Second Passport Through Investment: Programmes Compared

A second passport through investment is a distinct route from residency-by-investment (Golden Visas) or standard naturalization — it grants citizenship directly, usually without a minimum stay requirement, in exchange for a defined financial contribution. Programmes exist across the Caribbean, a shrinking number of European countries, and a handful of other jurisdictions, each with very different costs, processing times, and travel benefits.

Caribbean programmes

The Caribbean offers the fastest processing and lowest investment thresholds of any second-passport route, with visa-free access typically covering 140 to 150+ countries, including the Schengen Area, the UK, and Hong Kong.

St Kitts and Nevis — a $125,000 minimum donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund, or $200,000 in approved real estate. Processing takes 3 to 6 months, with an expedited option available. Visa-free access to over 150 countries.

Dominica — a $100,000 minimum donation to the Economic Diversification Fund, or $200,000 in government-approved real estate. Processing takes 3 to 4 months, with visa-free access to over 145 countries.

Grenada — a $150,000 minimum donation to the National Transformation Fund, or $220,000 in approved real estate. Processing takes 4 to 6 months. Grenada citizens can also apply for the US E-2 Investor Visa, a route not shared by the other Caribbean programmes.

Antigua and Barbuda — a $100,000 minimum donation to the National Development Fund, $200,000 in approved real estate, or a $1.5 million business investment. Processing takes 3 to 4 months.

Saint Lucia — a $100,000 minimum donation to the National Economic Fund, or $200,000 in approved real estate. Processing takes 3 to 4 months.

European programmes

European citizenship-by-investment programmes are far more expensive, but the passport carries full EU citizenship rights.

Malta — closed. Malta's citizenship-by-investment programme, which required a donation of €600,000 or more, was struck down by the EU's Court of Justice in April 2025 and has not been replaced with a direct citizenship route. Malta's residency-by-investment options may still apply — ask us for the current status.

Bulgaria — suspended since 2022. Bulgaria's programme, which offered citizenship via a €512,000 government-bond investment plus a fast-track option after one year of residency, was suspended following EU scrutiny and has not reopened.

Other regions

Turkey — real estate investment of at least $400,000, or a $500,000 bank deposit held for a minimum of 3 years. Processing takes 3 to 6 months. Turkish citizenship does not carry visa-free access to the Schengen Area or the UK.

Vanuatu — a $130,000 minimum donation to the Vanuatu Development Support Program. Processing takes just 1 to 2 months, the fastest of the programmes covered here, with visa-free access to over 120 countries including the Schengen Area, the UK, and Hong Kong.

Jordan — a $1 million bank deposit for 3 years, $1.5 million in government bonds for 6 years, or a $1 million business investment. Processing takes 3 to 6 months, with visa-free access limited to around 50 countries — not including the Schengen Area or the UK.

Why work with BIZ TRP

BIZ TRP's core expertise is European company formation, investment, and residency routes. For the Caribbean and other non-European citizenship-by-investment programmes covered here, our role is to help you compare them honestly against the European alternatives, not to process the application ourselves.

• Honest programme status. We track which programmes are actually open — like Malta's closure — so you don't plan around a route that no longer exists.
• European alternative comparison. If a Golden Visa or EU naturalization route fits your goals better, we lay out the real difference in cost, timeline, and rights.
• Clear direction either way. Where a non-European programme genuinely fits your situation best, we help you evaluate it and point you toward it clearly.