Outside the office window in Turkey, cargo ships slowly traverse the Bosporus Strait beneath the bridge connecting Europe and Asia. In the moment the same application document is sent to the investment citizenship department of a certain country in the Caribbean, an almost identical digital copy arrives at the immigration bureau of a small island nation in the South Pacific.
The world is being reconnected in an unprecedented way. The Henley & Partners 2026 Passport Index reveals the truth: the global mobility divide continues to widen. Singapore’s passport tops the list with visa-free access to 192 countries, while Afghanistan’s passport allows access to only 24.
Behind this gap, a quiet revolution in identity planning is underway. Citizens from over 100 countries applied for citizenship-by-investment or residence-by-investment programs in 2025, with overall application volume increasing by 28% year-on-year.
For high-net-worth individuals seeking global mobility, asset security, or a future for their families, legally obtaining a second passport through investment has become a pragmatic and mainstream choice.
Below is a detailed introduction to 10 passports you can legally obtain through Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programs in 2026.
Turkey Passport
A high-value gateway from a major G20 nation
Country Profile: A key G20 member straddling Europe and Asia.
Investment Options: Choose one of three: real estate, bank deposit, or fund. Real estate: Invest $400,000 or more in property and hold for 3 years. Bank deposit: Fixed deposit of $500,000 in a Turkish bank for 3 years. Fund: Invest $500,000 in a locally licensed Turkish fund for 3 years.
Program Advantages: Clear investment thresholds with recoverable capital. Extremely fast processing—minimum 3 months for the deposit route and about 6 months for real estate. As of January 2, 2026, Turkey has granted visa-free access to Chinese passport holders, signaling enhanced passport value.
Cost: Starting at $400,000 (real estate) or $500,000 (deposit/fund).
Visa-Free Access: Turkish passport holders can enter 114 countries visa-free and are among the few eligible to apply for the U.S. E-2 Treaty Investor Visa.
Malta Passport
A golden ticket to EU citizenship
Country Profile: An EU member state in the heart of the Mediterranean with English as an official language.
Investment Options: Combination of “donation + investment”: donate at least €600,000 or €750,000 to the National Development Fund, meet property purchase (minimum €700,000) or lease (minimum €16,000/year) requirements, and invest €150,000.
Program Advantages: Directly obtain highly valuable EU citizenship, with the right to settle, work, study, and live in any EU member state. One applicant can include spouse, children, parents, and even grandparents.
Cost: Over €1 million (including donation and investment requirements).
Visa-Free Access: Visa-free access to approximately 165 countries and regions, including the U.S. and Canada.
The Five Caribbean CBI Nations
Classic choices, each with unique strengths
The Caribbean’s citizenship-by-investment programs have long histories and well-established regulations, making them the most popular options on the market. The five countries offer similar models, mainly differing in price, speed, and additional benefits.
St. Kitts and Nevis
The world’s oldest and most trusted CBI program.
Minimum Investment: Donation starting at $250,000.
Processing Time: 8–12 months.
Antigua and Barbuda: Offers the highest visa-free travel便利性 among Caribbean CBI programs.
Minimum Investment: Donation starting at $230,000.
Processing Time: 6–12 months.
Grenada: The only Caribbean CBI that allows application for the U.S. E-2 visa, serving as an effective springboard to the U.S.
Minimum Investment: Donation starting at $235,000.
Processing Time: 6–12 months.
St. Lucia: Facilitates access to other CARICOM nations.
Minimum Investment: Donation starting at $240,000.
Processing Time: Approximately 24 months.
Dominica: Known as “the most economical Caribbean CBI option.”
Minimum Investment: Donation starting at $200,000.
Processing Time: 6–12 months.
Vanuatu Passport
A fast-track option in Oceania
Country Profile: An island nation in the South Pacific.
Investment Option: Government donation starting at $130,000.
Program Advantages: One of the fastest programs globally, typically taking just 1–3 months.
Cost: Starting at $130,000.
Visa-Free Access: Vanuatu passport holders can enter numerous countries visa-free, including the UK, Russia, and the Schengen Area.
Nauru Passport
An emerging Pacific option
Country Profile: A microstate in the central Pacific, one of the smallest island nations in the world, population approximately 12,000.
Investment Option: Donate $105,000 or more to the “Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program.”
Program Advantages: One of the most affordable options in Oceania. Includes rigorous international background checks.
Cost: Approximately $142,000 for a single applicant (including government fees).
Visa-Free Access: Visa-free entry to 89 countries and regions, including Singapore and Hong Kong.
S?o Tomé and Príncipe Passport
The world’s lowest threshold
Country Profile: A Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, Africa.
Investment Option: Donate $90,000 or more to the National Transformation Fund.
Program Advantages: Currently the lowest investment threshold among publicly available global programs. Extremely fast approval in about 2 months. As a Portuguese-speaking country, it facilitates access to other Portuguese-speaking markets.
Cost: Starting at $90,000.
Visa-Free Access: Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 countries and regions.
The Essence of Identity Planning Is Risk Management
Choosing a passport through investment is far more than purchasing travel convenience. Renowned journalist Misha Glenny points out: “Passport power ultimately reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility, and the ability to shape international rules.”
In recent years, the number of visa-free countries for the U.S. passport has decreased by 7 within a year, and for the UK passport by 8. This “erosion of mobility” is seen as a signal of deeper shifts in the geopolitical landscape.
For precisely this reason, securing a second identity for one’s family—one not constrained by a single political or economic environment—has become a mainstream approach to risk management and future planning.