Vanuatu Citizenship vs Other CBI Programmes 2026 Comparison Hub
Side-by-side comparisons of Vanuatu against Caribbean and other citizenship by investment programmes —
cost, processing time, Schengen access, and which programme fits which applicant profile.
Updated July 2026 · 7 comparisons
Which Programme Is Right for You?
Choose Vanuatu if…
Speed is critical (~60 days)
You don't need EU/Schengen access
Target markets are Asia-Pacific or Latin America
You want the simplest, most established process
No annual residency requirement matters to you
Choose Caribbean if…
You need EU Schengen visa-free travel
You need UK visa-free travel
You want US E-2 investor visa access (Grenada)
Lower total cost is the priority (St Lucia, Dominica)
Timeline of 4–6 months is acceptable
Programme Comparison at a Glance
Programme
Min. Cost (Single)
Processing
Schengen
UK
Residency Req.
Vanuatu DSP
$135,500
~60 days
✗
✗
None
Grenada
~$150,000
4–6 months
✓
✓
None
St Kitts & Nevis
~$250,000
4–6 months
✓
✓
None
Antigua & Barbuda
~$130,000
3–6 months
✓
✓
5 days/yr
St Lucia
~$100,000
3–6 months
✓
✓
None
Dominica
~$100,000
3–4 months
✓
✓
None
São Tomé
~$50,000
3–6 months
✗
✗
None
Costs and timelines are approximate 2026 figures — confirm current rates with a licensed lawyer before applying.
It depends on priorities. Vanuatu is faster (~60 days vs 3–6 months) but lost EU/UK visa-free access in 2022. Caribbean programmes retain Schengen and UK access but are slower. For speed: Vanuatu. For Schengen/UK: Caribbean.
Dominica and St Lucia start from approximately $100,000 all-inclusive. Vanuatu DSP starts at $135,500. St Kitts is typically higher. Grenada starts around $150,000 but adds US E-2 visa access.
Grenada, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia, and Dominica all provide Schengen visa-free access. Vanuatu lost Schengen access in 2022. São Tomé does not provide Schengen access.
Vanuatu is significantly faster. Vanuatu DSP processes in approximately 60 days; Grenada takes 4–6 months. Vanuatu is the fastest major CBI programme globally.
General information only. Costs, visa-access arrangements and programme rules change.
Verify current requirements with a licensed legal professional before applying.