The Cheapest Citizenships to Buy

Moving to another country and living a stress-free life is the dream of many individuals and there are plenty of governments who have understood that this is the future of the economies of their countries. This is also how citizenship by investment countries have created programs, however, in order to enter such a scheme and buy a golden visa, a specific amount of money needs to be invested based on the country the foreigner wants to move to.

There are also golden visa programs considered cheap by analysts and by some of the lucky persons who managed to move to countries they’ve always dreamed of. Below, our golden visa specialists have created a shortlist of the countries which offer the cheapest citizenships to buy.

We can help foreign citizens interested in choosing the cheapest citizenships to buy in golden visa countries.

What are the cheapest countries to buy citizenship in 2026?

As the number of countries offering citizenship programs has increased in the last few years, it was only natural for some states to offer cheaper golden passports and thus create a real competition between governments interested in attracting foreign investments.

Below, we have gathered a small list of the citizenship by investment countries that offer the cheapest citizenship to buy schemes in the world:

1. Dominica is the cheapest Caribbean country in which a foreign citizen can buy citizenship, according to all statistics;
2. Cyprus abolished its citizenship by investment in November 2020, so it no longer offers one of the cheapest citizenships to buy schemes in the world;
3. Malta's citizenship by investment was struck down by the CJEU on 29 April 2025, so Malta is no longer one of the golden visa countries in Europe and in the world in terms of citizenship by investment;
4. Montenegro closed its citizenship by investment programme on 31 December 2022, so it is no longer on the list of the cheapest citizenships to buy for those interested in moving to Europe;
5. Greece offers residence (not citizenship) by investment, from EUR 250,000 only for conversions/restorations, for those interested in buying golden passports;
6. Portugal is one of the preferred destinations for foreigners interested in cheap citizenship by investment schemes in Europe.

Even if South American countries have the cheapest citizenships to buy in the world, these are also considered unsafe to some extent because of the economic turmoil in the region.

Our specialists in golden visas can help those interested in buying cheap residence by investment in European countries such as Malta, Cyprus, and Portugal.

Malta: residence by investment instead of citizenship

Foreign citizens interested in residence by investment in Europe can choose Malta which offers multiple choices in terms of investment. For example, the applicant can rent or purchase a property based on which he or she can acquire a residence permit in Malta.

One of the conditions to join the cheapest citizenship to buy in Europe implies renting a property for an entire year with a rental value of 16,000 euros; this citizenship route was struck down by the CJEU on 29 April 2025 (the MPRP residence route requires rent of at least 14,000 euros a year).

Our specialists can help foreign citizens interested in obtaining residency by investment in Malta.

Move to Cyprus through residence by investment in 2026

Cyprus is one of the oldest countries in the world to provide for cheap options for those who want to buy citizenship. Over the years, the government has perfected its program and now, Cyprus is one of the most competitive residence-by-investment programs in Europe; its citizenship by investment program was abolished in November 2020.

A foreign citizen needs to purchase real estate worth at least 300,000 euros in Cyprus in order to obtain a golden visa. The greatest advantage of Cyprus’ program is that the purchase can be made through the applicant’s company if he or she has one.

Greece’s new Golden Visa program

One of the most appreciated residency by investment schemes in Europe is Greece’s Golden Visa, which grants non-EU citizens who purchase Greek real estate a 5-year, renewable EU resident card.
The program has moved toward higher-value investments after major modifications, with the goal of reducing speculative purchases and maintaining local housing access.
Specifically, Greece implemented a tiered investment scheme. The old minimum investment of EUR 250,000 is now only applicable in certain situations, particularly for projects involving the restoration of historic buildings or the conversion of commercial premises into residential units.
The new minimal investment amounts are EUR 800,000 for luxury zones like Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini, and EUR 400,000 for the majority of Greece.

Why buy a golden visa in Europe?

According to recent statistics, Europe is one of the most desired destinations for foreign investors all over the world. The governments here have impressive efforts to provide for suitable conditions for those seeking to obtain cheap European citizenship.

By far, at the level of 2026 Europe is one of the most attractive continents when choosing a country to buy citizenship in. Many EU states have updated their residency and citizenship by investment schemes for 2026 and now provide more advantageous conditions from a financial point of view. Malta remains one of the most appealing states from this point of view.

If you want to move to Europe and buy cheap golden visa/citizenship by investment in 2026, our agents are at your service with complete information.

Financially competitive countries include Portugal (from 250,000 euros for cultural projects; real estate no longer qualifies) and Greece (250,000 euros only for conversions/restorations, otherwise 400,000-800,000 euros). Malta's citizenship by investment (one to 3 years) was struck down by the CJEU on 29 April 2025. Please mind that every golden visa scheme has its own specifications and costs. If you get in touch with us, we can offer more information about the specifics of the selected scheme.

Caribbean nations all offer enticing taxation schemes. There are no personal income taxes, capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, or gift taxes in Antigua and Barbuda or St. Kitts and Nevis. These alluring tax breaks are quite beneficial to people and companies looking to minimize their taxes. Antigua and Barbuda is one of the most desirable areas to reside or own a second home, and it has good flight connections to both North America and Europe. There are about 150 countries where an Antigua and Barbuda passport is accepted, including the UK, Hong Kong, and the Schengen Area of Europe.

Buy citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica

One of the cheapest citizenships to buy in the world is that of Antigua and Barbuda. The beautiful island country is one of the most desirable places to reside or own a second property, as the program enables investment through real estate acquisition.

Having a passport here comes with various advantages among which free or visa-on-arrival entry in about 150 countries, including the UK, Hong Kong, and the Schengen Area. The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program requires a minimum investment of USD 230,000. Similar to Antigua and Barbuda is Dominica, in which investors can secure citizenship for a minimum investment of USD 200,000. Dominican Passport holders are allowed to enter more than 140 countries without a prior visa.

For assistance in entering the cheapest citizenships to buy programs, please contact our consultants.