Is Citizenship by Investment Only for Millionaires? The Truth About Who Can Afford a Second Passport

Is Citizenship by Investment Only for Millionaires? A second passport is often portrayed as something reserved for the ultra-wealthy: private jets, family offices and multimillion-dollar portfolios. That picture is incomplete. In 2026, some established citizenship by investment (CBI) routes have published entry contributions well below US$250,000, while a newer program starts at US$90,000 before fees.

The short answer: no, you do not need to be a millionaire to consider citizenship by investment. You do need sufficient available capital, a lawful and documentable source of funds, a realistic understanding of the full cost and a clear reason for pursuing citizenship. Being able to meet a program’s minimum contribution is not the same as being able to afford the entire decision.

For a salaried professional, an entrepreneur or a family planning ahead, that distinction matters more than an impressive-looking passport photograph.

Key Takeaways: Is Citizenship by Investment Only for Millionaires?

• CBI is not exclusive to millionaires. Some published qualifying contributions begin at US$90,000–130,000, before mandatory and case-specific charges.
• The advertised minimum is not an all-in quote. Due diligence, processing, document, passport and professional fees can materially increase the budget.
• A strong application depends on eligibility, background checks and traceable wealth or earnings, not simply the ability to transfer money.
• Family size can change the economics. Some routes use household contribution bands; others charge separately for spouses and dependants.
• A second passport can add nationality and contingency options, but it does not automatically grant residence in the EU or US, tax advantages or visa-free entry everywhere.
• The right affordability test is whether the cost fits comfortably within your wider financial plan—not whether your net worth passes US$1 million.

How Much Does Citizenship by Investment Really Cost in 2026?

Government-published entry amounts offer a useful starting point. They do not tell you the full price of citizenship, and programs differ in their investment structure, family pricing, eligibility and ongoing conditions.

Important: These are indicative published qualifying amounts, not personalised quotations or guaranteed total costs. Programs, fees and conditions can change. Some applicants may face enhanced due diligence or nationality-specific restrictions. The comparison is not a recommendation that every route suits every investor.

For the underlying program requirements, review the CITIVERSE pages for São Tomé & Príncipe, Vanuatu, Grenada and our broader Citizenship by Investment program overview.

The headline number is only one part of the budget

A complete financial assessment should separate three amounts:

1. Qualifying contribution or investment. A government fund contribution is usually non-refundable. A real estate route may involve an asset, holding restrictions, transactional costs and investment risk; it is not the same as putting money in a savings account.
2. Mandatory application costs. These may include government processing, background checks, interviews, biometrics, certificates, identity documents and passports. The exact fee structure depends on the program and the people included.
3. Professional and case-specific expenses. Application coordination, legal advice where necessary, translations, notarisation, apostilles, banking charges and travel or in-person formalities can increase the final outlay.

For example, Vanuatu’s published single-applicant schedule includes a US$130,000 qualifying amount and US$5,000 FIU diligence fee—a US$135,000 subtotal before any additional applicable expenses. That does not make US$135,000 a universal all-in price.

At the family end of the market, Antigua & Barbuda’s published NDF contribution is US$230,000 for an individual or a family of up to four, but its official schedule also lists US$20,000 processing fees for a family of up to four, plus separate due diligence and passport-related fees. A family should not budget US$230,000 as if that were the final invoice.

Who Can Realistically Afford a Second Passport? Three Everyday Investor Profiles

The following scenarios are illustrative profiles, not financial recommendations or eligibility assessments. They demonstrate that the relevant question is available capital and priorities, not a “millionaire” label.

1. The established professional with accumulated savings

Consider a senior professional who has worked internationally for 15–20 years, owns a home and has built substantial savings through salary, bonuses or investments. They may not have a seven-figure net worth. Yet they could potentially consider an entry-level CBI contribution if the funds are genuinely surplus to their housing needs, emergency reserve and retirement plan.

For this applicant, the practical issues are usually documenting the source of funds, understanding whether the passport would materially improve mobility and deciding whether a non-refundable contribution is justified by the expected benefit. Employment contracts, payslips, tax returns and banking history can help establish the financial trail, subject to the program’s requirements.

A professional who would need to drain nearly all accessible savings to afford the application may be financially eligible on paper but poorly positioned to proceed.

2. The entrepreneur seeking a long-term contingency

A business owner may have an established company, retained profits, proceeds from a partial exit or lawful dividends—but may not identify as wealthy. Their interest in citizenship can be practical: reducing dependence on a single nationality, planning international business travel or preparing options for family members.

The difficulty is that company turnover is not personal disposable wealth. Funds used for a CBI application must be lawfully available to the applicant and supported by an understandable financial history. A business owner should distinguish between company assets, distributable profits and personal savings.

Some entrepreneurs will find that a second nationality serves a specific purpose. Others may be better served first by a residence permit, business expansion or a more targeted immigration strategy. The right answer starts with the use case, not the headline investment amount.

3. The family building a Plan B before it is needed

For a family with two children, CBI may be part of a long-term plan involving international mobility, education choices and an alternative place of belonging. Family contribution bands in certain programs can make the per-person qualifying amount less intimidating than the price of four separate applications.

But the calculations still need care. Children’s ages, dependency, citizenship rules, government fees and later passport renewals can all affect the outcome. An adult child may not qualify under the same terms as a minor. Families should also ask what citizenship really changes for schooling or relocation: a second passport does not automatically secure admission, subsidised tuition or residence rights in unrelated countries.

Our separate guide on second citizenship for families with children explores those questions in more detail.

The Four-Part Test: Can You Afford Citizenship by Investment?

Before comparing programs, use these four questions to pressure-test your decision.

1. Can you pay the full amount without borrowing against essential needs?

Build the budget around the expected all-in outlay, with room for variable costs. Keep emergency savings, debt commitments, children’s needs and near-term living expenses outside the CBI budget. A non-refundable contribution should be treated as money you are prepared to spend, not recover.

2. Can you clearly document where the money came from?

Legal earnings, dividends, asset disposals, inheritance or other legitimate funds can be viable sources when properly documented. CBI processes generally involve checks on identity, background, source of funds and, in many cases, wider source of wealth. Large unexplained transfers, inconsistent records and unsupported third-party payments can create serious obstacles.

3. Will the new citizenship solve a problem you actually have?

Perhaps your existing passport already meets your travel needs, while your real goal is the right to live and work in another country. That is a residence or immigration question, not necessarily a second-citizenship question. Alternatively, your priority may be nationality diversification and long-term family continuity, where citizenship could be relevant.

Citizenship and residency are different planning tools. See Second Passport or Second Residency for a Plan B? for a practical comparison.

4. Are you comfortable with the legal and policy conditions?

Countries can revise their immigration laws, screening procedures, residence requirements and passport mobility arrangements. Government approval is never automatic, and the applicant’s existing nationality may affect eligibility or dual-citizenship treatment. You need a plan that remains reasonable even if a timeline changes or an application is delayed.