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Choose a relocation program based on your goal, not the price

Illustrative image for Choose a relocation program based on your goal, not the price

The most common mistake among investors: starting with "which program is cheapest." Here's the right framework to choose.

The wrong question leads to the wrong decision

Many families start with: "Which program is cheapest?" — and end up with a passport that doesn't serve their actual purpose.

The right question is: "What do I need this passport or residence permit for over the next 5 years?"

Four common goal categories

1. Child's education in the United States, family relocates together

→ Grenada or Turkey → E-2 visa. This is the only viable path when your home country is not part of the E-2 treaty network.

2. Travel conveniently in Europe, do international business

→ Caribbean (Grenada, St. Kitts, Antigua): visa-free access to Schengen and UK, lifetime citizenship, 4–6 months.

3. Child's education in Europe, family has an EU foothold

→ Greece or Portugal Golden Visa. Remember this is a residence permit, not citizenship.

4. Tax optimization, relocate business headquarters

→ UAE Golden Visa: no personal income tax, direct flights from Vietnam, 3-hour time difference.

Three factors often overlooked

  • Dual citizenship: some countries don't allow it — you need proper structure if you want to keep your original citizenship
  • Dependents: the definition of "family" varies by program; some include parents and grandparents
  • Child's age: if your child is approaching 21, plan ahead — many programs cut dependent status at this milestone

How we work

We don't start with a price list. The first consultation always begins with questions about your goals, family structure, funding source, and 5-year plan — then we match 2–3 suitable options, including the drawbacks of each.

You can start with our Program Recommendation tool on the website.


This article is for reference only and does not replace personalized advice for your specific situation.

Questions & answers

What is the cheapest relocation program available now

Dominica and St. Lucia have investment programs starting from 100.000 USD per person, but only suitable if your goal is a second passport for travel. If you want to live in Europe or send your children to study in the US, these two programs won't meet your needs. Choosing the cheapest program without matching your goals is wasting money.

Can Caribbean citizenship be used to go to the US

Caribbean passports are not visa-free to the US. However, Grenada allows you to apply for an E-2 visa to live and work in the US long-term, as long as you maintain a business. This is the only viable indirect route for Vietnamese who want to bring their entire family to the US without going through EB-5.

Does Greece's Golden Visa grant citizenship

Not immediately. Greece's Golden Visa only grants a residence permit, not citizenship. After 7 years of legal residence and meeting language and integration requirements, you become eligible to apply for naturalization. Many people confuse these two concepts when they start researching.

Can you keep Vietnamese citizenship when acquiring another citizenship

Vietnamese law does not recognize dual citizenship. If you acquire another country's citizenship, legally you lose Vietnamese citizenship. However, some countries granting citizenship don't notify Vietnam, and Vietnam lacks strict verification mechanisms. This is a legal gray area that requires careful consideration with a lawyer.

How long does it take to get a second passport

Caribbean programs take 4–6 months from application submission to passport receipt. Turkey is the fastest, around 3–4 months. European Golden Visas take 6–12 months depending on the country. This timeline doesn't include application preparation and due diligence phases.

Need advice on your specific case?

A Viking Global Group adviser will review your case free of charge.

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