, the cost for your real family size, the processing time and the passport's travel access, each with an as of date. Use the official authority for every figure rather than a marketing page.
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| Programme | Reported donation entry point | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dominica | From about USD 200,000 | Often cited as the lowest donation entry point |
| Antigua and Barbuda | From about USD 230,000 | Reported for a family of four under the development fund |
| Grenada | From about USD 235,000 | Reported to include a family of up to four |
| Saint Lucia | From about USD 240,000 | Fund and bond options reported |
| All figures | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Fees and family size change the total |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Each Caribbean programme is run by that country's Citizenship by Investment Unit, for example the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
By headline donation, Dominica is often cited as the lowest entry point at around USD 200,000 as of 2026, with other Caribbean programmes close behind. Confirm the current minimum and all fees with the country's Citizenship by Investment Unit.
Not always at the headline figure. Government, due diligence and passport fees usually rise with each family member, so the total for a family is higher than the single applicant minimum. Confirm the cost for your exact family size with the official authority.
Not necessarily. Travel access, programme reputation, due diligence standards and whether your nationality allows dual citizenship all matter. Compare total cost and what the passport unlocks, not just the advertised minimum.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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