Top 10 Citizenship by Investment Programs for 2025

Grenada's Citizenship by Investment Program holds the top position in 2025 rankings for a single defining strategic reason: it is the only Caribbean program that combines visa-free access to China with eligibility for the US E-2 Investor Visa. This combination makes Grenada citizenship an instrument for global business mobility, not merely an additional travel document. Grenada's government has continued expanding its diplomatic footprint; Saudi Arabia now accepts Grenadian passport holders via an electronic visa (eVisa), adding direct relevance for Gulf and Middle Eastern investors.

The program offers an investment donation route via the National Transformation Fund and a real estate route in approved projects. No residency or personal appearance is required during application. All files are subject to rigorous due diligence procedures by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

• Visa-free access to China: an exclusive advantage among Caribbean passports.
• Eligibility to apply for the US E-2 Investor Visa as a Grenadian national, with renewable terms.
• Saudi Arabia eVisa available to Grenadian passport holders.
• Passport ranked among the highest in the Caribbean for business travel value.
• No residency requirement or personal appearance during the application process.

Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship by investment program leads for families whose composition extends beyond an applicant, spouse, and minor children. The distinguishing provision is structural: the program permits adding unmarried siblings of both the principal applicant and their spouse with no age restriction, a term not included in any other Caribbean CBI program. Recent amendments also allow multi-generational inclusion in certain circumstances, adding a long-term legacy dimension that is rare in this program category.

A new donation route supporting university construction was introduced, broadening investor options beyond the standard government fund and real estate routes. The program requires a minimum five-day stay in Antigua within the first five years, one of the lowest physical presence requirements among Caribbean programs.

• Unmarried siblings of both applicant and spouse included with no age restriction: a provision exclusive to Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean.
• Three investment routes: government fund donation, real estate, and business investment.
• Visa-free access to 150+ countries, including EU and Schengen Area nations.
• Canada access via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA); visa-free travel to Qatar and Turkiye.
• Minimum five-day physical presence requirement within the first five years: among the lowest in the Caribbean.

When the objective is an internationally recognized Caribbean citizenship at the lowest total cost for a single applicant, Saint Lucia's program stands out. Saint Lucia's passport is ranked 32nd globally, with visa-free access to 140+ countries including the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom. The program is also notable for offering a government bond route, giving investors who prefer a partially recoverable investment an alternative to the non-refundable government fund donation that is standard across Caribbean programs.

The program has expanded qualifying investment sectors to include agriculture, ports, and universities, providing investors interested in the island's economy with options beyond traditional real estate. Spouses and parents under 65 may be included as dependants in the same application.

• Lowest total investment cost for a single applicant among the five Caribbean CBI programs via the donation route.
• Government bond route: a partially recoverable investment option after the holding period.
• Eligible for a 10-year US B-1/B-2 visitor visa as a Saint Lucia citizen.
• UAE and Kuwait eVisa; visa on arrival for Qatar.
• Passport ranked 32nd globally with broad access to key business markets.

Saint Kitts and Nevis launched the world's first citizenship by investment program in 1984, giving it an operational track record unmatched by any other program for investor confidence. For investors who prioritize institutional stability and passport strength over minimum cost, Saint Kitts and Nevis remains the benchmark in the region. The program underwent significant restructuring in 2023, consolidating investment options, strengthening due diligence standards, and introducing mandatory interviews as part of verification procedures.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis passport ranks highest among Caribbean passports for total visa-free and simplified visa destinations. Passport holders access 150+ destinations, though the program lost visa-free access to Canada in 2024, a trend shared across several Caribbean programs.

• The world's first CBI program with over four decades of operational history.
• Highest-ranked Caribbean passport for total visa-free and simplified visa destinations.
• Canada access via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA); visa-free access to the United Kingdom.
• Due diligence standards among the most rigorous in the region, reinforcing international government trust in passport holders.
• Two investment routes: Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) donation and approved real estate.

Dominica offers the lowest minimum investment threshold among the five Caribbean CBI programs for single and family applications via a donation to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF). Dominica's passport holds a recognized position in global mobility indices, with access including China and EU nations. The program has faced the loss of UK visa-free access in recent years, a factor investors with significant UK travel requirements weigh carefully when comparing Caribbean options.

For investors whose primary criterion is the lowest total cost in an established Caribbean program, Dominica presents a structurally sound option with a regulatory framework in place since 1993 and well-defined application procedures that allow for a high degree of predictability.

• Lowest donation route minimum investment among the five Caribbean CBI programs for single applicants and families.
• Visa-free access includes China and EU member states, with 140+ countries total.
• Regulatory framework in place since 1993, providing application stability and predictability.
• No physical residency or personal appearance required during the application process.

Following the EU Court of Justice ruling that led to the closure of Malta's previous direct citizenship program, Malta Citizenship by Merit stands today as the only legally operational pathway to EU member state citizenship through qualifying investment in Europe. Applicants are assessed on criteria of exceptional merit and distinguished contribution, in addition to satisfying mandatory residency and qualifying investment requirements. The process includes multi-stage review and comprehensive due diligence by Maltese authorities.

One structural note: Malta publishes the names of newly naturalized citizens in official records, which is a transparency element prospective applicants who prioritize privacy factor into their evaluation. In exchange, the Maltese passport is among the ten most powerful globally (ranked 9th), granting full rights to live, work, and study across all 27 EU member states.

• The only active EU citizenship by merit pathway in Europe: full residence and work rights in 27 European nations.
• Passport ranked 9th globally with visa-free access to 183+ countries, including the full Schengen Area, the United States, Russia, and Canada.
• Full EU citizenship, not residency: grants the right to hold an EU passport and participate in EU civic life.
• Multi-stage review process provides high international credibility for the citizenship granted.

Vanuatu's program operates on a different logic from Caribbean programs: it is typically considered by investors who prioritize speed or who hold nationalities that face restrictions in Caribbean programs. The Vanuatu passport is ranked 24th globally. It is important to note that Vanuatu recently introduced a requirement for applicants to submit fingerprints and a facial scan in person at Vanuatu consulates or government headquarters, a procedural change that should be factored into processing expectations. Visa-free access to the EU Schengen Area for Vanuatu passport holders is also under ongoing review.

The program is documented as serving investors from Russia, Afghanistan, and Iran, among other nationalities with limited alternatives in Caribbean programs. This breadth of nationality acceptance is its principal structural differentiator from Caribbean options.

• Passport ranked 24th globally with access including Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
• Among the fastest government CBI programs globally for processing completion.
• Accepts a broader range of nationalities than most Caribbean programs.
• No physical residency in Vanuatu required to maintain citizenship after issuance.

Turkiye's citizenship by investment program ranks 8th for 2025, following structural shifts that have reset its competitive positioning from prior years. The minimum real estate investment was raised to USD 400,000, repositioning its cost profile relative to Caribbean programs. Regulatory changes to property transaction procedures and currency volatility add complexity for foreign investors in dollar-denominated assessments. In contrast, Turkiye retains a decisive strategic advantage absent from all Caribbean programs: E-2 Investor Visa eligibility for the United States, and the Ankara Agreement with the United Kingdom.

Turkiye's real estate market in Istanbul, Ankara, and coastal cities continues to attract buyers from the Middle East and Central Asia. The passport is ranked 49th globally, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 110+ countries.

• Eligibility to apply for the US E-2 Investor Visa as a Turkish national.
• Ankara Agreement with the United Kingdom facilitates preferential business entry for Turkish nationals.
• Active real estate market in Istanbul, Ankara, and coastal cities attracting regional investors.
• G20 economy membership providing a substantial domestic market for business-focused investors.
• Passport with visa-free access to 110+ countries.

Jordan's citizenship by investment program offers three structured investment routes: real estate investment, financial deposit with the Central Bank, and investment in approved economic projects. The program records consistent demand from investors in the Middle East region seeking a second citizenship within a geographically and culturally proximate environment, alongside the ability to establish businesses in a relatively stable regional economy.

The Jordanian passport is ranked 73rd globally, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 60 countries including Turkey, Malaysia, and GCC states. The program does not compete with Caribbean options on passport mobility scope, but meets the strategic requirements of a specific segment of regional investors for whom proximity and economic interest override passport strength as the primary selection criterion.

• Three investment routes: real estate, Central Bank financial deposit, and approved economic projects.
• Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 60 countries, including Turkey, Malaysia, and GCC states.
• Strategic option for investors seeking a second citizenship within the Arab region.
• Relatively developed regulatory environment in the Middle Eastern context.

Egypt's citizenship by investment program, launched in 2019, has been progressively developed to accommodate a broader investor range. The Egyptian passport is ranked 94th globally with visa-free access to 52 countries. The program's key structural differentiator is the absence of a local sponsor requirement for business establishment, a condition that many regional countries impose and which constitutes a practical barrier for foreign investors. Egypt's program consistently attracts investors from nationalities with restricted CBI options elsewhere, including Syria and Palestine, reflecting its accessibility across a wide range of profiles.

• No local sponsor required to establish a business: a competitive structural advantage in the regional context.
• Visa-free access to 52 countries.
• Program under ongoing development to expand eligibility scope and investment routes.
• Accessible to a broad range of nationalities, including those with limited alternatives in other CBI programs.
• Strategic gateway position bridging Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean for commercially oriented investors.