Easiest Countries to Get Citizenship

Obtaining a second passport or relocating to another country through investment is now possible in many states around the world, however, Europe remains a preferred choice for many entrepreneurs and high net worth individuals.

When choosing a country to which is easy to migrate, there are several aspects to consider, which is why our specialists in the golden visa program have prepared a small guide on the easiest countries to get citizenship in Europe and around the world.

We invite you to talk to our agents and find out which country suits best your needs when it comes to buying a golden visa. We can also help you with the procedure of obtaining golden visa/citizenship by investment in any country of your choosing.

Easiest countries to buy golden visas in the Caribbeans

The Caribbeans are not only a preferred destination for tourists but also a great region to live in. Many nations here have golden visa programs that enable those who decide to relocate to actually do that.

Among these countries are:

• St. Kitts and Nevis;
• Dominica;
• Antigua and Barbuda;
• Bahamas;
• Grenada;
• El Salvador;
• Vanuatu;
• Belize.

Some nations enable you to purchase citizenship, which exempts you from having to fulfill the country’s residency requirements. Although not all programs, some do let you seek for citizenship after 5 or 10 years of living in the country. It’s crucial to remember that obtaining a golden visa does not always open the door to citizenship. There were 22 nations offering citizenship by investment to foreign entrepreneurs at the level of 2026. Many of them are in the Caribbean.

Every real estate investment program is a great way to make investments, with a fair probability of earning your money back together with interest.  This is not the same as donation choices in which the funds are lost.   To be eligible for citizenship, individuals must invest a minimum of USD 300,000 in approved real estate in Antigua and Barbuda and USD 200,000 in Dominica. Grenada is next, requiring a minimum investment of USD 270,000 for a share-based investment in a project approved by the government.  To learn more specific details about the conditions, please discuss this option with one of our golden visa specialists.

Moving to any of these countries implies an easy way to obtain a golden passport.

How easy is it to obtain St. Kitts citizenship by investment?

St. Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment program offers two investment choices to those who are interested: the donation and the acquisition of real estate property.

Through the Sustainable Island State Contribution (which replaced the Sustainable Growth Fund in 2023), the minimum payment for a single applicant or a family of up to four is 250,000 USD. An extra donation of 25,000 USD is required for each additional dependant under 18 beyond a family of four. Another 50,000 USD is required for each additional dependant aged 18 or over.

Real estate acquisition is the second choice for those who choose to apply for citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis. The minimum property value is set at USD 325,000 in an approved development. A private single-family home requires at least USD 600,000; in both cases the property can be resold only after 7 years.

No matter the option, citizenship by investment in St. Kitts can be obtained after 6 months from filing the complete dossier.

Obtain citizenship in Dominica in 6 months

When it comes to citizenship by investment, Dominica offers two alternatives. These are the contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund of at least 200,000 USD and the acquisition of property in an authorized project for at least 200,000 USD.

Dominica’s program has the advantage of enabling the main applicant to move with the spouse, minor and adult children, the parents and grandparents, as well as siblings who are no older than 30.

Just like St. Kitts’ golden visa scheme, the passport for Dominica can be acquired in 3 to 6 months, thus making it one of the easiest immigration by investment pathways.

Antigua and Barbuda as a citizenship by investment destination

Here are the important factors to consider when considering citizenship by investment in Antigua and Barbuda:

• a USD 230,000 donation to the National Development Fund;
• a USD 260,000 contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund (families of 6 or more);
• real estate acquisition with a minimum value of USD 300,000;
• business acquisition with an investment of at least USD 1.5 million.

With more choices, as well as a quick processing time of the application file, it should be noted that under Antigua’s golden visa program citizenship is granted directly, and the investment must be maintained for 5 years.

The Bahamas golden visa – one of the newest programs in the world

Even if it does not come with direct citizenship, the Bahamas’ residency by investment scheme is definitely worth considering. The program comes with two options:

• real estate purchases on San Salvador Island;
• investment in major industries, such as tourism, information technology, maritime construction, and the health care industry.

The minimum amount of money forwarded to enter the program are, 1,000,000 USD since 1 January 2025 (real estate or Central Bank bonds held for at least 10 years) or 1.5 million USD according to the Investment Agency.

Citizenship by investment in Grenada

Real estate acquisition with a minimum value of 270,000 USD or a minimum donation of 235,000 USD to the National Transformation Fund are the two options for obtaining citizenship in Grenada. The program enables the main applicant to move here with the extended family against various fees, depending on the number of dependents.

What are the easiest European countries to obtain citizenship in 2026?

This is one of the many questions our advisors get all the time. Even if it is easy to name a few European countries in which it is easy to obtain citizenship, it is more important for those countries to match the migrant’s expectations.

At the moment, some of the easiest European countries for investors (residence first, citizenship later) according to reliable international surveys are:

• Greece which was rated many times as one of the easiest countries to migrate to as a foreign investor;
• Malta which is one of the most appreciated countries in Europe when it comes to investor residence programs;
• Ireland which is one of the most prolific European and EU economies and attracts a great number of investors every year;
• Portugal which is one of the most appealing residence by investment destinations in Europe.

We can also help those interested in the golden visa program or citizenship by investment in other European countries in 2026.

Obtaining citizenship by investment in Malta

Another easy country to get a golden visa in Europe is Malta. Just like Cyprus, Malta is a small country that relies on foreign investments in a large proportion. Malta's citizenship by investment was struck down by the CJEU on 29 April 2025, but Malta remains attractive thanks to its residence programs.

Under the former Malta Individual Investor Program (closed in 2020), applicants had to consider the following:

1. investments must be made in 3 different areas: real estate, government bonds and to the National Development and Social Fund;
2. 650, 000 euros must go to the Maltese National Development and Social Fund;
3. at least 350,000 euros must be invested in the purchase of a real estate property in Malta;
4. at least 16,000 euros per year must be invested in the rental of a property in Malta;
5. at least 150,000 euros is the amount which had to be invested in government-issued bonds.

If you decide to buy a golden visa in Malta, you can rely on us for full assistance during the procedure. We can also assist with applying for golden passports in other destinations.

Obtain citizenship in Europe by moving to Ireland

Among the golden visa countries that offer interesting citizenship by investment opportunities in Europe is Ireland. Many investors consider Ireland as the easiest country to get citizenship in Europe because of the many investment options they have. The minimum amount to invest under Ireland's Immigrant Investor Programme (a residence route, closed to new applications on 15 February 2023) was 500,000 euros (endowment option; 1 million euros for the investment options).

Portugal – one of the most beautiful countries to obtain European citizenship in

One of the easiest countries to get citizenship in Europe is Portugal. Those who want to buy golden visas for Portugal need to invest at least 500,000 euros in investment funds, a company creating 5 jobs or research (250,000 euros for cultural projects); real estate no longer qualifies.

Portugal is also appreciated for being one of the safest countries in Europe.

Citizenship by investment in North Macedonia

North Macedonia is on the select list of countries in which foreign citizens can obtain citizenship by investment in 2026. Investors must have a minimum amount of EUR 200,000 in exchange for a passport for this country. The options they have are:

•  a minimum of EUR 200,000 contribution to a private, government-approved project for a minimum of two years; • direct investment
of at least EUR 400,000 in a new business that creates at least 10 new jobs, except enterprises that operate in the hospitality industry (restaurants) and retail shops.

The program also allows the main applicant to move to North Macedonia with the spouse and minor children in exchange for additional fees.

Choosing a country to apply for citizenship in 2026

There are several citizenship by investment countries around the world and this trend is maintained in 2026, which is why making a decision can be hard. Greece can also be considered for a golden visa in 2026. 

When deciding on the country to move to in 2026, the financial requirements and the relocation procedure are among the most important aspects to consider.

Immigration statistics in EU countries

According to recent information, 3.5 million first-residence permits were granted to non-EU nationals by all EU member states in 2024. The number of such permits dropped by 8% from 2023. Also:

• Spain issued the most permits (562 000, or 16% of all permits issued in the EU), followed by Germany (545 000, or 16%), Poland (489 000, or 14%), Italy (346 000, or 10%), and France (342 000, or 10%);
• citizens of Morocco (188 000 or 5%), Syria (186 000 or 5%), India (192 000 or 5%), and Ukraine (295 000 or 8% of all permits) received the majority of first-residence permits.

These residency permits were issued in 2024 for the following reasons:

• 1.1 million, or 32% of all initial residence permits, were granted for work;
• 950,000, or 27%, were granted for family reasons.
• 16%, or 549,000 of them, were issued to students.

If you have decided on your easiest country to get citizenship in Europe, do not hesitate to contact us and start the formalities for buying a golden visa.