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CMP-PROGRAMS

BRIDGES GLOBAL · PROGRAM COMPARISON

Compare the programs citizenshipand residence

Pick a direction, set your family composition and compare up to three programs by cost, timing, requirements, limitations and opportunities.

  • Up to three programs side by side
  • Recalculated for your family
  • The link keeps your comparison
58programs on the site
38comparison parameters
3 August 2026data verified

01 / comparison

Build your comparison

A category, your family composition and up to three programs. Costs and timings update instantly.

Category

Choose a program category

The category defines the list in step 03. Programs already picked stay in the comparison when the category changes.

Family

Mark who applies together with you — the totals will be recalculated for each program.

Main applicant Always included
Spouse
Children
Parents
1 people in the application

Programs

Up to three programs at a time. The same program cannot be chosen twice.

Program 1
Program 2
Program 3

The essentials of each program

Vanuatu

Passport
Entry threshold
$130 000 (DSP) / $150 000 (CIIP)
Indicative timing
30-60 days
Visa-free countries
~90
Main limitation
Intake suspended
About the program

Nauru

Passport
Entry threshold
$90,000 (promo) / $115,000
Indicative timing
3-4 mo.
Visa-free countries
~85-90
Main limitation
A non-refundable government-fund contribution
About the program

São Tomé & Príncipe

Passport
Entry threshold
~$120 000 (donation)
Indicative timing
4-6 mo.
Visa-free countries
~70
Main limitation
A non-refundable government-fund contribution
About the program

Detailed comparison

Data checked: 3 August 2026

Download PDF
Detailed comparison
ParameterVanuatuNauruSão Tomé & Príncipe
Status typePassportPassportPassport
Processing time30-60 daysadvantage3-4 mo.4-6 mo.
Residence requirementNoNoNo
Visit requiredNo (remote)NoNo
Dual citizenshipyesyesyes
Accepts RU / BY citizensnoIntake suspendedyesAcceptedyesAccepted
Minimum investment$130 000 (DSP) / $150 000 (CIIP)$90,000 (promo) / $115,000advantage~$120 000 (donation)
Investment optionsDSP: non-refundable / CIIP: + Cocoa Fund ($50K back in 4 years)Non-refundable to the Nauru Treasury FundA non-refundable contribution
Total for your family~$130 000~$106 000advantage~$135 000
Is the investment refundableDSP no. CIIP $50K after 4 yearsNoNo
Holding period4 years (CIIP)No dataNo data
Who can be includedSpouse, children up to 25, parents from 50Spouse, children (no limit), parents (no limit), siblingsSpouse, children up to 25
Child born after approvalyesCitizenship by descent (registration, no new investment)yesCitizenship by descent (registration, no new investment)yesCitizenship by descent (registration, no new investment)
Adding family members lateryesyesyes
Visa-free destinations~90advantage~85-90~70
Schengen areanoWithdrawn 12/2024noVisanoVisa
United KingdomnoVisanoWithdrawn 12/2025noVisa
United StatesnoVisanoVisanoVisa
ChinanoVisanoVisanoVisa
Russiayes90 daysyes90 daysyesVisa-free
AustralianoVisanoVisanoVisa
CanadanoVisanoVisanoVisa
UAEyesVisa-freeyes90 daysnoVisa
Right to live and work in the EUnonono
Passed on to childrenyesyesyes
Document issuedPassportPassportPassport
Validity10 years10 years5 years
Source of funds checkStrict due diligence: proof that the whole sum comes from a legal sourceStrict due diligence: proof that the whole sum comes from a legal sourceStrict due diligence: proof that the whole sum comes from a legal source
Keeping the statusCitizenship is permanent; the passport is renewed when it expires. The contribution is non-refundableCitizenship is permanent; the passport is renewed when it expiresCitizenship is permanent; the passport is renewed when it expires
Language requirementNoNoNo
Becoming a tax residentOn registrationWith residenceWith residence
Tax regime0% on everything. VAT 15%0% on everything. Non-CRSLow. Special investor regimes
Investment limitationsOnly a non-refundable fund contribution — no refundable optionsA non-refundable government-fund contributionA non-refundable government-fund contribution
Special conditionsOath ceremony (online or in person)No dataNo data

Switch programs with the tabs — parameters are listed below.

Status typePassport
Processing time30-60 daysadvantage
Residence requirementNo
Visit requiredNo (remote)
Dual citizenshipyes
Accepts RU / BY citizensnoIntake suspended

Minimum investment$130 000 (DSP) / $150 000 (CIIP)
Investment optionsDSP: non-refundable / CIIP: + Cocoa Fund ($50K back in 4 years)
Total for your family~$130 000
Is the investment refundableDSP no. CIIP $50K after 4 years
Holding period4 years (CIIP)

Who can be includedSpouse, children up to 25, parents from 50
Child born after approvalyesCitizenship by descent (registration, no new investment)
Adding family members lateryes

Visa-free destinations~90advantage
Schengen areanoWithdrawn 12/2024
United KingdomnoVisa
United StatesnoVisa
ChinanoVisa
Russiayes90 days
AustralianoVisa
CanadanoVisa
UAEyesVisa-free
Right to live and work in the EUno
Passed on to childrenyes

Document issuedPassport
Validity10 years
Source of funds checkStrict due diligence: proof that the whole sum comes from a legal source

Keeping the statusCitizenship is permanent; the passport is renewed when it expires. The contribution is non-refundable
Language requirementNo

Becoming a tax residentOn registration
Tax regime0% on everything. VAT 15%

Investment limitationsOnly a non-refundable fund contribution — no refundable options

Special conditionsOath ceremony (online or in person)

The investment, government fees and BRIDGES GLOBAL service fees are separate payments. The Total row covers the investment, government fees and due diligence for the selected family; service and document costs are quoted separately.

A short read on your selection

Vanuatu

Strength
The shortest processing time among the selected programs.
Main limitation
Applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus are currently not accepted.
When it may fit
When you need a second passport within a foreseeable timeframe and without relocating.
What to check before deciding
Proof of the source of funds and the document set for every family member.

Nauru

Strength
The lowest total cost among the selected programs for your family composition.
Main limitation
A non-refundable government-fund contribution
When it may fit
When you need a second passport within a foreseeable timeframe and without relocating.
What to check before deciding
Proof of the source of funds and the document set for every family member.

São Tomé & Príncipe

Strength
Flexible investment routes: a non-refundable contribution.
Main limitation
A non-refundable government-fund contribution
When it may fit
When you need a second passport within a foreseeable timeframe and without relocating.
What to check before deciding
Proof of the source of funds and the document set for every family member.
Our read

If a lower entry threshold is the priority, look at Nauru. If visa-free access and speed matter more, consider Vanuatu. The final choice depends on your family composition, citizenship, budget and the outcome of the preliminary check.

Comparison dossier

Save your comparison as a personal PDF

Get the selected programs, an indicative cost structure, family requirements, limitations and a list of questions for your consultation in one document.

Selected programs: Vanuatu, Nauru, São Tomé & Príncipe

No obligations. We reply during business hours.

02 / how to choose

Where programs genuinely differ

At first glance the programs look alike. The difference shows up in the total family cost, the timing, the residence requirements and in what the status actually lets you do next.

01

Total cost of the program

The minimum investment is only part of the sum. With government fees, due diligence and family members, a program with a $100,000 entry can end up costing more than one at $150,000.

02

What the status allows

It is not the number of visa-free countries that matters, but which ones. Almost every Caribbean program covers Schengen, while the US E-2 visa is available through only a few.

03

Processing time

Some programs grant status within months, others take a year or more. If you need a decision by a specific date, timing becomes the deciding factor.

04

Terms for the family

Spouses, children and parents are treated differently everywhere: age limits, surcharges and fees vary. For a large family the gap can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

05

Residence requirements

Most citizenship-by-investment programs require no residence. Residence permits are stricter: some only need the status maintained formally, others require a set number of days in the country each year.

06

Tax consequences

The status alone does not change your tax residency — that depends on where you actually live. Still, the country tax regime is worth reviewing before you apply, not after.

07

Refundability and holding period

A contribution to a government fund is non-refundable, while real estate or bonds can be sold — but only after the holding period. With the same entry cost the outcome differs fundamentally.

04 / real cases

We have been through this

St Kitts passport after a UK visa refusalSt Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts passport after a UK visa refusal

A visa refusal in the record — the family needed a status that does not depend on one consulate.

  • Passport granted, $250,000 investment
  • Timeline: about 6 months
View the case →
Repatriation to Bulgaria: three generations of one familyBulgaria

Repatriation to Bulgaria: three generations of one family

Prove Bulgarian descent and take three generations through the procedure together.

  • EU passports granted
  • Timeline: the procedure took several years
  • A family of three generations
View the case →
A Grenada passport for visa-free China and the children studiesGrenada

A Grenada passport for visa-free China and the children studies

Regular trips to suppliers in China and plans for the children education abroad.

  • Passport granted, $235,000 investment
  • Timeline: about 6 months
View the case →

Illustrative photograph. The client identity is not disclosed.

All client stories →

06 / why us

Why clients come to BRIDGES GLOBAL

Comparing programs is half the job. What follows is a process where a document error or the wrong jurisdiction costs money and time.

01

Upfront eligibility assessment

We look at your situation before any contract: citizenship, family, source of funds — and tell you which programs are genuinely open to you.

02

Verification of the program and its terms

We check current amounts, timelines and requirements against official country sources, not last year presentations.

03

Licensed partners

We work with licensed program agents, under a contract with legal responsibility on both sides.

04

A legal structure behind the process

Documents, translations, legalisation and filing follow a single procedure instead of being assembled ad hoc.

05

Transparent staged payments

A budget before the start, payments by stage, with the investment, government fees and service fees kept separate.

06

Support after the status is granted

We stay in touch on renewals, tax questions and the family next steps.

The decision to grant status is made by the state. No company can guarantee approval — we are responsible for preparation, checks and support.

07 / how we work

Five stages: from the first call to the status in hand

01

Initial consultation

We go through your goal, budget and family. We say plainly which programs are realistic for you.

02

Shortlist and verification

We prepare a shortlist and run a preliminary check before filing.

03

Document preparation

We collect, translate and legalise the package. The paperwork stays on our side.

04

Filing and case management

We file the application and manage it to a decision, keeping you informed at every step.

05

Status granted and ongoing support

You receive the passport or residence card. We stay available for renewals, taxes and next steps.

08 / questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about comparing programs

Three programs fit on screen at once, which keeps the table readable. Compare the first three, replace one program with the next and save the link to each comparison: you can open the links side by side or send them to us, and we will put together a combined review.

Yes. Add your spouse, children with their ages and parents — the "Total for your family" row is recalculated under the rules of each program: age thresholds, surcharges for people beyond the base package and due-diligence fees. If a relative does not qualify under the program rules, we flag it separately.

The "Total for your family" row covers the investment or contribution, government fees and the due-diligence charge for the selected family. BRIDGES GLOBAL service fees, translations, apostilles, banking and courier costs are quoted separately in the budget before the start.

Countries periodically revise investment thresholds and fee levels, and some charges depend on the applicants ages and the chosen investment route. Real-estate amounts also depend on the specific property. The figures here are indicative; a precise budget is prepared for your situation.

Yes. In the "Save your comparison as a personal PDF" block leave your email — we will send a document with the programs you selected, the cost structure, family requirements and a list of questions for your consultation.

The "Key terms" section has an "Accepts RU / BY citizens" row showing the current status for each program. For other citizenships restrictions are rarer but still need an individual check: a country may restrict by country of birth, not only by current passport. Contact us and we will check your case before any contract.

No. It is an information tool for shortlisting. A legal opinion on a specific situation is prepared separately, after documents and source of funds have been reviewed.

We check the parameters against official program sources and update the page when terms change. The date of the last check is shown above the table. If a country changes its thresholds between checks, we confirm the current figures during the consultation.

Citizenship gives a second passport: the right to enter, visa-free travel and a status that passes to children and needs no renewal. Residence and permanent residence give the right to live in the country, but must be maintained and renewed, and lead to citizenship only after several years of residence.

In most programs — a spouse and children. Many also accept parents (usually from 55-65 years old) and in some cases siblings. Age thresholds differ — see the "Who can be included" row in the Family section.

From a few weeks to one or two years depending on the program: Caribbean passports usually take several months, European residence permits start from one or two months, repatriation and the path to EU citizenship take longer. The timing for each selected program is in the "Processing time" row.

No, and no company can: the decision is made by the state. We are responsible for the preliminary check before filing, for preparing the documents and for managing the case to a decision.

Often yes, but not always and not quickly. Most European residence permits have a path to permanent residence and then to citizenship — usually after 5-10 years of residence and subject to language, tax and physical-presence conditions. See the "Path to PR or citizenship" section.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Tell us what outcome your family needs

We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.

Or message us on WhatsApp or Telegram

Anna Kovalevskaya, lead lawyer at BRIDGES GLOBAL
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer, citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice