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Vanuatu Citizenship vs Other CBI Programmes
2026 Comparison Hub

·  Reviewed by Christina Abdel Ahad

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 (usually 2–4 months)
  • 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

ProgrammeMin. Cost (Single)ProcessingSchengenUKResidency Req.
Vanuatu DSP$135,000~2–4 months✗✗None
GrenadaFrom $200,000 (own schedule)4–6 months✓✓None
St Kitts & Nevis$200,000+ (own schedule)4–6 months✓✓None
Antigua & Barbuda~$200,0003–6 months✓✓5 days in first 5 yrs
St Lucia~$200,0003–6 months✓✓None
Dominica~$200,0003–4 months✓✓None
São ToméSet by its own schedule3–6 months✗✗None

Costs and timelines are approximate 2026 figures — confirm current rates with a licensed lawyer before applying.

All Comparisons

Most Popular
Vanuatu vs Caribbean (Overview)
Head-to-head of Vanuatu against all five Caribbean CBI programmes — cost, Schengen access, speed, and who should choose what.
✗ No Schengen From $135,000 ~2–4 months
US E-2 Access
Vanuatu vs Grenada
Grenada offers Schengen access and US E-2 treaty investor visa eligibility. Vanuatu is faster and simpler. Full breakdown.
✓ Schengen Grenada from ~$235,000 4–6 months
Oldest Programme
Vanuatu vs St Kitts & Nevis
St Kitts is the oldest CBI programme globally with strong Schengen access. How does it compare to Vanuatu's speed advantage?
✓ Schengen St Kitts from ~$250,000 4–6 months
Vanuatu vs Antigua & Barbuda
Antigua requires 5 days of presence within the first 5 years and offers Schengen access. Vanuatu requires no residency at all.
✓ Schengen Antigua from ~$200,000 3–6 months
Most Affordable Caribbean
Vanuatu vs St Lucia
St Lucia is often the most affordable Caribbean CBI option. Compare total cost, processing time, and visa-access difference.
✓ Schengen St Lucia from ~$200,000 3–6 months
Vanuatu vs Dominica
Dominica offers one of the lowest-cost CBI programmes globally with Schengen access. Vanuatu wins on processing speed.
✓ Schengen Dominica from ~$200,000 3–4 months
Vanuatu vs São Tomé
São Tomé offers an emerging African CBI alternative. How does it compare to Vanuatu in terms of legitimacy, cost, and passport strength?
✗ No Schengen São Tomé from ~$50,000 3–6 months
Non-EU Alternative
Vanuatu vs Turkey
Turkey's CBI programme offers citizenship via $400,000 real estate. Compare passport strength, processing speed, and visa access against Vanuatu DSP.
✗ No Schengen Turkey from ~$400,000 3–6 months
Middle East CBI
Vanuatu vs Jordan
Jordan's citizenship programme requires investment from $750,000. Compare real costs, passport power, and processing against Vanuatu's faster DSP route.
✗ No Schengen Jordan from ~$750,000 3–6 months

Not Sure Which Programme Fits You?

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Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on priorities. Vanuatu is usually faster (2–4 months vs 3–6 months) but lost EU visa-free access (fully from February 2023) and UK visa-free access (July 2023). Caribbean programmes retain Schengen access (and, except Dominica, UK access) but are slower. For speed: Vanuatu. For Schengen/UK: Caribbean.
Since 1 July 2024 the OECS Caribbean programmes start from US$200,000 (St Kitts from US$250,000). Vanuatu DSP starts at $135,000 with due diligence. Grenada adds US E-2 visa access.
Grenada, St Kitts, Antigua, St Lucia, and Dominica all provide Schengen visa-free access. Vanuatu lost Schengen visa-free access fully from 4 February 2023 (partially from 4 May 2022). São Tomé does not provide Schengen access.
Vanuatu is usually faster. Vanuatu DSP usually processes in 2–4 months; Grenada takes 4–6 months. Vanuatu is one of the faster major CBI programmes.
General information only. Costs, visa-access arrangements and programme rules change. Verify current requirements with a licensed legal professional before applying.
Vanuatu DSP from
$130,000 + $5,000 due diligence
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