Cheapest and Fastest Second Passport 2026: Real Costs and Timelines

The lowest-cost second passport in 2026 is Nauru, from USD 90,000 for a principal applicant until 31 December 2026, followed by Vanuatu from USD 130,000 and Dominica from USD 200,000. For speed, Nauru reports decisions in 3 to 4 months and Dominica at least 3 months to approval in principle, while Vanuatu is generally the quickest route of all. The right choice depends on the travel access you need, not on price alone.

This guide from Mirabello Consultancy sets out what a second passport through citizenship by investment (CBI) really costs in 2026, how long each programme realistically takes, and what you receive for the money. Every programme figure below is taken from the Mirabello Immigration Intelligence data backbone and checked against the government's own programme website. Where an official source does not publish a figure, we say so rather than guess.

What is the cheapest second passport in 2026?

Nauru offers the lowest entry price of any established citizenship by investment programme in 2026: a contribution of USD 90,000 for a principal applicant, a limited-time price available until 31 December 2026, after which the standard USD 115,000 applies from 1 January 2027. Vanuatu follows at USD 130,000, then Dominica at USD 200,000.

A low headline figure is only the starting point. Government application and due diligence fees, passport fees and professional costs are added on top, and the structure of family pricing differs sharply between programmes.

Which second passport is the fastest to obtain in 2026?

Vanuatu is generally the fastest second passport route in 2026, although its Citizenship Office publishes no fixed processing time. Among programmes that do publish timelines, Nauru reports decisions within 3 to 4 months, Dominica states at least 3 months to approval in principle, and St Kitts and Nevis advises on applications within 4 to 6 months.

Published timelines describe the government stage only. The clock starts when a complete, correctly certified file reaches the citizenship unit, so the weeks spent gathering police certificates, apostilles, bank references and translations come first. In our experience the single biggest cause of delay is an incomplete file, not government backlog.

Complex source-of-funds histories or politically exposed relatives add review time everywhere. Where a government has not published an official processing time (Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St Lucia), we do not quote one here; ask us for current case experience instead.

How do the lowest-cost citizenship by investment programmes compare?

The seven established lowest-cost citizenship by investment programmes in 2026 range from USD 90,000 in Nauru to USD 250,000 in St Kitts and Nevis, with visa-free counts from 86 destinations for Nauru to 157 for St Kitts and Nevis. The table sets the minimum single-applicant contribution against travel access and the official timeline.

For a wider view including residence routes and ranking criteria beyond price, see our full comparison of citizenship by investment programmes and the sibling guide to the best citizenship by investment programmes in 2026, ranked.

What does each lowest-cost programme actually cost?

Each lowest-cost programme charges a non-refundable government contribution as its entry route, but the contribution covers different family sizes in different countries. Nauru and Vanuatu price per person, while Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis cover a family of up to four in the base contribution.

Nauru: USD 90,000 until 31 December 2026

What is Nauru citizenship by investment? Nauru citizenship by investment is the Pacific island state's Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, which grants citizenship in return for a contribution that funds climate adaptation. Nauru requires a contribution of USD 90,000 for a principal applicant until 31 December 2026, a USD 25,000 reduction on the standard USD 115,000 that resumes on 1 January 2027.

The official programme adds USD 2,000 for each additional dependant aged 16 or over and USD 15,000 for each sibling of the applicant or spouse. Government fees are payable on top: an application fee of USD 5,000 for the principal applicant and USD 2,000 per dependant, plus due diligence of USD 6,000 for the principal applicant and USD 3,000 per dependant aged 16 or over. A single applicant pays approximately USD 102,700 all-in at the limited-time contribution. Nauru is a newer programme, so its mobility profile (86 visa-free destinations) and due diligence practice are still developing. Read more on our Nauru citizenship by investment page and the official Nauru programme contribution page.

Vanuatu: USD 130,000

What is Vanuatu citizenship by investment? Vanuatu citizenship by investment is the Development Support Programme (DSP) of the Republic of Vanuatu, a South Pacific state, under which applicants make a non-refundable government contribution. Vanuatu charges USD 130,000 for a single applicant, USD 150,000 for a married couple, USD 165,000 for a couple with one child and USD 180,000 for a couple with two children.

Each further applicant adds USD 10,000, according to the official Vanuatu Citizenship Office fees page. Vanuatu sets no residence or visit requirement before or after citizenship. Its passport offers 90 visa-free destinations, but Vanuatu passport holders currently need a visa for the Schengen Area and, since 19 July 2023, for visits to the United Kingdom. Details are on our Vanuatu citizenship by investment page.

Dominica: USD 200,000

What is Dominica citizenship by investment? Dominica citizenship by investment is the Commonwealth of Dominica's programme administered by its Citizenship by Investment Unit. Dominica requires a USD 200,000 contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund for a main applicant, or USD 250,000 for a main applicant with up to three qualifying dependants.

Additional dependants cost USD 25,000 each under 18 and USD 40,000 each aged 18 or over, according to the official Dominica Economic Diversification Fund page. Dominica sets no residence requirement before or after citizenship, its passport provides 145 visa-free destinations including the Schengen Area, and a UK visit visa has been required since 19 July 2023. See our Dominica citizenship by investment page.

Antigua and Barbuda: USD 230,000

What is Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment? Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment is the twin-island nation's programme offering citizenship through a fund contribution, approved real estate or a business investment. Antigua and Barbuda requires a USD 230,000 contribution to the National Development Fund, and that contribution stays the same for a single applicant, a family of four and a family of five or more.

Government processing fees are where family size shows: USD 10,000 for a single applicant, USD 20,000 for a family of four or fewer, plus USD 10,000 per dependant from the fifth onwards, per the official National Development Fund page. The passport offers 154 visa-free destinations, and UK visits are visa-free with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). See our Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment page.

Grenada: USD 235,000

What is Grenada citizenship by investment? Grenada citizenship by investment is the programme run by Grenada's Investment Migration Agency, offering citizenship through the National Transformation Fund or an approved real estate project. Grenada requires a USD 235,000 contribution to the National Transformation Fund for a family of four, with siblings, parents and grandparents priced separately.

Grenada is the only lowest-cost Caribbean passport whose holders may apply for the United States E-2 Treaty Investor visa, a treaty right that matters to entrepreneurs planning a business in the United States. The passport provides 147 visa-free destinations, UK visits are visa-free with an ETA, and Grenada sets no presence requirement. See our Grenada citizenship by investment page and the official Investment Migration Agency page.

St Lucia: USD 240,000

What is St Lucia citizenship by investment? St Lucia citizenship by investment is the programme administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit of Saint Lucia, with routes through a fund contribution, approved real estate, government bonds or enterprise projects. St Lucia requires a USD 240,000 contribution to the National Economic Fund for an applicant alone or with up to three qualifying dependants.

The real estate route requires USD 300,000 plus administration fees, according to the official St Lucia citizenship by investment page. The passport offers 144 visa-free destinations including the Schengen Area. A UK visit visa has been required for St Lucia nationals since 5 March 2026, a material change for anyone who travels to London regularly. See our St Lucia citizenship by investment page.

St Kitts and Nevis: USD 250,000

What is St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment? St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment is the federation's programme administered by its Citizenship by Investment Unit. St Kitts and Nevis requires a USD 250,000 Sustainable Island State Contribution for a main applicant or a family of up to four, with additional dependants at USD 25,000 under 18 and USD 50,000 aged 18 or over.

The St Kitts and Nevis passport provides 157 visa-free destinations, the strongest among the lowest-cost programmes, and UK visits are visa-free with an ETA. The unit advises on application status within 120 to 180 days of acknowledging a submission, per the official Sustainable Island State Contribution page. See our St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment page.

Unsure which of these seven fits your family, your travel and your timeline? Book a complimentary consultation with Mirabello Consultancy and we will model the full cost for your exact family composition.

What are the hidden costs of a second passport beyond the contribution?

The hidden costs of a second passport include government application, due diligence and processing fees, passport issuance fees, and professional costs for legal work, certified translations, medical certificates and apostilles. Depending on the programme and family size, these additions can move the true total well above the headline contribution.

The fee structure is not uniform, which is why comparing contributions alone misleads. Examples from official sources:

• Nauru: USD 5,000 application fee and USD 6,000 due diligence for the principal applicant, with per-dependant fees on top.
• Antigua and Barbuda: government processing fees of USD 10,000 for a single applicant and USD 20,000 for a family of four or fewer.
• Egypt: a USD 10,000 application fee alongside the investment.
• St Kitts and Nevis: every citizen must complete national biometric enrolment, launched on 14 April 2026, at USD 2,500 for the first adult, USD 2,000 for a second adult and USD 1,300 per child under 16; the fee also covers the passport upgrade, according to the official St Kitts and Nevis biometrics page.

Contributions and fees are non-refundable in every programme covered here, so a refused application loses its due diligence fees. Professional fees also vary widely between advisers. Ask for a written, itemised quotation covering every government fee for every family member before you commit.

How much does a second passport cost for a family of four?

A second passport for a family of four costs from USD 180,000 in Vanuatu for a married couple with two children, from USD 230,000 in Antigua and Barbuda and USD 235,000 in Grenada, where the base contribution covers four people. Dominica rises to USD 250,000 for a main applicant and three dependants.

Nauru prices by person rather than by family: the principal applicant's contribution plus USD 2,000 for each additional dependant aged 16 or over, with application and due diligence fees for each family member. For a family with children under 16, Nauru remains the lowest-cost entry point in 2026 while its limited-time price lasts. For a detailed side-by-side of the five Eastern Caribbean programmes, read our comparison of all five Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes.

Does the cheapest second passport give you the travel access you need?

The cheapest second passport rarely gives the widest travel access: Nauru reaches 86 visa-free destinations and Vanuatu 90, while Dominica offers 145 and St Kitts and Nevis 157. The more useful measure is whether the passport opens the specific countries you and your family actually visit, especially the Schengen Area and the United Kingdom.

Two access questions decide most cases:

• The Schengen Area. Dominica, St Lucia and the other Eastern Caribbean passports currently travel visa-free to the Schengen Area. Vanuatu passport holders currently need a Schengen visa.
• The United Kingdom. Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada nationals visit visa-free with an ETA. Dominica (since 19 July 2023), St Lucia (since 5 March 2026) and Vanuatu (since 19 July 2023) nationals need a UK visit visa.

Visa policies change by decision of the destination country, so choose a passport with some margin. For investors whose priority is residence in Europe or the Gulf rather than a passport, our guide to golden visa and residence programmes sets out the alternatives; note that EU golden visas are designed for non-EU nationals and do not lead to citizenship quickly.

What obligations come with each passport after approval?

Obligations after approval are light but not zero: Antigua and Barbuda requires 5 days in the country within the first 5 years of citizenship, and St Kitts and Nevis requires every citizen to complete national biometric enrolment, with existing citizenship by investment citizens due to enrol by 31 July 2027. Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia set no presence requirement.

These are the rules in force nationally in 2026. A regional framework is also being built: the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), whose founding agreement was signed in September 2025 and which was established in December 2025 with an office in Grenada. ECCIRA is not yet operating; the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank expects it to begin operating later in 2026, and no start date has been announced. Proposals discussed for the region, none of them in force, include 30 days of presence in the first 5 years (with at least 5 in the first year), an initial 5-year passport upgraded to 10 years, and mandatory regional biometrics. Antigua and Barbuda has tabled a bill proposing 30 days, but it is not law.

For the full position, read our explainers on ECCIRA, the Caribbean CBI regulator and the Caribbean CBI rules in force country by country. Passport validity and renewal rules also differ by country; our CBI passport renewal guide covers them.

Are there lower-cost second passports outside the Caribbean and the Pacific?

Outside the Caribbean and the Pacific, the established alternatives cost more, not less: Egypt requires from USD 250,000 through a direct revenue contribution, with a 6 to 12 month timeline, and Turkey requires from USD 400,000 in real estate held for 3 years. Lower prices advertised elsewhere usually belong to newer programmes without a verifiable government source.

What is Egypt citizenship by investment? Egypt citizenship by investment is the Arab Republic of Egypt's programme offering citizenship through a non-refundable contribution, real estate, a business project or a bank deposit. Egypt sets USD 250,000 as its lowest route, plus a USD 10,000 application fee, according to the official Egypt citizenship portal; the passport offers 51 visa-free destinations. See our Egypt citizenship by investment page.

What is Turkey citizenship by investment? Turkey citizenship by investment grants Turkish citizenship to investors who buy qualifying property or make a qualifying financial investment, subject to presidential approval. Turkey requires real estate worth at least USD 400,000 with a 3-year resale restriction, or USD 500,000 in a bank deposit, government bonds or other financial routes, per the official Investment Office guide. The Turkish passport offers 114 visa-free destinations. See our Turkey citizenship by investment page.

Two emerging African programmes are often advertised at lower prices. São Tomé and Príncipe runs an early-stage programme, but we have not been able to verify its figures against an official government programme source, so we do not quote them here. Sierra Leone publishes no government source for its citizenship by investment programme at all; the figures in circulation come from agent sites, so we do not quote them either. Our São Tomé and Príncipe and Sierra Leone pages explain what is known and what is not.

Is there a lower-cost route to a second passport than investment?

A lower-cost route to a second passport exists for people with a family or marital connection: citizenship by descent and citizenship by marriage require no investment contribution, only eligibility, documentation and government fees. For everyone else, naturalisation through residence is slower, often taking many years, and requires genuine residence.

If a parent or grandparent was born in a Caribbean country, check descent first: Grenada citizenship by descent and St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by descent are examples. Spouses of citizens may qualify through routes such as Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by marriage. Residence-based naturalisation, by contrast, is a long-term commitment: Portugal, for example, now requires 10 years of residence for most nationalities and 7 for EU and Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) nationals under Lei Orgânica 1/2026.

How should you choose between the lowest cost and the fastest route?

Choosing between the lowest cost and the fastest route starts with purpose: define where you must travel, who must be included and how soon you need the document, then select the lowest-cost programme that meets all three. Price and speed are tie-breakers between suitable passports, never reasons to accept an unsuitable one.

A practical decision sequence we use with clients:

1. Destinations first. List the countries you visit at least once a year. If the Schengen Area or the United Kingdom is on the list, check each candidate passport against it before looking at price.
2. Family second. Count every person to include now and later (children approaching 18, parents, siblings). Flat-family pricing in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada can overturn a single-applicant ranking.
3. Timing third. If a deadline matters, start document preparation immediately; it is usually the longest stage you control.
4. Obligations fourth. Weigh presence, biometric and renewal obligations against how often you can travel to the country.
5. Total cost last. Compare itemised, all-in quotations, not contributions.

Applied honestly, this sequence often points a single traveller with no European travel to Nauru or Vanuatu, a Schengen-focused family to Dominica, a large family to Antigua and Barbuda, an entrepreneur with United States business plans to Grenada, and an investor seeking the widest access to St Kitts and Nevis.

How does the second passport application process work?

The second passport application process follows the same sequence in every programme covered here: a licensed agent prepares and files the application, the citizenship unit runs due diligence, the government approves in principle, the applicant pays the contribution, and the certificate of citizenship and passport are issued. In the Caribbean programmes, applications are filed through licensed agents.

1. Eligibility review and programme choice with your adviser.
2. Document collection: passports, birth and marriage certificates, police certificates, medical certificates, bank references and evidence of the source of funds, certified and translated where required.
3. Submission and fees: the application and due diligence fees are paid at filing.
4. Due diligence and interview: independent background checks; several programmes interview applicants, often virtually.
5. Approval in principle and payment: the contribution is paid only after approval (Antigua and Barbuda, for example, sets a 30-day payment window).
6. Citizenship and passport: the certificate of naturalisation is issued, followed by the passport, with biometric capture where the country requires it.

Mirabello Consultancy advises in 11 languages from Zurich, Dubai and Hong Kong SAR. As an IMC member firm with ACAMS-certified compliance, we prepare files to the standard the citizenship units expect, which is the most reliable way to shorten any programme's real-world timeline.