This page places the five citizenship programs and the five residency pathways we advise on side by side: cost for a single applicant, processing time, residency requirement, eligible family members, visa-free mobility and when the main payment falls due. Figures are those published by each government (for Sierra Leone, by the program's master agent) as of the review date shown at the foot of the page; our service fee is quoted separately in writing.
Guinea-Bissau is the least expensive route we advise on (service package from US$50,000) and, together with Vanuatu, the fastest (about 1–2 months); it is a statutory Citizenship by Allowance channel rather than a donation program. Among government contribution programs, Nauru's ECRCP has the lowest contribution (US$90,000 until 31 December 2026, standard US$115,000; official fees about US$102,700 in total) with 3–4 months of vetting, Vanuatu's DSP is the fastest (about 2 months) at a US$130,000 contribution, and São Tomé and Príncipe (official fees US$95,750) covers three generations in a single application. Sierra Leone's GO-FOR-GOLD special naturalisation starts at a US$95,000 program fee (US$80,000 per person for two applicants), with an approval letter usually in 30–60 days according to the program, but it has no dedicated legislation yet and its fees are published by a master agent rather than the government. None of the five currently offers visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
| Criterion | Vanuatu (DSP) | Nauru / Naoero (ECRCP) | São Tomé and Príncipe | Guinea-Bissau | Sierra Leone (GO-FOR-GOLD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type and legal basis | Government contribution program (Development Support Program) | Government contribution program (Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program) | Donation to the National Transformation Fund (officially authorised program) | Citizenship by Allowance — Decreed Law No. 1/92, Art. 7 No. 2 (statutory channel, no donation) | Special naturalisation announced by the Immigration Department; run by a master agent; implementing regulation pending |
| Single applicant, official cost | Contribution US$130,000 (+ biometrics US$1,000 per person and passport delivery US$2,000 ≈ US$133,000) | Contribution from US$90,000 (Iruwa pricing to 31 Dec 2026; standard US$115,000); official fees ≈ US$102,700 in total | Official fees US$95,750 (donation US$90,000 + application US$5,000 + documents US$750) | Service package from US$50,000 (includes passport and citizenship documents) | Program fee US$95,000 (Solo Entrepreneur) + due diligence US$5,000 = US$100,000; published by the master agent, not the government |
| Family pricing | US$150,000 for two, US$165,000 for three, US$180,000 for four | +US$2,000 contribution per dependant aged 16+ (plus US$2,000 application and US$3,000 due diligence); siblings +US$15,000 | Donation US$95,000 for the main applicant with up to three dependants, +US$5,000 per further dependant; documents US$750 per person | On request, confirmed at the pre-engagement assessment | Enterprise: US$80,000 each for two (US$165,000 per pair); Fast Track US$140,000 / Heritage US$120,000 + US$10,000 per standard and US$20,000 per special dependant |
| Processing time | About 2 months | 3–4 months (five rounds of vetting) | Two-stage official process; timeline follows official processing | About 1–2 months | Approval letter usually 30–60 days; passport 60–90 days (program figures) |
| Residency or visit requirement | None; biometrics in the UAE, Hong Kong or Vanuatu | None; processed remotely | None; no physical presence required | None; processed remotely | None; certification and oath online |
| Family members eligible | Spouse, children under 25, parents aged 50+ | Spouse, children aged 30 or under, parents and grandparents from 55, siblings | Spouse, children under 31, parents over 55, grandparents (three generations); applicants holding three or more citizenships are not eligible | Family applications considered; composition confirmed at assessment | Fast Track and Heritage: spouse or partner, children aged 18 or under, parents, grandparents; special dependants (children 19–30, siblings 30 or under); one Plus One. Enterprise and Solo: none |
| Visa-free / visa-on-arrival destinations | 90+ (the Schengen Area and the UK currently require a visa) | 85+ by official program figure (no Schengen; UK visa required since 9 December 2025) | 60+, including South Africa, Singapore and Hong Kong | About 55, including Singapore and the Philippines; ECOWAS regional mobility | 63 (Henley, July 2026); ECOWAS mobility; visas needed for Schengen, UK and Canada; US entry suspended since 1 January 2026 |
| When the main payment is due | Contribution after approval in principle | Application, due-diligence and bank due-diligence fees at filing; contribution and passport fee after approval in principle | Application fee at filing; donation and document fees after approval in principle | As set out in the written engagement terms | Escrow funded after the KYC pre-check; released after approval under the escrow agreement |
| Documents issued | Citizenship certificate and passport | Citizenship certificate and passport | Citizenship certificate, passport and national identity card | Approval letter, passport, Certificate of Citizenship, embassy authentication letter, national ID (adults) | Approval letter, naturalisation certificate signed by the President, and passport |
| Official body | Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission | Nauru ECRCP Program Office (Government of Nauru) | Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, via the officially authorised program | Government of Guinea-Bissau under Decreed Law No. 1/92 | Sierra Leone Immigration Department; administered by the master agent (Hong Kong Visa Centre / TG 2050 LTD) |
| Pacific Link's role | Filed through our licensed partner in Port Vila | Pacific Link Consulting Pty Ltd is on the official register of licensed ECRCP agents | Licensed Marketing Agent for the program | Advisory and coordinated filing | Pacific Link Consulting Pty Ltd is listed among the master agent's Official Partners |
| Program page | View program → | View program → | View program → | View program → | View program → |
Figures are indicative summaries of official publications and may change; the formal written quotation and the official decision prevail.
Residency programs grant the right to live in a country without changing citizenship. They differ mainly in what secures the status (a government fee, a fixed deposit or a membership), how long it lasts and how much time must be spent in the country.
| Criterion | Vanuatu PR | Malaysia MM2H | Thailand Privilege Card | Thailand LTR visa | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Permanent residency without a passport; 10-year validity | Long-term residency pass based on a fixed deposit (Platinum / Gold / Silver / Special Zone) | Membership-based long-stay residency (formerly Thailand Elite) | Long-Term Resident visa, up to 10 years (5+5), four categories | Permanent residence or citizenship through BC PNP Entrepreneur, citizenship by descent (Bill C-3), IEC youth mobility or spousal sponsorship |
| Official or indicative cost | All-inclusive from US$8,000 (family of 2 adults + 2 children US$12,000) | Fixed deposit US$150,000 (Silver) / US$500,000 (Gold) / US$1,000,000 (Platinum); Special Zone US$65,000 or US$32,000; participation fee MYR 1,000–200,000 | THB 650,000 (Bronze) to THB 5,000,000 (Reserve) | Government fee THB 50,000 per applicant | Government fees per IRCC's current schedule; quoted in writing after a free assessment |
| Validity | 10 years | 5 / 15 / 20 years by tier (Special Zone 10 years) | 5 to 20+ years by tier | 10 years (5+5) | Permanent residence; citizenship where eligible |
| Processing time | About 10 business days | Per official processing; confirmed in the written quotation | Per official processing; confirmed in the written quotation | About 20 working days after complete submission | Months to years depending on the stream |
| Stay requirement | No minimum stay; no property purchase or investment | 90 days a year for principals aged 21–49; none from age 50 | No annual stay requirement | Annual reporting; multiple entry | Residency obligations apply under Canadian immigration law |
| Family | Family packages (2 adults + 2 children; each additional child +US$2,000) | Spouse, children, parents and parents-in-law | Supplementary memberships for family members | Spouse, parents and children as dependants | Spouse/partner and dependent children, depending on the stream |
| Best suited to | A residency status quickly and at low cost, or as a step before Vanuatu citizenship | Families planning education, healthcare or retirement in Malaysia | Frequent travellers and long-stay residents who want privileges without investment | Wealthy individuals, pensioners, remote workers and highly skilled professionals meeting the category criteria | Applicants planning to live, work or do business in Canada long term |
| Official body | Vanuatu Immigration Services | Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; Immigration Department of Malaysia | Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd. (Tourism Authority of Thailand) | Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); BC PNP; cases handled with a licensed RCIC or Canadian lawyer |
| Program page | View program → | View program → | View program → | View program → | View program → |
Figures are indicative summaries of official publications and may change; the formal written quotation and the official decision prevail.
Vanuatu DSP (about 2 months) or Guinea-Bissau (1–2 months). Vanuatu offers the broader visa-free list; Guinea-Bissau the lower entry cost.
Nauru ECRCP at US$90,000 until 31 December 2026 (standard US$115,000), filed by a licensed agent, with 3–4 months of vetting.
São Tomé and Príncipe: spouse, children under 31, parents over 55 and grandparents, with the donation paid only after approval in principle.
Vanuatu PR (from US$8,000, about 10 business days) can precede DSP citizenship; for Asia-based living, MM2H and the Thailand programs; for Canada, the licensed pathways.
The fees and rules on this page are based on the following official publications. Where they differ, the official source prevails; we re-check them at every update (last reviewed 2026-10-08).
None of the five citizenship programs we advise on currently does. The EU suspended visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passport holders in late 2024; the United Kingdom requires visas from Vanuatu nationals and, since 9 December 2025, from Nauru nationals; São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone passports have never had Schengen visa-free access, and since 1 January 2026 the United States has also suspended entry by Sierra Leone nationals. We state mobility as it stands today rather than as marketed.
Vanuatu and Sierra Leone recognise dual citizenship, and none of the five programs requires renouncing an existing nationality; São Tomé and Príncipe does not accept applicants who already hold three or more citizenships. Whether your home country allows you to keep its nationality is a matter of its own law and should be confirmed before applying.
Official fees are the amounts set by each government: the contribution or donation, application, due-diligence and document fees. They exclude Pacific Link's service fee (quoted separately in writing before engagement), translation and notarisation, courier costs and any third-party fees such as medical checks or bank charges. The program pages list each component. For Sierra Leone, no government fee schedule has been published; the amounts shown are the program fees published by the master agent.
Guinea-Bissau (about 1–2 months) and Vanuatu DSP (about 2 months) are the fastest; Nauru takes 3–4 months because of five rounds of vetting and Cabinet review; for Sierra Leone the program indicates an approval letter in about 30–60 days and the passport in about 60–90 days. For residency, Vanuatu PR is approved in about 10 business days and the Thailand LTR visa in about 20 working days. All timelines depend on document readiness and official processing.
Strictly speaking, no. Citizenship by Allowance is a statutory route under Decreed Law No. 1/92 of 7 February 1992 (Article 7, No. 2); there is no government donation, and the service package covers coordinated handling through to the issuance of the passport and citizenship documents. It is therefore compared here alongside the contribution programs, with that difference noted.
Not yet. It was announced by the Sierra Leone Immigration Department in January 2025 and confirmed by the Chief Immigration Officer in October 2025 as a Special Naturalisation Protocol, relying on section 27 of the Citizenship Act 1973 and presidential discretion; a dedicated regulation and amendments to the Act remain in draft. It is run by a master agent, which also publishes the fees. We compare it here with that difference stated and set out the details on the Sierra Leone page.
At every change in official fees, deadlines or rules — for example the extension of Nauru's Iruwa pricing to 31 December 2026 — and at least at each quarterly review. The review date appears at the foot of the page and in the 'Official sources' section; where this page and an official publication differ, the official publication prevails.
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