Here is my list of 7 incredible second passports you can buy with crypto to unlock global freedom. (Don’t miss the handy comparison table at the bottom of the page)
I’m frequently asked about real estate and citizenship strategies that can be executed seamlessly using cryptocurrency. Crypto investors can use their digital assets to secure second passports through seven citizenship-by-investment programs, which we’ve outlined with investment amounts, acquisition timelines, insights, and partner contacts for further exploration.
Table of Contents
Turkey
Required investment: $400,000 of eligible real estate (additional fees and taxes will amount to around 7% of the purchase price, plus approximately $7000-$10,000 in legal fees to process your citizenship application). There is no additional investment required for your dependents.
Time to acquire: Passports are issued 8-10 months after all properties are acquired and citizenship application is submitted.
The Turkish CBI remains the most compelling citizenship program on the market due to the legitimacy and quality of the passport, and the fact that with proper planning, many individuals can obtain Turkish passports for their entire immediate family without losing significant money. While it is by no means guaranteed, some investors who structure their real estate purchases properly may even make a profit from renting their properties and from capital appreciation by the time of sale. To permanently hold the passport, you must not sell your properties for a holding period of 3 years, and after five years you are exempted from local capital gains tax on the sale.
There is a straightforward process whereby you may liquidate crypto holdings at exchanges inside Turkey and deposit cash to use for the real estate purchases.
You can buy multiple qualifying properties to reach the $400k threshold. Many agencies will tell you that you have to buy off-plan, or in specific new developments to be eligible for the program – this is emphatically false. The main criterion for eligibility is that the properties you acquire are owned by a natural-born Turkish citizen, meaning you cannot buy from a foreigner or any Turkish citizen that became Turkish via the investment mechanism.
Get in touch with my buyer’s agent Keith to learn about how you can buy eligible secondhand real estate in Istanbul and Izmir using crypto and earn satisfactory yield.
Sierra Leone
Required investment: Fast-Track: Donation of $140,000 for main applicant, plus $10,000 per eligible dependent OR Heritage: $100,000 for applicants who can prove continental African ancestry using a DNA test plus $10,000 per eligible dependent.
Time to acquire: 90 days following payment for the Fast-Track option, or 60 days for the Heritage option.
The first fully-fledged African CBI program launched in early 2025 and has recently seen its first fully processed applicants receive their passports. This passport does not enable travel freedom at a global level, but is highly practical in the West African context as it allows visa free travel and easier residency pathways in member countries of the ECOWAS economic union.
The fees for this program can be paid in BTC or USDT via an escrow arrangement of your choosing (you can even use your own lawyer as the escrow fund agent). There is no onerous source of funds documentation required.
The Wandering Investor is an official licensed partner of this program – apply with us here.
St. Kitts & Nevis
Required investment: the fees for the Public Benefit (donation) option are as follows:
- $250,000 + legal fees for main applicant:
- $50,000 + legal fees for each additional dependent over the age of 18:
- $25,000 + legal fees for each additional dependent under the age of 18:
- Contact us to get a quote for your entire family
Time to acquire: between 3-6 months on average.
Considered the premier option among Caribbean citizenship programs, St. Kitts and Nevis recently changed the payment scheme of their program to facilitate payment with crypto. As long as your cryptocurrency holdings are declared as part of your total assets at the time of application, you are able to pay the program fees with crypto.
This passport boasts EU access (though not guaranteed to be the case forever) and for those who wish to make the islands their permanent residence, a zero-tax regime.
The Wandering Investor can help you apply for this program through our expert partners – learn more here.
Antigua & Barbuda
Required investment: Fees vary greatly depending on your selected investment pathway – this page gives complete pricing information, including all fees.
Here are approximate costs for a family of four on the same application:
- National Development Fund: $263,500 donation and fees for a family of four
- University of West Indies Fund: $293,500 donation and fees for a family of four
- Real Estate Investment: $300,000 of real estate investment plus $23,500 of fees for a family of four
- Business investment: between $500,000 and $1.6 million of investment and fees
Time to acquire: between 3-6 months on average.
Antigua and Barbuda is another Caribbean option offering broad visa-free access to 140 countries, including the Schengen Zone, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Russia and Hong Kong. It can be applied for remotely, but you will have to collect your passports in person in the country. This most unique characteristic of this program is the ability to add many dependents from your family, including parents, grandparents and the spouses of your dependent children.
The Wandering Investor can assist with the application process for the Antigua & Barbuda CBI through our trusted partner Laszlo – click here to learn more.
Vanuatu
Required investment: Donation of $135,000 for a single applicant with all costs included. This increases to $155,000 for a couple, with more fees for additional dependents.
Time to acquire: typically under four months following application.
This small island nation offers an interesting second passport for individuals that prioritize efficiency. It is considered by some to be the fastest passport you can get (often under four months, sometimes as fast as two months to acquire). Other competitive advantages include visa-free travel to Russia, the ability to be obtained entirely remotely in certain cases and allowance to include a wide range of dependent family members.
The passport is obtained through a mechanism called the Development Support Program, and it entails a donation to the government. The donation fee can be paid entirely using cryptocurrency.
Our partner Laszlo can help you apply for the Vanuatu citizenship by investment scheme – learn more here.
Cambodia
Required investment: A $245,000 USD donation to the government – around $310,000 total once all fees are factored in.
Time to acquire: approximately 3-7 months
This citizenship by investment program changes its pricing on a very regular basis depending on demand for the program and who is signing the paperwork. It’s one of the murkiest options out there but it works. You can also change your name. Do note that this donation is for a single applicant, and there aren’t any special prices for dependents. Dependents have to file their applications separately.
Also, this citizenship does not go down the generations easily. Your child must be born in Cambodia for him/her to get Cambodian citizenship.
This program requires two trips to Cambodia during the application process.
It’s a good fit for people who want to invest and do business in Cambodia as a local, and for people who love Cambodia or want an Asian passport.
The Wandering Investor can help you obtain citizenship by investment in Cambodia – get in touch with us directly to learn more.
El Salvador
Required investment: A donation to the government in the amount: of $1 million USD equivalent in crypto.
There is an application fee of $999 USD equivalent in USDT or BTC that is credited towards the donation amount. Additional due diligence, legal and document verification fees apply which can amount to approximately $30,000 USD.
Time to acquire: Fast-track processing of as little as 8 weeks once application and funds are submitted.
A Salvadoran passport has visa-free access to 130 countries, including the Schengen zone, Japan, Singapore, the UAE and Hong Kong. The citizenship passes down to your children and citizens enjoy no taxes on cryptocurrency gains or wealth.
The Wandering Investor can help you obtain citizenship by investment in El Salvador through the Freedom Passport Program – learn more here.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Required investment: A $5,000 application fee plus a donation to the government of $90,000 for a single applicant or $95,000 for a family of 2-4 individuals.
Please note the fees for this program are NOT payable with crypto, but we included it on this list because crypto can be used as a source of funds when applying. Program fees will need to be paid by normal bank transfer in USD.
Time to acquire: Very fast processing of as little as 60 days once application and funds are submitted.
The São Tomé program is the cheapest CBI in the world currently and gives you and your future generations a sovereign connection to Africa.
The Wandering Investor is a licensed agent of the São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship by investment program and can help you through the application process – learn more here.
Comparison Table
Choosing the right option depends on your priorities—whether it’s fast acquisition, visa-free travel to key regions, family inclusivity, or investment returns. Check out our comparison table below, where clicking a country name connects you with our trusted partners.
| Country | Required Investment | Time to Acquire | Key Insights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $400,000 in eligible real estate + ~7% fees/taxes + $7,000-$10,000 legal fees; no extra for dependents | 8-10 months | Strong passport quality; 3-year hold period; crypto liquidation in Turkey |
| Sierra Leone | $100k to $140k + $10,000 per dependent | 60 to 90 days | ECOWAS visa-free travel; pay via BTC/USDT escrow; no source of funds docs |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | $250,000 donation + legal fees; +$50,000 per adult; +$25,000 per child | 3-6 months | Premier Caribbean option; EU access; zero-tax residency |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Family of four: $263,500 (NDF donation); $293,500 (UWI Fund); $300,000 real estate + $23,500 fees; $500,000-$1.6M business | 3-6 months | Visa-free to 140 countries; include extended family; in-person passport collection |
| Vanuatu | $135,000 donation (single); $155,000 (couple) + more for dependents | Under 4 months | Fastest option; visa-free to Russia; remote application possible; family inclusion |
| Cambodia | $245,000 donation + ~$65,000 fees (~$310,000 total); dependents separate | 3-7 months | Murky pricing; two trips required; good for Cambodian investment |
| El Salvador | $1M crypto donation + $999 app fee (credited) + ~$30,000 due diligence/legal fees | As little as 8 weeks | Visa-free to 130 countries; no crypto gains/wealth taxes; passes to children |
| São Tomé & Príncipe | Required investment: $5,000 application fee plus donation of $90,000 for one person or $95,000 for a family of 2-4. | Around 8 weeks | Cheapest CBI program in the world, foothold in Africa for your descendants. |
To a World of Opportunities,
The Wandering Investor.
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