Non-refundablecontribution
Donation
Money you give to a state fund with no return. The main and cheapest option in Caribbean programs: 100-250K USD. The alternative is real estate (more expensive, but can be sold after 3-7 years).
- What it is
- A non-refundable payment into a state fund in exchange for citizenship
- Where it applies
- Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes
- Cost
- From $200,000 per applicant or family (Caribbean)
- Refund
- No: it is a payment to the state, not an investment
- Alternative
- Real estate — more expensive, but the asset can be sold
In plain words
A non-refundable contribution is money you pay into a country’s state fund irrevocably in exchange for citizenship. It will not come back: it is a payment to the state, not an investment that is later sold or withdrawn. In the Caribbean programmes it is the main and most affordable option for obtaining a passport.
In money terms, the contribution usually starts from about $200,000 per applicant or family, depending on the country and the composition. That is cheaper than the alternative — buying real estate, where the threshold is higher. The contribution is also simpler: there is no asset to manage, no waiting and no buyer to find later. You pay, and after approval you receive your passport.
The alternative to a contribution is an investment in real estate: it costs more at entry, but the asset remains yours and, as a rule, can be sold after the set holding period (usually 3-7 years). Choosing between a contribution and real estate is choosing between a smaller sum with no return and a larger sum with a chance to recover part of the money later.
Where a non-refundable contribution applies
Contribution versus real estate
- A smaller sum
- Not refunded
- Simpler and faster
- A higher threshold
- The asset remains yours
- Sale after 3-7 years
- Both lead to a passport
- Plus government fees and the check
- Citizenship after approval
- Principal applicant
- Family
- The contribution is calculated for the composition
How it works
- 01Choosing the country and the sum
- 02Due diligence
- 03Non-refundable fund contribution
- 04Application approval
- 05Passport
What you need to know
- A non-refundable contribution cannot be recovered — it is a payment to the state
- In the Caribbean the contribution usually starts from $200,000
- A contribution is cheaper and simpler than real estate
- Real estate is more expensive, but the asset can be sold after 3-7 years
- On top of the contribution come government fees and a non-refundable check fee
Fund contributions by country
- Dominicafrom $200,000A non-refundable contribution to a state fund. The most affordable entry in the Caribbean.
- Antigua and Barbudafrom $230,000A contribution to the national fund, covering a family of up to 4.
- Grenadafrom $235,000A contribution to the NTF fund, plus access to the US E-2 visa.
- Saint Luciafrom $240,000A non-refundable contribution to the national fund.
- Saint Kitts and Nevisfrom $250,000A contribution to the SISC fund. The oldest CBI programme.
The figure shown is the minimum non-refundable contribution. On top come government fees, a non-refundable check fee (due diligence) for each adult and legal support. The alternative is real estate: more expensive at entry, but the property can be sold after the holding period. We calculate the exact budget for your family composition.
Common mistakes
- Expecting the contribution to come back one day — it is non-refundable
- Comparing only the contribution and forgetting the government fees and the check
- Choosing the contribution when, on your budget, real estate with a resale works out better
- Calculating the sum for the principal applicant only, not the family
- Not budgeting for the non-refundable due diligence fee
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We compare both routes in figures for your family composition: what the non-refundable contribution comes to and what real estate comes to, taking into account holding periods and the sale. You see the full cost of each option and choose what matters more — the minimum sum now or a chance to recover part of it later.
Frequently asked questions
01 /Is the contribution really not refunded?
Yes, a non-refundable contribution cannot be recovered — it is a payment to the state for citizenship. If you want to keep an asset, the real estate option is chosen: it is more expensive, but it can usually be sold after 3-7 years of ownership.
02 /Which is cheaper — a contribution or real estate?
As a rule, the non-refundable contribution: it starts from about $200,000, whereas the real estate threshold is higher. But real estate leaves an asset in your ownership, so the final difference is calculated taking the future sale into account.
03 /Is the contribution calculated per person or per family?
It depends on the programme: in some, the base sum covers a family of up to a certain number of people; in others, part is charged for each person. That is why the budget is always calculated for the specific composition.
04 /What else is paid on top of the contribution?
Government fees, a non-refundable check fee (due diligence) for each adult and legal support. These sums are budgeted separately.
05 /Will the contribution be refunded if the application is refused?
The contribution itself is usually paid after preliminary approval, but the non-refundable check fee is not returned even on refusal. That is why it matters to close weak points before filing.
06 /Which contribution is the lowest?
In the Caribbean, Dominica — from $200,000. The difference between countries today lies more in visa-free access and the programme’s reputation than in the size of the contribution.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Contribution or real estate — which is better value?
We will compare both routes in figures for your family composition and show the full cost of each — with no hidden lines.