World’s 7 Cheapest Golden Visas ($150k or Less)

Worldly individuals who wish to establish permanent residency and even citizenship can do so without being ultra-wealthy. These are the world’s cheapest golden visas that you can invest in for $150,000 or less to obtain residency or citizenship abroad. 

There is a common misconception that you must be a well-off millionaire to qualify for a golden visa. While some golden visas require a million-dollar investment, such as in Austria and New Zealand, the cheapest golden visas require an investment of $150,000 or less. 

If you’re looking for a great deal and would like to invest in a country in exchange for permanent residency or citizenship, then these cheap golden visas may be the path for you. 

What is a Golden Visa?

A golden visa is for wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs, and retirees who would like to make an investment in exchange for permanent residency or citizenship in another country. 

There are currently 19 countries that offer golden visa opportunities. However, just a handful of them are citizenship by investment programs. 

When investing in a golden visa, you will have right to reside in the country, conduct specific business activities, and even have the opportunity to earn returns on your investment. 

What Investments Qualify for a Golden Visa?

To qualify for a golden visa, even the cheapest golden visa, you must make a qualifying investment. Each golden visa country has its own regulations and requirements regarding the type of investment and the amount. 

Below, we’ll briefly review some of the most popular qualifying investments for golden visas. 

Real Estate

Many golden visas allow applicants to invest in local real estate. Sometimes, the property must be pre-approved by the government to qualify or be located in a specific area of the country. 

You may reside in the property you purchase or rent it to tourists or locals. This all depends on the golden visa’s regulations. 

In many cases, investing in real estate offers a return on your investment when you sell the property years later.

Government Funds

Some golden visas allow a donation to an established government fund as a qualifying investment. 

These funds often benefit the local communities or infrastructure of the country. This investment usually is non-refundable and considered a donation, so there are no financial returns available. 

Business Development

For entrepreneurs who wish to diversify their lifestyle abroad, some golden visas allow business development investments in exchange for residency or citizenship. 

The goal is to create job opportunities for local residents and to benefit the local economy. 

Business development can have exponential ROI for the investor. It’s a great opportunity to build wealth and residency status. 

Capital Transfer

Another popular qualifying investment to obtain a golden visa is to make a large capital transfer into a locally approved bank account. 

There may be a time period where you must keep your deposit in the bank, untouched, in order to get your golden visa. However, you may earn interest on this sum. 

Cheapest Golden Visas for $150k Investment or Less

Below is a comprehensive list of the cheapest golden visas available worldwide, requiring an investment of $150,000. Some will even grant citizenship immediately. 

Anguilla

Minimum Investment: $150,000

You can obtain permanent residency with the Anguilla golden visa program when you make a contribution of $150,000 to the Capital Development Fund. For each family member you wish to include, there is a $50,000 increase. 

To apply for this golden visa, you must file your application with an authorized agent. 

If you have a larger budget to spend, you may invest in real estate for a minimum investment of $750,000. Each additional dependent increases this price by $100,000. 

It’s also important to note that the due diligence and application fees can add an extra $10,000 for individual applicants. 

However, this is all a small price to pay to have permanent residency on a gorgeous Caribbean island with favorable tax rates and a path to citizenship.

Antigua and Barbuda

Minimum Investment: $100,000

For just a $100,000 contribution to the National Development Fund, you can obtain instant citizenship with Antigua and Barbuda’s golden visa in just three to four months. 

Additionally, you can donate $150,000 to the University of West Indies Fund to qualify for the golden visa as well. 

This golden visa program also requires applicants to work with an authorized agent to submit visa applications and investments. However, you will walk away with a new passport in hand for you and your family members, including parents over the age of 58. 

Grenada

Minimum Investment: $150,000

Individual applicants can contribute a donation of $150,000 to the National Development Fund in exchange for citizenship with the Grenada golden visa program.

It’s important to note that this amount increases with each dependent. For example, married couples must donate $200,000 to qualify. 

Additionally, you may purchase government-approved real estate for at least $220,000. Qualifying real estate includes hotels, resorts, and spas. 

The entire process takes three to four months and you will walk away with a second citizenship. You must work with an authorized agent to submit your visa application and make your investment. 

Philippines

Minimum Investment: $75,000

Those who want to obtain permanent residency in the Philippines through the Philippines Investor Visa may make an investment of just $75,000 USD to a government-approved fund.

This may be the cheapest golden visa in the world right now!

One of the major benefits of this golden visa is that a spouse and dependents under the age of 21 are allowed to be included in the application – and the investment requirement does not increase.

The processing time takes just one week, and a visit to the Philippines is required to become a permanent resident immediately. And after 10 years of living in the Philippines, you may apply for citizenship and receive your investment back.

St. Kitts and Nevis

Minimum Investment: $150,000

To obtain citizenship with the St. Kitts and Nevis golden visa, you can make a minimum investment of $150,000 in the Sustainable Growth Fund as an individual applicant. 

This donation is non-refundable, but it goes to benefit the country’s infrastructure and overall development. Essentially, it is a price tag to get a second citizenship in just a few months. 

Additional investment options are government-approved real estate starting at $200,000, private real estate starting at $400,000, and donation to an Approved Public Benefit starting at $175,000. 

Applicants must work with a registered agent to submit their golden visa application and make their investment.  

With favorable tax rates and direct citizenship with no language or civics exam requirement, this is one of the easiest and cheapest golden visas available. 

St. Lucia

Minimum Investment: $100,000

With a minimum investment of just $100,000 to the National Economic Fund, you could have a second passport instantly with the St. Lucia golden visa program.

The no minimum stay requirement essentially means you can become a citizen of St. Lucia and never step foot on the island, but we aren’t sure why you wouldn’t want to! With a lush tropical environment and favorable tax rates, you could live in paradise. 

Additional investment options include purchasing real estate starting at $200,000, investing in a national action bond starting at $300,000, or an enterprise investment starting at $1 million. 

The entire process takes just three to four months to complete once you submit your application through an authorized agent.

Vanuatu

Minimum Investment: $130,000

In just six weeks, you could become a citizen of Vanuatu with a minimum investment of just $130,000 with the Vanuatu golden visa program. 

A series of 80 islands in the South Pacific, you could get direct citizenship when you make the qualifying investment to the country’s national fund. This fund goes towards benefitting the locals and infrastructure. 

Applicants may include family members on their applications, but the minimum investment increases per dependent. 

Additionally, there is no minimum stay requirement, so you do not have to be physically present on the island to retain citizenship. 

Vanuatu offers one of the cheapest golden visas worldwide in exchange for direct citizenship. 

Benefits of Applying for the Cheapest Golden Visas

While $150,000 isn’t simply pocket change, it is a small price to pay for the worldly benefits that come along with obtaining a golden visa. Many wealthy individuals, digital nomads, and retirees choose this route to expand their lifestyles and assets. 

Second Citizenship

It never hurts to have a second passport handy in your back pocket. Whether you originate from a country with a strong passport, such as in the EU, Canada, UK, or the US, or were born with a weaker passport, citizenship by investment could be a great option to expand your livelihood. 

Favorable Tax Rates

As someone with a golden visa, you have the right to reside abroad and take advantage of favorable tax rates in some of the countries. In fact, most of the countries that offer the cheapest golden visas have some of the best tax rates in the world. 

If you’re looking to legally save thousands of dollars per year in taxes, these golden visas could be the answer. 

Investment Opportunities

When you cross borders into a new country, you may find that there are great investment opportunities available that you can’t find on your own home soil. 

Whether you want to invest in real estate, bonds, or business development, sometimes moving to another country to do so is more lucrative than investing at home. Plus, you’ll get residency or even a second passport in return for your investment activities.