Want a second passport so that you can move abroad or just have a Plan B? These 11 countries offer the fastest routes to citizenship in 2026.
Searching for the easiest countries to get citizenship so that you can move abroad or simply have a Plan B? You’re not alone.
According to a recent Harris poll, nearly half of Americans want to get a second passport or already have one, and roughly four in 10 say they have considered moving abroad or plan to move abroad. Meanwhile, the Defense Department estimates that 4.4 million Americans were living abroad as of 2022—up 42% since 2010.
A new report from International Living breaks down the countries offering the fastest and most straightforward paths to citizenship in 2026.
“A second passport can provide people a degree of flexibility that’s hard to come by any other way,” Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, told me in an interview. “It opens the door for investment, travel and longer stays abroad, just giving you options.”
Second Passports: What You Need To Know
Interest in second passports isn’t new. Last year, I covered International Living’s report on the easiest countries to obtain citizenship. This included citizenship by ancestry and golden visas, which aren’t cheap (especially in many European countries, like Greece).
In 2026, attention is increasingly turning to countries that offer a different route: citizenship by investment. “There’s a cheaper and (often) faster alternative: buying a second citizenship and the passport that goes with it,” Ted Baumann, global diversification expert at International Living, writes in the report. “This is known as citizenship by investment, or CBI. The number of people asking me about it has tripled or quadrupled since the beginning of this year.”
But buying a passport isn’t as simple as it sounds. You can’t legally purchase a travel document: You must first become a citizen. And while most countries do not allow citizenship by investment, a small but growing group does.
Citizenship By Investment: A Changing Industry
Citizenship by investment has undergone significant transformation over the past decade.
Following scandals and diplomatic pressure, Cyprus shut down its program in 2020, and Malta ended its offering after losing a legal battle with the European Union. The EU has also signaled it may penalize countries that sell citizenship with visa-free Schengen access.
As a result, programs today feature far stricter due diligence. “The CBI market is undergoing a global sea change. Prices are rising. Due diligence is being taken seriously. Fraud and deception are being rooted out. Dodgy ‘citizenship agencies’ are being forced out of business,” says Baumann.
The upside? Greater legitimacy. As International Living notes in its report, rising standards may reduce the reputational risk historically associated with CBI programs. “As CBI becomes more legitimate, the taint associated with it is reduced. If the desire for second citizenship is genuine, and the applicant commits to ‘genuine connections’ to the country, other countries will probably tolerate CBI,” says Baumann.
But investors should still proceed carefully and know the ramifications. Citizenship by investment can provide visa-free travel, financial diversification and optional residency rights. But it does not exempt Americans from U.S. tax obligations, and most CBI countries are not considered major relocation destinations.
For many, the value lies primarily in having options—not moving. And in a world that feels increasingly uncertain, having options has become a valuable asset.
Here are 11 countries offering formal citizenship-by-investment programs in 2026 that International Living highlighted in its report. I’ve also included some top-line details for each country—though anyone exploring an option like this should consult an expert, since rules can (and do) change.
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is the epicenter of citizenship-by-investment programs, accounting for the majority of active offerings worldwide.
St. Kitts & Nevis
In 1984, St. Kitts & Nevis launched a citizenship-by-investment program that pioneered the modern CBI model. And it remains a benchmark in the industry. Today, applicants can qualify through a $250,000 government donation or a $325,000 investment in approved real estate, which must be held for seven years. There is no residency requirement.
Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua & Barbuda offers one of the region’s more flexible options, requiring either a $230,000 donation or $300,000 in approved real estate. Unlike most competitors, the program includes a minimal physical presence requirement: five days in the country within the first five years.
Dominica
Dominica is one of the most affordable programs, with a minimum $200,000 contribution or approved real estate investment. There is no residency requirement. However, like several Caribbean nations, its visa-free agreements have faced scrutiny in recent years.
Grenada
Grenada stands out for a unique reason: Its citizens may apply for the U.S. E-2 investor visa, a feature not offered by most other Caribbean programs. Qualification begins at a $235,000 donation or approved real estate investment.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia offers citizenship starting at $240,000 through donation or $300,000 in approved real estate, with no residency requirement.
Europe
Europe’s role in the CBI market has changed dramatically in recent years. The European Union has signaled increasing intolerance for member states selling citizenship tied to Schengen access. That shift has pushed investors to look beyond the European Union for faster and more flexible options.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia offers citizenship through approved investments starting at approximately €200,000, with a three-year holding period. Though located in Europe, it is not part of the European Union.
Turkey
Turkey—which straddles Europe and Asia—allows applicants to qualify through a $400,000 real estate purchase or a $500,000 bank deposit or investment. Assets must typically be held for three years. Turkey is not a member of the European Union, so citizenship does not confer EU residency rights.
Middle East & Africa
Egypt
Egypt offers one of the lowest cost entry points outside the Caribbean, beginning at a $100,000 donation or a $500,000 bank deposit held for three years. It is a newer entrant to the CBI market.
Jordan
Jordan’s program targets ultra-high-net-worth individuals, requiring approximately $1.4 million in qualifying investments.
Asia & Pacific
Cambodia
Cambodia offers citizenship beginning at roughly $245,000 through donation or approved investment.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu is often cited as one of the fastest and easiest countries to get citizenship, with qualification beginning at approximately $130,000. However, the country has faced diplomatic pressure that has affected visa-free travel agreements.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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