You asked, and we got the numbers. Agent commissions in Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs span from US$12,000 to US$50,000 per approved application.
This analysis excludes real estate pathways. Developer negotiations, property valuations, and regional market conditions create variable commission structures that defy standardization.
Turkey’s program illustrates this complexity, where agents earn anywhere from 4% to 15% of property value, occasionally exceeding these benchmarks through markups.
Caribbean programs usually impose commission ceilings on developer-negotiated real estate deals, though tracking whether developers abide by them proves nearly impossible.
Contribution-based pathways, by contrast, maintain fixed agent fees across all approved intermediaries.
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts pays US$50,000 per approved client, the highest fixed commission globally. Investors contribute US$250,000 minimum to the Sustainable Island State Contribution.
Developers, not the government, pay commissions on public benefit options. These typically reach US$60,000 to US$70,000 per approved application.
Real estate investments start at US$325,000 for resort shares and US$600,000 for private homes, though these generate separate commission arrangements outside the contribution framework.
Saint Lucia
National Economic Fund applications yield US$35,000 for agents. Investment requirements begin at US$240,000 for individuals or families of four.
Bond-based applications pay US$30,000 in commissions. Investors provide US$300,000 refundable after five years, creating Saint Lucia’s distinctive two-tier compensation model.
Real estate pathways require US$300,000 with five-year holding periods, while enterprise projects demand US$3.5 million in infrastructure or research ventures.
Grenada
Base commissions reach US$30,000 per client but can rise to US$35,000 based on performance metrics. Contribution requirements stand at US$235,000 through the National Transformation Fund for single applicants or families of four.
Real estate options are split between US$270,000 joint resort investments and US$350,000 sole ownership units.
Antigua and Barbuda
Agents earn US$25,000 per approved National Development Fund application. Single applicants or families of up to four members invest US$230,000 minimum.
The University of the West Indies Fund serves families of six or more at US$260,000. Despite higher investment thresholds, agent compensation remains at US$25,000.
Real estate begins at US$300,000, while business investments require US$1.5 million for sole ventures or US$400,000 in joint arrangements.
Dominica
Agent earnings equal 10% of the total investment amounts. No fixed commission applies, creating variable compensation tied directly to client contribution levels.
Economic Diversification Fund applications require US$200,000 from single investors, generating US$20,000 in agent fees at baseline.
This percentage-based approach distinguishes Dominica from every other Caribbean program in the market.
This 10% does not apply to real estate investments, which start at US$200,000. Developers negotiate their commissions with marketing agents.
Vanuatu
The Development Support Program pays US$40,000 per approved application, generally split between international marketing agents and local agents based on their internal agreements. Investment begins at US$130,000 for single applicants.
Vanuatu’s Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) requires an investment of US$160,000, of which US$50,000 is redeemable. Commissions under the CIIP are based on agreements with fund managers and agents.
Nauru
Nauru pays US$25,000 in agent commissions per approved client. Treasury Fund donations require US$105,000, making Nauru the most affordable South Pacific citizenship option.
São Tomé and Príncipe
Africa’s newest program pays US$20,000 per approved application. Investment begins at US$90,000 through the National Transformation Fund, the lowest global entry point for single applicants.
Blockchain-powered processing aims to streamline application workflows. The technology addresses administrative bottlenecks common across emerging citizenship markets, though real-world implementation remains under evaluation.
Sierra Leone
The GO-FOR-GOLD program provides US$12,000 per approved client. Required investment reaches US$140,000 for single applicants.
Sierra Leone recently restructured its dependent parameters. Applicants can now include extended relatives and business partners under new “Special Dependants” and “+1 Business Partner” categories, with fees ranging from US$10,000 to US$30,000 per additional person beyond the main applicant.
The commission, however, remains constant no matter how many dependents are in an application.
Payment Structure
Governments compensate agents after final approval and passport issuance. Approved intermediaries maintaining an active status with citizenship investment units receive full commission amounts upon successful case completion.
Investment timing and client nationality do not affect commission levels. Between Sierra Leone’s US$12,000 and Saint Kitts’ US$50,000 lies the entire economics of the citizenship by investment market.
