Quick Summary: According to QuocTich.com data updated 09/2026, minimum investment thresholds for active programs range from approximately 100,000 USD (U.S. E-2 visa, with no statutory minimum) to 3.85 million USD (Hong Kong New CIES). The Caribbean citizenship group falls within the 200,000–250,000 USD range. However, the threshold applies only to one person's investment; the actual total cost for a family is typically significantly higher.
"What is the cheapest program?" is the first question in nearly every consultation. And the number quoted in response is usually the most misleading figure in the entire file.
The reason: "minimum threshold" is the statutory capital level for the main applicant under the lowest-cost track. It does not include government fees, due diligence fees, lawyer fees, per-dependent fees—and sometimes the cheapest track is also the one fewest people qualify for. The table below provides the base figures; we then point out where misreadings or confusion commonly occur.
Minimum Investment Threshold Table 2026 by Program Category
We include only active programs in our database. Figures are converted to USD for comparison; for programs quoted in euros, dirhams, or Hong Kong dollars, your actual payment will vary with exchange rates on the transfer date.
Citizenship via Investment
| Program | Minimum Threshold (USD) | Lowest-Cost Track |
|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu (DSP) | 130,000 | Contribution to fund |
| Dominica | 200,000 | Development fund contribution |
| Antigua & Barbuda | 230,000 | National development fund contribution |
| Grenada | 235,000 | National transformation fund contribution |
| St. Lucia | 240,000 | National economic fund contribution |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | 250,000 | Sustainable growth fund contribution |
| Turkey | 400,000 | Real estate purchase, held minimum 3 years |
Golden Visa, Permanent Residency, and Residency via Investment
| Program | Minimum Threshold (USD) | Notes on Reading the Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Permanent Residency (MPRP) | approx. 200,000 | Includes government contribution and rental; home purchase is higher |
| Guest Investor Hungary | approx. 270,000 | Equivalent to 250,000 EUR to a real estate fund |
| Golden Visa Greece | approx. 270,000 | The 250,000 EUR level applies only to property undergoing functional conversion or historic monuments; standard residential property is 400,000 or 800,000 EUR depending on region |
| Italy Investor Visa | approx. 270,000 | 250,000 EUR applies only to innovative startups; standard companies require 500,000 EUR |
| Cyprus Permanent Residency | approx. 330,000 | New property at 300,000 EUR |
| Golden Visa Portugal | approx. 530,000 | Fund investment track only; real estate track no longer available |
| UAE 10-Year Golden Visa | approx. 545,000 | 2 million dirhams, typically via real estate |
| Bulgaria Permanent Residency | approx. 550,000 | Investment track under current law |
| Hong Kong New CIES | approx. 3,850,000 | 30 million Hong Kong dollars into qualifying assets |
Investor Visas Leading to U.S. and Japan Residence
| Program | Threshold (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. E-2 Visa | approx. 100,000 and up | No statutory minimum; requires capital "substantial" relative to business. Requires citizenship of a country with a treaty with the U.S. |
| Japan Business-Management Visa | approx. 200,000 | Capital requirement as revised after 2025 tightening |
| EB-5 Rural/High Unemployment | 800,000 | Green card; long waiting times |
| EB-5 Mainstream Project | 1,050,000 | Less commonly chosen by applicants |
Data from QuocTich.com, updated 09/2026. Most entries last verified 27/07/2026; figures rounded.
To see total family costs instead of one person's amount, use the investment cost estimator: enter number of family members, children's ages, and the tool calculates each line item.
Minimum Threshold Is Not What You'll Actually Spend
This is the most common misreading of price tables. Take the Caribbean group as an example: a fund contribution of 200,000–250,000 USD is for the main applicant only. Each dependent adds a supplementary contribution fee, background due diligence fees for anyone above a certain age, case processing fees, passport fees, and service provider fees.
With real estate tracks, you must also add transfer tax, conveyance fees, and project management fees during the mandatory holding period. We have listed these items separately in our article fees not included in the quoted price.
A rough rule of thumb from case-handling experience: a family of three to five persons pursuing a Caribbean fund track typically incurs total costs several tens of thousands of USD above the minimum threshold or more. Don't trust a quote with only one line.
Why Does the Same Program Quote Different Thresholds from Different Sources?
You may encounter three different figures for the same Greece Golden Visa. No one is lying—they are discussing three different tracks. There are three main reasons:
- Multiple tracks within one program. Greece divides thresholds by region and property type; Italy divides by investment type. Sellers typically quote the lowest level even if clients don't qualify for that track.
- Currency conversion. Programs are priced in euros, dirhams, or Hong Kong dollars; converting to USD or other currencies varies by date. We analyze this risk separately in our article exchange rate risk in foreign currency investment.
- Outdated figures. Thresholds change regularly, and many websites still list figures from two or three years ago. For example, the Caribbean group unified a 200,000 USD floor in 2024; older materials still show 100,000 USD.
Protection: request a fee schedule with the publication date and name of the original source document clearly stated.
How Thresholds Have Moved Over Time
Over a longer view, the trend is very clear: thresholds only rise, rarely fall, and the lowest-cost European programs have gradually closed.
| Program | Trend |
|---|---|
| Caribbean (5 countries) | Fund minimum raised to 200,000 USD per common agreement in 2024 |
| Greece | From one 250,000 EUR level to three levels, with highest at 800,000 EUR in central zones |
| Portugal | Eliminated real estate track from 10/2023; fund investment track only |
| Japan | Business-management capital dramatically increased after 2025 tightening |
| EB-5 USA | Raised from 500,000 to 800,000 USD under 2022 reform law |
| Spain | Golden Visa entirely closed from 04/2025 |
Details on programs that have closed are on the closed programs page. This means today's price level should be read as "the price for 2026," not a permanent price.
Risks to Know Before Choosing Based on the Lowest Threshold
Cheapest often comes with narrow conditions. The 250,000 EUR track in Greece requires property undergoing functional conversion; supply is limited and procedures more complex. The startup track in Italy requires a business recognized as innovative.
Passport value does not scale with price. Vanuatu is the cheapest citizenship option but has been suspended from EU Schengen visa-free travel. The 100,000 USD difference may represent the difference between having and not having Schengen access.
Real estate tracks carry liquidity risk. Mandatory holding periods range from three to five years depending on country, and resale to the next buyer is not always easy. QuocTich.com does not advise on real estate or tax matters; consult an independent expert in the country in question.
Thresholds may rise mid-process. Some countries apply new levels to unfiled applications; already fully submitted applications typically retain the prior level. What "fully submitted" means must be checked against the source document.
Checklist When Receiving a Quote Based on a Threshold
- [ ] Which track does this threshold belong to? Does my family qualify for that track?
- [ ] Does the fee schedule state the publication date and source document?
- [ ] What are the per-dependent fees, and how are they calculated by age?
- [ ] Are due diligence fees, government fees, and passport fees included in the quote?
- [ ] If real estate: what is the mandatory holding period, purchase tax, and resale potential?
- [ ] In which installments is money transferred, and what is refunded if the application is denied?
- [ ] What exchange rate date was used to convert to USD?
- [ ] Which countries can this passport or residency card actually access that you actually need?
Next Steps
Choose two or three programs from the table that match your family's goals, not the three cheapest programs. Then compare them side by side on the comparison page to see differences in travel access, processing time, and residency conditions. Once you've narrowed to one program, then request a detailed fee schedule with the date clearly marked.
