Dominica and Vanuatu have been among the best-known citizenship-by-investment programmes for years. Sierra Leone has been on the market since 2025. How do the three compare in 2026?
The three programmes at a glance
Sierra Leone – GO-FOR-GOLD
Cost: from USD 80,000 per person (Enterprise Citizenship, two applicants), USD 95,000 for single applicants (Solo Entrepreneur), USD 140,000 in Fast Track with family.
Timeline: passport usually in 90–120 days, guaranteed within 120 days with the Extra Fast Track.
Travel freedom: visa-free or visa on arrival to 65+ countries, freedom of movement in the 12 ECOWAS states; no visa-free Schengen access.
Special features: 100% digital, no police certificate, no medical examination, life partner possible as Plus One.
Dominica
Cost: from USD 200,000 (contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund or real estate).
Timeline: usually 3–6 months, including a mandatory interview.
Travel freedom: currently visa-free access to the Schengen area.
Special features: an established programme, but the EU is watching the Caribbean CBI states critically; requirements have been tightened several times recently.
Vanuatu
Cost: from USD 130,000 for single applicants.
Timeline: very fast, often 1–2 months.
Travel freedom: because of the programme, the EU has permanently moved Vanuatu to the list of countries requiring a visa – a visa is needed for Schengen travel.
What speaks for Sierra Leone?
- Price: for two people, Sierra Leone is the cheapest of the three at USD 80,000 per person.
- Predictability: with the Extra Fast Track, there is a guarantee that the passport is shipped within 120 days at the latest.
- Low EU risk: since Sierra Leone has no Schengen visa waiver anyway, the EU lacks the political lever it uses to put pressure on Caribbean programmes.
- Access to Africa: ECOWAS freedom of movement opens up an economic area with over 350 million people.
And what speaks against it?
If visa-free travel to the Schengen area is your main goal, the Sierra Leone passport does not provide it. Many of our clients therefore combine it with a European golden visa. The programme is also younger than the Caribbean programmes.
Note: the information on Dominica and Vanuatu is based on publicly available information (as of September 2026) and may change.