1. “Cheapest” has at least three meanings
A programme can have the lowest headline contribution, the lowest all-in government cost or the lowest economic cost after recoverable capital is returned. Those are different comparisons. A US$200,000 donation may cost less cash today than a US$400,000 property, while the property route can leave an asset that may later be sold.
2. Current low-end contribution benchmarks
As of September 2026, Dominica starts at US$200,000 for a single-applicant EDF contribution; Antigua and Barbuda's NDF route starts at US$230,000; Grenada's NTF is US$235,000 for a single applicant or family of up to four; Saint Lucia's NEF is US$240,000 for the applicant and up to three dependants; and St Kitts and Nevis starts at US$250,000 through SISC.
3. Vanuatu and Nauru use different pricing models
Vanuatu's government schedule lists US$130,000 for a single applicant under its principal contribution structure, before diligence and other charges. Nauru's statutory base has been US$105,000 for one applicant, and the programme announced a temporary 2026 discount. Those lower figures should be compared with travel-access changes, programme age and total fees rather than viewed in isolation.
4. Family pricing changes the order
Grenada's US$235,000 NTF minimum covers up to four people, Saint Lucia's US$240,000 NEF covers the main applicant plus up to three dependants, and St Kitts and Nevis applies US$250,000 to a family of up to four. Dominica's EDF rises to US$250,000 for the main applicant plus up to three dependants, while Antigua adds processing charges to its US$230,000 NDF contribution.
5. Real estate is not directly comparable to a donation
A property purchase or deposit is not the same economic event as a non-refundable contribution. Türkiye's best-known route requires at least US$400,000 of qualifying property held for three years; the applicant owns an asset but also takes market, liquidity and transaction risk. Similar logic applies to approved Caribbean real estate.
6. Temporary discounts need special caution
Promotional or time-limited pricing can expire, be extended or carry specific filing deadlines. Nauru's 2026 initiative is a good example. A comparison article should state the normal statutory amount and the temporary offer separately so a reader does not mistake an expiring price for the permanent programme floor.
7. Total fees can erase a small headline difference
When two programmes differ by US$10,000 or US$20,000 in contribution, due-diligence, processing and dependant charges can easily outweigh the headline gap. The required family composition, interview costs and property government fees matter more than a league table based on one number.
8. Compare dated totals, not slogans
The useful question is 'What is the all-in non-recoverable cost for my family under today's rules?' Build that figure from official sources, then separately account for capital that remains invested. Because CBI pricing changes frequently, attach a verification date to any 'cheapest' comparison and recheck it before filing.
9. Use a dated comparison worksheet
Make the cost table applicant-specific. For each programme, total the non-refundable contribution, dependant supplements, due-diligence charges, processing fees and professional costs; for property routes, show the invested capital in a separate column rather than adding it blindly to permanent expenditure.
Repeat the calculation whenever the family composition or filing date changes. The 'cheapest' option for a single applicant can lose that position for a family with older children or parents, and temporary incentives should never be treated as permanent pricing.
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