Over the past few years a "second passport" has gone from a billionaire's accessory to a working tool for entrepreneurs, freelancers on international contracts and families. This is the no-fluff version: which programmes exist in 2026, what they cost, what they actually give you — and, most importantly, which of them are available to you specifically.
What "by investment" actually means
A government grants a status — citizenship or residency — in exchange for a qualifying contribution: a non-refundable donation to a state fund, the purchase of approved real estate, or another approved asset. This is a regulated legal mechanism (investment naturalisation), not a purchase in the everyday sense: every applicant goes through due-diligence checks on the source of funds and background.
- Citizenship — a passport for life, transferable to your children: visa-free travel, the right to live and work, a Plan B that doesn't require you to move.
- Residency / permanent residency (RBI) — the right to reside, often a route to citizenship later, but not a passport itself. EU residency also means Schengen mobility.
Citizenship or residency — which to choose
Choose citizenship if the priority is a passport for good, maximum visa-free travel and a status you never have to renew. Choose EU residency if the priority is a foothold in Europe, Schengen mobility, schools and healthcare, and an asset (real estate) that can earn rental income — with a path to a passport over the longer term.
The 2026 map of programmes (short version)
Citizenship by investment
- Vanuatu — from $130,000, 2–3 months. The fastest passport in the world.
- Turkey — from $400,000 (real estate held 3 years), 9–12 months. A G20 passport and a route to the US E-2 visa.
- São Tomé & Príncipe — from $90,000, 5–6 months. A niche, discreet option.
- Caribbean — Dominica from $200,000, Antigua & Barbuda from $230,000, Grenada from $235,000, Saint Lucia from $240,000, Saint Kitts & Nevis from $250,000. Timelines 4–9 months.
Residency & permanent residency
- Greece — Golden Visa from €250,000. Schengen residency for the whole family. For RF/RB citizens — only with a second (non-sanctioned) passport.
- Cyprus — permanent residency from €300,000 in 6–8 months. An EU status that never expires.
- Turkey (tax) — a flexible residence permit as a base for changing tax residency.
The full side-by-side table of all 11 programmes — price, timeline and eligibility by citizenship — is in a separate article: All programmes 2026: from $130,000 to €300,000.
What's available to you specifically
This is the decisive point, and it depends on your current citizenship. As of publication, the Caribbean programmes (Grenada, Antigua, Saint Kitts, Dominica, Saint Lucia) do not accept applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus. For holders of an RF/RB passport the open routes are Turkey, Vanuatu, São Tomé, and Cyprus EU residency — and Greece's Golden Visa if you hold a second (non-sanctioned) passport.
We break this down honestly, programme by programme, in: What is — and isn't — available to citizens of Russia and Belarus in 2026.
What it really costs
The "from" figure is the qualifying contribution, not the total. Budget realistically for: government and due-diligence fees, legal and processing support, and additional amounts for each family member. On a family of four the real cost is meaningfully higher than the headline "from" price — we prepare a full estimate for your situation before you commit to anything.
What a second passport does NOT do (the honest part)
- It does not automatically change your tax residency — that is determined by where you actually spend your time and other tests, not by which passport you hold.
- A Russian citizen must notify the authorities of a second citizenship or foreign residency within the statutory deadline; Belarus has its own rules. Missing this carries penalties.
- Under CRS automatic exchange, foreign banks report account information — a new passport does not make your accounts invisible.
- Controlled-foreign-company (CFC) obligations at home do not disappear because you acquired another status.
- Visa-free access is not a guarantee of a US or Schengen visa in your particular case — it improves your position, it doesn't replace the decision of a consulate.