If your priority is the lowest possible cost for a second passport, a handful of programs stand out in 2026 — but the cheapest sticker price is not always the best value once fees and passport strength are factored in.
The lowest-cost programs
- São Tomé & Príncipe — from ~$95,000. The most affordable passport-by-investment in the world, via a donation to its national fund.
- Vanuatu — from ~$130,000. Not the cheapest, but the fastest anywhere: approval in as little as 1–2 months.
- Dominica — from ~$200,000. The lowest-cost Caribbean option, with a far stronger passport than the two above.
Cheapest isn't only the donation
Every program adds due-diligence, government, application and passport fees — typically $10,000–$20,000 for a single applicant, and more for a family. A "cheap" program with weak visa-free access can also cost you more in practice if it doesn't open the borders you actually use.
What you trade off at the low end
The very cheapest passports (São Tomé, Vanuatu) carry weaker visa-free access — roughly 100–110 destinations — and less global recognition than the Caribbean five, which reach 140–160+ countries. If mobility matters, Dominica usually offers the best balance of price and passport power.
Our take
For pure cost, São Tomé wins. For speed, Vanuatu. For the best value — a low price with a genuinely useful passport — Dominica is hard to beat. Compare the full package, not the headline number, and use a licensed agent.
