Cheapest Citizenship by Investment Programs in 2026: Sourced Costs

The lowest published citizenship-by-investment schedule in 2026 is São Tomé and Príncipe at US$100,750 for one applicant, based on a fee schedule from an appointed programme marketing agent. Nauru is the lowest programme with a complete fee schedule published by its official programme office, at US$102,700 under its temporary 2026 discount. Vanuatu is next at US$135,000 plus small local-currency and certificate charges.

Those figures are not quotations. They are the minimum mandatory programme and government charges we could calculate from current published fee schedules. They exclude variable professional fees, document preparation, translations, enhanced due diligence, bank charges not specified by the programme and property transaction costs.

If you compare only the advertised contribution, São Tomé and Nauru both start at US$90,000. If you compare their published cash schedules for a straightforward single application, São Tomé is lower by US$1,950. The evidence is not equivalent: Nauru publishes its schedule through the official programme office, while São Tomé's detailed schedule is published by an appointed marketing agent.

Cheapest citizenship by investment: 2026 comparison

*The family example assumes a main applicant, spouse and two children below the programme's due-diligence age threshold. It is an illustration, not a quote. Ages, relationships and nationality can materially change the fees.

Method: We rank programmes by the lowest published mandatory cash requirement for a normal single applicant. Where two floors are both US$260,000, an exact published total ranks above an “at least” figure that may exclude further charges. A non-refundable contribution is not economically equivalent to a recoverable asset, so Turkey is shown separately in substance even though it appears in the ranking. Programme approval is discretionary in every case.

1. São Tomé and Príncipe: US$100,750 published total

São Tomé and Príncipe launched its direct citizenship programme in 2025. Its National Development Contribution is US$90,000 for one applicant. The published schedule adds a US$5,000 submission fee, US$5,000 processing fee and US$750 issuance charge, producing a total of US$100,750.

The same schedule lists US$108,000 for a family of four. It advertises an indicative processing time of about eight weeks and no residence requirement. The eight-week figure is a marketing-agent estimate, not a government service standard or guarantee.

There is an important evidence caveat. The detailed English fee schedule is published by an officially appointed authorised marketing agent under Decree-Law 07/2025, not on a government ministry domain. An honorary consulate page separately confirms the programme and the US$90,000 starting contribution. Obtain written confirmation from the programme unit before transferring funds.

A Citizenship Investment Unit memorandum dated 10 April 2026 also records recent delays and two eligibility restrictions. New applications from people who already hold three or more foreign nationalities were placed on hold pending legislation, and passport issuance for adult dependent children above 18 was put on hold while revised dependency rules were prepared. The memorandum was distributed to licensed marketing agents and is reproduced on a third-party site; confirm whether either restriction has since changed before filing.

2. Nauru: US$102,700 during the 2026 offer

Nauru's Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program has a temporary US$90,000 contribution for a principal applicant. The discount applies to applications filed before 31 December 2026.

The official Nauru fee page lists:

• US$90,000 contribution
• US$5,000 application fee
• US$6,000 due-diligence fee
• US$1,200 bank due-diligence and transaction charge
• US$500 passport fee

That produces a published single-applicant floor of US$102,700. The official site says processing typically takes three to four months and applications are supported by approved agents.

For a main applicant, spouse and two children under 16, the same schedule produces an illustrative US$115,700. That assumes the spouse attracts the extra contribution and due-diligence charges for a dependent aged 16 or older, while the children do not.

The US$90,000 contribution is a limited offer, not a permanent price. Budget against the standard schedule if an application may be filed after 31 December 2026.

3. Vanuatu: US$135,000 plus local charges

Vanuatu's official Development Support Programme schedule lists a US$130,000 contribution for one applicant and a US$5,000 due-diligence fee. It also lists a VUV 5,000 application fee and separate certificate charges. The minimum is therefore US$135,000 plus those local-currency and issuance amounts, before professional and document costs.

The Vanuatu Citizenship Commission fee schedule lists these contribution levels:

• US$130,000 for one applicant
• US$150,000 for a married couple
• US$165,000 for a couple with one child
• US$180,000 for a couple with two children

That makes the published family-of-four floor US$185,000 plus VUV 5,000 and certificate charges, not US$130,000. This corrects a common error in older comparisons.

Do not choose Vanuatu on an old visa-free-country count. The EU ended Vanuatu's visa exemption after an earlier suspension, and the United Kingdom introduced a visa requirement in 2023. Check the exact destinations you need immediately before applying.

Read our separate Vanuatu citizenship by investment guide for a deeper programme review.

4. Dominica: US$210,000 single-applicant floor

Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund starts at US$200,000 for one applicant. The official EDF schedule adds:

• US$1,000 processing fee per application
• US$7,500 due diligence for the main applicant
• US$500 certificate-of-naturalisation fee per person
• US$1,000 mandatory-interview fee per applicant aged 16 or older

The published single-applicant floor is therefore US$210,000 before approved-agent, document and banking costs.

For a main applicant, spouse and two children under 16, the EDF contribution rises to US$250,000. Adding the published processing, adult due-diligence, adult interview and certificate charges gives an illustrative US$266,500.

Dominica requires applications to be submitted through an authorised agent. Its real-estate route starts with a US$200,000 approved property investment, but the official real-estate schedule adds a US$75,000 government fee for a single applicant, before due diligence and other charges. It is not the cheapest route.

5. Grenada: US$244,000-US$245,000

Grenada's National Transformation Fund contribution is US$235,000 for one applicant or a family of up to four, subject to family-composition rules.

The official application page lists a US$1,500 application fee, US$1,500 processing fee for an adult, US$5,000 due-diligence fee and US$1,000 interview fee. That implies US$244,000 for one adult.

However, another official IMA FAQ has stated US$6,000 for the main-applicant due-diligence fee. Because the authority's pages are inconsistent, use US$244,000-US$245,000 and obtain a written fee sheet from a licensed local agent before paying.

Grenada's approved real-estate route is currently US$350,000 for sole ownership or US$270,000 for a qualifying co-owned share, plus a US$50,000 government contribution and other fees. Older US$220,000 property figures are stale.

Grenada is also relevant to some applicants because Grenadian nationals may be eligible to apply for a US E-2 treaty-investor visa. The E-2 is a separate US application with its own investment, eligibility and approval requirements; Grenadian citizenship does not guarantee a US visa.

6. Antigua and Barbuda: US$248,800

Antigua and Barbuda's National Development Fund requires a US$230,000 contribution for one applicant or a family. The official fee schedule adds US$10,000 processing, US$8,500 due diligence for the main applicant and a US$300 passport fee. The published single-applicant floor is US$248,800.

For a couple with two children under 12, the same schedule gives an illustrative US$264,700: US$230,000 contribution, US$20,000 family processing, US$13,500 adult due diligence and four US$300 passports.

The flat contribution can make Antigua comparatively attractive for families, but due-diligence and passport fees still apply per eligible family member. Applications go through an authorised representative and licensed agent.

7. Saint Lucia: US$250,000 plus any interview charge

Saint Lucia's National Economic Fund contribution is US$240,000 for one applicant with up to three qualifying dependants. The official programme page lists a US$2,000 main-applicant processing fee and US$8,000 main-applicant due-diligence fee.

That creates a published floor of US$250,000, before the charge for the programme's applicant interview and identity-verification process, which is mentioned but not priced on the same public page.

For a main applicant, spouse and two children under 16, the published contribution, processing and due-diligence amounts total US$258,000, again before any interview charge. Saint Lucia also lists US$300,000 approved real estate plus administration fees and a US$300,000 non-interest-bearing government bond plus a US$50,000 administration fee.

8. Egypt: US$260,000 direct-payment route

Egypt offers several citizenship-linked investment routes. The lowest is a US$250,000 non-refundable payment to the state treasury. GAFI also states that the applicant must transfer a US$10,000 administrative fee, making the published entry floor US$260,000.

The Egyptian Prime Minister's programme unit also lists a US$300,000 property route, a US$450,000 investment-project route and a US$500,000 three-year deposit route. GAFI's English guidance says the initial application is processed in three to six months, followed by temporary residence while the selected investment is completed.

Family treatment is not directly comparable with Caribbean family pricing. The official guidance expressly refers to minor children, while treatment of a spouse and adult dependants requires specific Egyptian advice. Do not assume one US$250,000 payment automatically covers every family member.

9. St Kitts and Nevis: at least US$260,000

The Sustainable Island State Contribution is US$250,000 for one applicant or a family of up to four. The official St Kitts and Nevis schedule adds US$10,000 due diligence for the main applicant and US$7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or older.

That puts a single applicant at at least US$260,000 before any application, passport, interview, professional or document charges not stated on that page. A main applicant, spouse and two children below 16 starts at at least US$267,500.

The official unit gives an expected processing range of 120 to 180 days. The current contribution route is SISC; references to the old Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation as the active route are outdated.

Approved-development real estate starts at US$325,000. A qualifying private home starts at US$600,000. Both have additional charges and holding rules.

10. Turkey: US$400,000 property asset plus costs

Turkey is economically different from a donation programme. The lowest widely used route is a US$400,000 qualifying property purchase with a restriction preventing sale for three years. The capital is held in an asset, but valuation, title, tax, legal and foreign-exchange risks remain.

Turkey's official investment office also lists alternatives including a US$500,000 fixed-capital investment, bank deposit, government-bond purchase or qualifying fund investment, as well as creating 50 jobs.

Do not turn the US$400,000 property threshold into a universal all-in figure. Transaction taxes and professional costs depend on the property and structure, and the asset may rise or fall in value.

What the table excludes

No responsible comparison can promise one “true total” for every applicant. A final quote can change because of:

• licensed-agent or authorised-representative fees
• independent legal advice
• translations, notarisation, apostilles and courier charges
• source-of-funds complexity or enhanced due diligence
• bank transfer and intermediary-bank charges
• medical reports, police certificates and identity documents
• property valuation, tax, registration and maintenance costs
• the age and relationship of each dependant
• nationality-specific restrictions or extra scrutiny

Ask for a written, itemised quote that separates government charges, professional fees, property costs and refundable assets. Confirm who receives each payment and whether it is refundable if the application is refused.

Do you need a lawyer or authorised agent?

Several programmes require an application to be lodged through an authorised or licensed agent. That is different from independent legal advice.

An agent represents the application through the programme's approved channel. An independent lawyer can review engagement terms, source-of-funds evidence and any property contract, and can identify conflicts where the same business promotes a development and advises on buying it.

Neither an agent nor a lawyer can guarantee approval. Avoid anyone promising a passport, a special discount below an official minimum or influence over government decision-makers. Read our comparison of a golden visa lawyer, consultant and DIY process before appointing an adviser.

Malta is not an active citizenship-by-investment option

Malta should not appear in a 2026 ranking of active CBI programmes. On 29 April 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union held in Case C-181/23 that Malta's investor-citizenship scheme breached EU law. The former direct route is closed.

Malta still has residence programmes, but residence is not citizenship and does not provide an immediate Maltese passport. More broadly, compare direct CBI with residence-by-investment programmes only after deciding whether the goal is immediate citizenship, relocation rights, eventual naturalisation or a recoverable investment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest citizenship by investment programme in 2026?

São Tomé and Príncipe has the lowest published marketing-agent schedule at US$100,750. Nauru has the lowest complete schedule published by an official programme office, at US$102,700 under a temporary contribution discount for applications filed before 31 December 2026. Obtain written programme-unit confirmation of São Tomé's current fees, eligibility rules and processing position before paying.

Which Caribbean citizenship by investment programme is cheapest?

Dominica has the lowest published single-applicant government cash floor among the five Eastern Caribbean programmes in this comparison, at US$210,000 through the Economic Diversification Fund. That excludes authorised-agent, document and banking costs.

Is the advertised investment the total price?

Usually not. Published contributions are supplemented by application, processing, due-diligence, interview, passport or certificate charges. Professional, document and bank costs are often variable. The tables above include mandatory published programme charges where a current fee could be verified, but they are not personal quotations.

Can I submit a Caribbean CBI application myself?

Generally no. The Caribbean units require applications to be submitted through an authorised local agent or representative. You may also obtain independent legal advice, especially for complex source-of-funds evidence or an approved-property purchase.

Can a lawyer guarantee CBI approval?

No. Citizenship approval remains a government decision and is subject to due diligence. A lawyer or authorised agent can prepare and check an application, but a guarantee of approval is a warning sign.

Is citizenship by investment the same as a golden visa?

No. Citizenship by investment leads directly to nationality if approved. A golden visa normally grants residence and may create a route to ordinary naturalisation only after separate residence, language and eligibility conditions are met.

Can programme prices change after I start?

Yes. Whether an applicant keeps an earlier price depends on the programme's legislation, filing date and transitional rules. Nauru's current US$90,000 contribution, for example, is expressly time-limited. Do not assume a quote is locked until the programme or authorised agent confirms it in writing.

Which programme is best for a family of four?

On the published schedules used here, São Tomé has the lowest family-of-four figure at US$108,000, followed by Nauru at an illustrative US$115,700. Among the Caribbean programmes, flat family contributions can favour Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Grenada or St Kitts and Nevis, but dependant ages materially change due-diligence and processing fees.

Bottom line

For applications filed in 2026, the lowest published single-applicant schedules are US$100,750 for São Tomé and Príncipe from an appointed marketing agent, US$102,700 for Nauru from its official programme office and US$135,000 plus local charges for Vanuatu from its Citizenship Commission. Dominica is the lowest-cost Caribbean option on the official schedules at US$210,000 before variable costs.

Treat those as comparison floors, not final quotes. Confirm the current schedule on the official programme site, obtain an itemised proposal from an authorised agent and use independent legal advice where the source of funds, family eligibility or a property purchase is material.

Sources and review date

This guide was fact-checked against the programme and government pages linked above on 10 August 2026. It should be reviewed before 15 December 2026, ahead of Nauru's published 31 December discount deadline.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Citizenship and visa decisions remain discretionary. Programme rules, fees and travel privileges can change without notice.