‘Golden passports’: 11 countries where you can buy citizenship – from Austria and Malta in the EU, to idyllic Caribbean island nations like Dominica, Grenada, and Antigua and Barbuda
![[Shutterstock] St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda town skyline on Redcliffe Quay at dusk.
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- From US$100,000 upwards you can earn citizenship in many sun-kissed Caribbean countries – but an Austrian EU passport will set you back nearly US$10 million
- Young European nations Montenegro and North Macedonia both reward investments, while in Middle East you can call Jordan or Türkiye home for the right price
National identity might be an intangible sense that many people feel deep and dearly – but believe it or not, there are many countries where you can essentially buy a passport. And we’re not talking shady back room deals – it’s entirely legal, above board and government approved.
Which raises the question, how much does it cost? Well, it can range from around US$100,000 from several Caribbean nations, up to an estimated US$9.5 million in Austria. These are the 11 countries with citizenship-by-investment programmes, also known as “golden passports”.
1. Austria: estimated US$9.5 million investment required
Even if you can afford the multimillion dollar price tag, Austria’s citizenship by investment programme is incredibly selective.
Under Article 10, Section 6 of the Austrian Citizenship Act, the Austrian government is able to award citizenship to foreigners who show “extraordinary merit” and contribute significantly to the state’s interests – either scientifically, culturally or economically.
Unlike in other countries, applicants must invest directly into the Austrian economy. This can include setting up a business, creating jobs, or introducing new technologies, according to Austrian law experts. The exact investment amount required for the award is not clear, but is estimated to be around US$9.5 million, Forbes reports.
Good luck finding out who has successfully met the programme’s requirements, as applicants are legally considered official government secrets and therefore are not disclosed to any other country.
2. Antigua and Barbuda: US$100,000 minimum investment required
There are four ways to qualify for Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship by investment programme.