Which Second Passport Gives the Best Visa-Free Travel Access?

Passport Power and CBI: The Core Framework

The value of a second passport for travel purposes is typically measured by its visa-free access — the number of countries whose borders you can cross without obtaining a prior visa. This is the most common metric used by passport ranking indices such as the Henley Passport Index, the Arton Capital Passport Index, and others.

Visa-free access is measured as: the number of countries that admit the passport holder on arrival without a pre-arranged visa, plus countries where a visa can be obtained on arrival (visa-on-arrival).

The passport power of CBI programmes varies dramatically:

Programme	Passport	Approx. Visa-Free Countries	Key Access
Malta CBI	Maltese (EU)	~190	USA, UK, Schengen, EU, Japan
Portugal GV	Portuguese (EU)	~188	USA, UK, Schengen, EU, Japan
Greece GV	Greek (EU)	~186	USA (VWP), UK, Schengen, EU
St Kitts CBI	Kittitian	~156	UK, Schengen, many others
Antigua CBI	Antiguan	~150	UK, Schengen
Grenada CBI	Grenadian	~145	UK, Schengen, China
St Lucia CBI	St Lucian	~145	UK, Schengen
Dominica CBI	Dominican	~140	UK, Schengen
Turkey CBI	Turkish	~110	Schengen (some restrictions), limited
Vanuatu CBI	Vanuatuan	~90	UK, Singapore; no Schengen (EU revoked)

All figures approximate and subject to change. Visa relationships are bilateral and can change.

EU Passports: The Gold Standard

EU passports — Maltese, Portuguese, and Greek, all available through CBI or RBI pathways — represent the most powerful tier of second passport available through investment. The EU passport provides:

• Visa Waiver Programme access to the USA: All EU passports qualify for VWP, allowing citizens to enter the USA for up to 90 days for tourism or business without a prior visa. This is one of the most valued individual travel benefits globally.
• UK visa-free access: EU passport holders can enter the UK for up to six months without a prior visa (the post-Brexit arrangement for EU nationals visiting the UK).
• Full Schengen travel: EU passports give full freedom of movement within the Schengen Area without the 90/180 day limitation that applies to non-resident visitors.
• Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand: All visa-free for EU passport holders.
• EU freedom of movement: EU citizens have the right to live, work, and settle in any of the 27 EU member states — a right that goes beyond mere visa-free travel.

The difference between approximately 190 countries (Malta/Portugal) and approximately 140 countries (Dominica) is significant in terms of global mobility. The key destinations that most investors care about — USA, Schengen, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia — are covered by all EU programmes but not by most Caribbean ones.

Malta: The Strongest EU Passport (investor route now closed)

A Maltese passport gives access to approximately 190 countries, the USA Visa Waiver Programme, and full EU rights — the single best travel document outcome historically available through any CBI programme. However, Malta's MEIN investor-citizenship route closed after the Court of Justice of the EU ruled it unlawful on 29 April 2025 and is no longer available. The figures below (cost approximately €690,000 to €900,000+ and a one-to-three-year residency requirement) are retained for reference. Investors now seeking a comparable EU passport must use a residency-to-naturalisation route such as Portugal's.

Portugal: Almost Equivalent

The Portuguese passport offers access to approximately 188 countries with essentially the same access as the Maltese passport. Portuguese citizenship was historically available after five years of Golden Visa residency, but a revised nationality law signed in May 2026 doubled the standard naturalisation requirement to ten years (seven for nationals of Portuguese-speaking/CPLP countries) — a longer timeline than Malta's residency requirement but at a lower cost. The minimal physical-presence requirement for Golden Visa holders (around seven days per year) is unchanged.

Greece: Very Strong but Slower

The Greek passport provides access to approximately 186 countries including USA VWP. Citizenship is available after seven years of Golden Visa residency. For investors with a longer horizon who prefer the Greek Golden Visa entry cost (from €250,000 in qualifying areas), Greece represents a strong value outcome.

Caribbean Passports: Excellent Schengen Access, No US VWP

Caribbean CBI passports are the most widely held investment migration travel documents. Their primary characteristics:

What they offer:

• Schengen visa-free access (all five Caribbean programmes have this — it is their most valued individual travel benefit)
• UK visa-free access for short stays
• Access to most of Latin America, Africa, and Asia Pacific (with variation by programme)
• Processing in months, not years

What they do not offer:

• US Visa Waiver Programme access (this is the Caribbean passport's most common limitation — US entry still requires a prior visa for Caribbean passport holders)
• Full freedom of movement within any economic bloc
• The same depth of access in Asia Pacific as EU passports

The Grenada E-2 Exception

Grenada's E-2 treaty with the USA is the only mechanism by which a Caribbean CBI passport creates a specific and valuable US access benefit. E-2 is a non-immigrant visa that allows Grenadian citizens to invest in and manage a US business and live in the USA as long as the business is operating. It is not visa-free entry and it is not the right to live in the USA permanently — but for investors with US business interests, it is a powerful benefit that justifies the premium over Dominica or St Lucia.

St Kitts: The Strongest Caribbean Passport

At approximately 156 countries, St Kitts and Nevis has the widest visa-free reach of any Caribbean CBI passport. Its track record over four decades means it has the most stable and well-established bilateral visa relationships. St Kitts passport holders generally report the fewest complications with immigration officials. For investors who want the best Caribbean passport regardless of cost, St Kitts is the answer.

Schengen Access: A Critical Distinction for UK Expats

For British nationals who have lost free EU movement following Brexit, Schengen access has taken on particular importance. British passport holders entering Schengen are now treated as third-country nationals subject to the 90/180 day rule — they can spend up to 90 days in the Schengen Area in any 180-day period.

There are two ways in which a second passport can address this limitation:

1. An EU passport (Portugal, Greece, Malta): EU citizens have free movement rights, not merely visa-free short-stay access. With an EU passport, a British national can live, work, and settle in any EU country without the 90/180 day cap.

2. A non-EU Schengen-free passport (Caribbean): Caribbean passports also give visa-free Schengen access for short stays (90 days in 180), the same as the British passport. Using a Caribbean passport does not add to your Schengen days beyond what your British passport gives you — the Schengen rules apply based on the passport used to enter Schengen, but the individual is still subject to the 90/180 limit as a non-EU, non-resident visitor regardless of which passport they use.

The critical point: Only an EU passport (via EU citizenship) removes the 90/180 day Schengen cap for British nationals. Caribbean passports give Schengen access, but still as a visitor subject to the same day limit.

For UK expats or frequent European travellers who want to remove the Schengen 90/180 day restriction, an EU citizenship pathway (Portugal, Greece, Malta) is the only investment migration solution that achieves this.

Key Travel Destinations: Programme Comparison

Destination	Malta/Portugal/Greece	St Kitts	Dominica/Antigua	Grenada	Vanuatu
USA	Yes (VWP)	No	No	E-2 only	No
UK	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Schengen	Yes (resident)	Yes (visitor)	Yes (visitor)	Yes (visitor)	No (revoked)
Canada	Yes	No	No	No	No
Australia	Yes	No	No	No	No
Japan	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
China	Some restrictions	No	No	Yes	No
UAE	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

All access subject to current bilateral arrangements. Verify before travel.

Maintaining Visa-Free Access: A Note on Geopolitics

Visa-free relationships are not permanent. They are bilateral agreements between countries that can be suspended, restricted, or terminated.

Historic examples:

• The EU suspended Vanuatu's visa-free access from 2022–2023 over due diligence concerns and permanently revoked the visa exemption in December 2024
• Various Caribbean programmes have faced questions about individual passport holders' backgrounds that can complicate bilateral relationships
• Russia lost visa-free access to many countries following 2022; this affected Russian holders of CBI passports from countries that then imposed visa requirements on Russians

Programmes with long track records (St Kitts, Malta, Portugal) have demonstrated greater stability in their visa-free relationships. Newer or less rigorous programmes face higher risk of access loss.

When assessing travel value, consider not just the current access count but the programme's track record of maintaining its visa-free relationships.

Compliance Note

Visa-free access counts change frequently. This guide reflects approximate figures as of mid-2026 but visa-free counts vary by source and are updated constantly as bilateral agreements change. Always verify current access for specific countries before travel and before making an investment decision based on travel access. Investment values can fall as well as rise.

How Global Investments Can Help

We advise clients on the second passport that best addresses their specific travel needs — whether that means Schengen access, US E-2 treaty access, or the most powerful EU passport achievable. We can show you the travel access that matters most for your specific situation and map it to the programmes that deliver it. Contact us for a confidential consultation.