Best CBI Programme for Families: Cost Per Passport Comparison

When a family of four or more applies for citizenship by investment, the total cost and cost per passport become the decisive metrics. Programmes that appear affordable for single applicants can become expensive at scale, while others offer family-friendly pricing that reduces the per-person cost significantly.

Family of Four: Total Cost Comparison

Programme	Contribution	Gov Fees & DD	Legal Fees	Total Est.	Cost Per Passport
St Lucia (NEF)	USD 140,000	USD 27,000	USD 20,000	~USD 187,000	~USD 47,000
Dominica (EDF)	USD 175,000	USD 23,000	USD 20,000	~USD 218,000	~USD 55,000
Antigua (NDF)	USD 230,000	USD 24,000	USD 20,000	~USD 274,000	~USD 69,000
Vanuatu (DSP)	USD 180,000	USD 10,000	USD 15,000	~USD 205,000	~USD 51,000
Grenada (NTF)	USD 305,000	USD 20,000	USD 25,000	~USD 350,000	~USD 88,000
St Kitts (SISC)	USD 350,000	USD 23,000	USD 25,000	~USD 398,000	~USD 100,000
Turkey (RE)	USD 400,000	USD 20,000	USD 25,000	~USD 445,000	~USD 111,000
Malta (MEIN)	EUR 750,000+	EUR 50,000+	EUR 50,000	~EUR 950,000+	~EUR 238,000+

Family of Six: How Costs Scale

Larger families see even greater variation. Programmes with flat family contributions (like Antigua) become relatively more attractive:

Programme	Family of 6 Total Est.	Cost Per Passport
St Lucia	~USD 237,000	~USD 40,000
Dominica	~USD 268,000	~USD 45,000
Antigua	~USD 324,000	~USD 54,000
Vanuatu	~USD 235,000	~USD 39,000
Grenada	~USD 400,000	~USD 67,000
St Kitts	~USD 498,000	~USD 83,000

Dependant Eligibility: Who Can Be Included

The definition of "family" varies by programme, and broader dependant eligibility can save significant costs by avoiding separate applications:

Most Inclusive

• St Kitts: Spouse, children under 30, parents/grandparents over 55, siblings under 30 (unmarried, no children)
• Dominica: Spouse, children under 30 (if in education), parents over 65, siblings under 25

Moderately Inclusive

• Antigua: Spouse, children under 30 (if dependent), parents over 58
• Grenada: Spouse, children under 30, parents over 55, siblings under 18
• St Lucia: Spouse, children under 25 (if dependent), parents over 55

Most Restrictive

• Turkey: Spouse and children under 18 only
• Malta: Spouse, children under 29 (if unmarried and dependent), parents over 55

For multi-generational families including adult children and elderly parents, St Kitts and Dominica offer the broadest inclusion.

Programme Selection by Family Profile

Young Family (2 Adults, 2 Children Under 10)

Best value: St Lucia or Dominica — lowest total cost, strong passports, and all family members qualify easily.

Best passport: St Kitts — highest visa-free access at 156+ countries, with accelerated processing if needed.

Best for US access: Grenada — E-2 treaty allows the entire family to relocate to the US.

Multi-Generational Family (2 Adults, 2 Adult Children, 2 Grandparents)

Best value: Antigua — the NDF contribution covers up to four family members, with additional dependants at reasonable incremental costs.

Most inclusive: St Kitts — includes adult children up to 30 and grandparents over 55 without separate applications.

Not suitable: Turkey — adult children over 18 cannot be included as dependants.

Family with University-Age Children

Best options: St Kitts (children up to 30), Dominica (children up to 30 if in education), Grenada (children up to 30).

Caution: Programmes with age 25 limits (St Lucia) may exclude older university students.

Single Parent with Children

All Caribbean programmes accommodate single-parent applications. The main applicant does not need to be married, and children can be included as dependants of the single parent.

The Real Estate Route for Families

For families who prefer asset retention over a donation, the real estate route changes the cost calculus:

Programme	Min. RE Investment	Hold Period	Gov Fees (Family of 4)	Total Est.
Dominica	USD 200,000	3 years	~USD 75,000	~USD 295,000
Antigua	USD 300,000	5 years	~USD 65,000	~USD 385,000
Grenada	USD 270,000	5 years	~USD 100,000	~USD 395,000
St Kitts	USD 400,000	7 years	~USD 90,000	~USD 510,000
Turkey	USD 400,000	3 years	~USD 20,000	~USD 445,000

The real estate route typically costs more in total (property plus government fees) than the contribution route, but the asset is retained and can be sold after the holding period.

Children's Passport Renewal and Maintenance

An often-overlooked consideration is the long-term cost of maintaining family passports:

• Caribbean passports: 10-year validity for adults, 5 years for children under 16. Renewal costs USD 200-500 per person.
• Vanuatu: 5-year validity for all holders. More frequent renewals.
• Turkey: 10-year validity. Renewal through Turkish consulates.
• Malta: 10-year validity. Renewal as an EU citizen — straightforward.

For a family of four with two young children, expect 8+ passport renewals over a 20-year period, at a total cost of USD 2,000-5,000.

Education Benefits

Some CBI nationalities provide educational advantages:

• Malta (EU citizenship): Children can attend universities across the EU at domestic (EU) tuition rates — often significantly lower than international student fees
• Caribbean CBI: Access to University of the West Indies at Caribbean student rates
• Turkey: Access to Turkish universities at domestic rates
• All EU passports: EU tuition rates across 27 member states (saving EUR 10,000-30,000/year at many universities)

For families with young children, the education savings from an EU passport (Malta) over a 4-year university degree can exceed EUR 60,000 — partially offsetting the higher programme cost.

Timing Considerations

Apply Before Children Age Out

If children are approaching the age limit (18, 25, or 30 depending on programme), apply promptly. Once a child exceeds the age threshold, they must apply as a separate main applicant at full cost.

Newborns After Approval

Children born after the main applicant's citizenship is granted can typically be registered as citizens by descent — at minimal cost (a few hundred dollars for registration and passport). This is significantly cheaper than including them in the original application as dependants.

Key Takeaways

• St Lucia and Dominica offer the lowest total family costs, with passports at approximately USD 40,000-55,000 per person for a family of four
• St Kitts has the broadest dependant eligibility (siblings up to 30, grandparents over 55), making it ideal for multi-generational families
• Grenada's E-2 treaty access is uniquely valuable for families planning US relocation
• Malta's EU passport delivers education savings that can partially offset its premium cost, particularly for families with university-age children
• The real estate route costs more in total but retains an asset — the best choice depends on whether the family values capital preservation or minimising outlay
• Children born after approval can be registered as citizens by descent at minimal cost — timing the application before children age out is critical
• Long-term passport renewal costs should be factored into the total investment, particularly for Vanuatu (5-year validity) and families with multiple children