Last year, in 2024, Caribbean countries tightened the terms of their citizenship by investment programs, including raising the minimum investment to USD $200,000. For some HNWI’s, this will be too much of an investment to make a decision. Thus, a niche in the market has opened up for new entrants willing to offer investors citizenship under different terms. And so, in 2025, several countries in Africa and one in Oceania launched their own alternative passport programs. At the same time, Europe wants to tighten naturalization rules, and the United States is adjusting its new investment residency program.
— AFRICA —
São Tomé and Príncipe
The São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment program has launched. The small African nation, located near the equator on an archipelago in the Gulf of Guinea, has launched its own program to replenish the country’s budget. Moreover, with a full understanding of the market. Investors are clearly interested in the “budget” option of obtaining an alternative passport after Caribbean passports nearly doubled in price and became more complicated.
So, a significant advantage is the investment requirement of US$90,000 (a non-refundable contribution to a government fund) for a single applicant and US$95,000 for 2-4 people. Meanwhile, Vanuatu’s program, which meets all the criteria, requires an investment of US$130,000 per person. It’s important to note that São Tomé does not have visa-free travel to EU countries. With this passport, as with Vanuatu, you can travel visa-free only to Hong Kong and Singapore.
Botswana
The Botswana government announced the launch of a new Citizenship by Investment program. This move is part of a strategy to diversify the country’s economy and reduce its dependence on the diamond industry. The initiative aims to attract capital to key sectors – tourism, renewable energy, housing, financial services and mining. The program is scheduled to launch in early 2026. The minimum contribution is expected to be approximately $75,000-$90,000, but the exact amounts and investment mechanisms have not yet been determined. A limited number of applications is being considered, making the program exclusive.
However, many questions remain. It’s unclear what form the investments should take — directly into a government fund, through real estate, infrastructure projects, or other instruments. There are also no official clarifications yet regarding possible residency requirements, additional fees, and conditions for applicants’ families.
— OCEANIA —
Nauru
The Republic of Nauru approved the admission of its first new citizens under its Citizenship by Investment program in September 2025. A family from Germany became the first to accept the program.
The family recently sold their well-known, reputable German company and is currently residing in Dubai, seeking additional citizenship options amid global political uncertainty. The program’s CEO, Edward Clark, confirmed that the entire process from application to citizenship took less than four months.
According to him, another 20 applications are already under consideration, and another 20 applications will be submitted to the citizenship department in the near future.
— EUROPE —
European passport
Obtaining a European passport is becoming increasingly difficult. Following Germany and Portugal, the Netherlands and Poland are now discussing initiatives to tighten the requirements for citizenship.
In the Netherlands, the cabinet proposed doubling the residency requirement for naturalization from five to ten years. In Poland, President Nawrocki proposed a similar initiative. According to his proposal, foreigners would have to reside in the country for at least ten years to obtain citizenship, up from the current three years. However, this rule will only apply to those who already hold permanent residence or a long-term EU residence permit. For other foreigners, the minimum period is already 10 years.
— US —
Trump Card
From the Trump Gold Card to the Platinum Card. The US President has expanded his line of investor cards. While only one card was initially announced in February 2025 — one with a mandatory $5 million investment — they are now offering a $1 million card for individuals and a $2 million card for corporate employees. A company can send an employee to the US for permanent residence, and then even replace them with another employee without any new investment. The “Platinum Card” is worth $5 million and differs from the other two in that it allows you to stay in the US for up to 270 days without paying taxes on income outside the US. But for now, this is just a press release, which has no legal basis.
