Why do published prices differ so much between advisers?

Most published figures quote only the state contribution. Ours adds the due diligence charge per adult and child, government processing, legal and documentation costs, and our own professional fee, which we invoice separately and upfront so it can never be hidden inside a government line.

Is the cheapest program the right program?

Rarely. Price is one of five variables alongside due diligence risk, visa-free access, treaty rights such as US E-2 eligibility, and how the country is likely to be treated by banks and by the EU and UK over the next decade. A programme that is refused, or that loses visa-free access, is the most expensive outcome available.

Do US citizens pay more?

No. Government pricing does not vary by nationality. American applicants do carry additional US reporting obligations after approval, which we set out on our United States market guide.

Can the cost be paid in stages?

Government contributions are generally payable after approval in principle, with due diligence and processing payable at filing. Our professional fee is payable on engagement. The full schedule, line by line, is on our fee policy page.

Cost comparison

The cheapest citizenship by investment programs, priced honestly

Ranked on what you will actually transfer, not the contribution figure used in advertising. Every number below is built from the same cost model that drives our calculator.

Almost every "from $100,000" headline in this industry quotes one line: the state contribution for a single applicant. It omits due diligence, government processing, legal work, passport issuance and the adviser's own fee. By the time a family of four reaches approval, the real figure is routinely fifty to eighty per cent higher than the number that brought them to the table.

We work the other way round. Our professional fee is fixed, invoiced upfront and shown separately from every government charge, so the total below is the total. If a government raises a fee mid-file, you see the revised line, not a revised invoice from us.

All-in figures

Ranked by total cost for a single applicant

Family column assumes two adults and two children under 18. Figures are indicative in US dollars and confirmed in writing before you commit to anything.

Citizenship by investment programs ranked by total cost, single applicant and family of four
Program	Single, all in	Family of four	Timeline	Visa-free
🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe Citizenship by Investment	$135,000	$245,500	3–5 months	62
🇳🇷 Nauru Economic & Climate Resilience Citizenship	$154,250	$282,250	3–4 months	89
🇻🇺 Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment	$173,500	$255,500	2–4 months	90
🇩🇲 Dominica Citizenship by Investment	$264,500	$405,000	6–9 months	144
🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment	$294,500	$365,000	5–8 months	151
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment	$303,500	$437,500	6–9 months	146
🇬🇩 Grenada Citizenship by Investment	$305,500	$449,500	6–9 months	148
🇰🇳 St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment	$324,000	$470,000	4–6 months (60-day accelerated option)	154

Includes state contribution, government and due diligence charges, legal and documentation costs and our professional fee. Excludes travel, translation and any local tax advice. Read how our fee is calculated.

Read this before you optimise for price

Three ways the cheapest option becomes the most expensive

A refusal follows you

Due diligence findings are shared between programs. A file rejected once because it was filed cheaply and quickly is materially harder to place afterwards, and contributions are not refunded.

Visa-free access is not permanent

Schengen and UK access has been suspended for individual Caribbean and Pacific passports before. Judge a program on how it is governed, not only on today's access count.

Banking is the real test

A passport that correspondent banks treat as high risk will complicate account opening for years. The cheapest documents are frequently the ones institutions question hardest.

If your objective is US-facing, read the E-2 treaty country routes that grant access to the United States, and price your own family in the cost calculator.

Questions

What people ask about low-cost programs

What is the cheapest citizenship by investment program right now?: Measured on the headline government contribution for a single applicant, the least expensive routes are the smaller Caribbean and Pacific programs. The ranking changes once due diligence, government processing, legal and passport fees are added, which is why our table shows the all-in figure rather than the contribution alone.
Why do published prices differ so much between advisers?: Most published figures quote only the state contribution. Ours adds the due diligence charge per adult and child, government processing, legal and documentation costs, and our own professional fee, which we invoice separately and upfront so it can never be hidden inside a government line.
Is the cheapest program the right program?: Rarely. Price is one of five variables alongside due diligence risk, visa-free access, treaty rights such as US E-2 eligibility, and how the country is likely to be treated by banks and by the EU and UK over the next decade. A programme that is refused, or that loses visa-free access, is the most expensive outcome available.
Do US citizens pay more?: No. Government pricing does not vary by nationality. American applicants do carry additional US reporting obligations after approval, which we set out on our United States market guide.
Can the cost be paid in stages?: Government contributions are generally payable after approval in principle, with due diligence and processing payable at filing. Our professional fee is payable on engagement. The full schedule, line by line, is on our fee policy page.

Next step

Get the all-in figure for your family in writing

Our US desk works Central Time from Sugar Land, Texas, with the group's Dubai office covering the Gulf day.