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- While the South African passport has improved in global rankings, it still requires visas for most high-demand destinations. - For those without ancestral citizenship or familial options, several countries offer second passports through investment - at a significant cost. - Here are some countries that offer passports for purchase - and how much you can expect to pay. If there's one thing South African travellers love to complain about, it's visas. And with good reason. Although the Green Mamba has climbed a few places in global passport rankings, it still requires holders to overcome frustratingly high entry barriers for many sought-after destinations. For this reason, securing a passport from a country with greater visa-free access is the ultimate travel hack. The only catch? Unless you have ancestral ties to a country like the UK or, increasingly, Lithuania, your options are limited to marriage - or paying a significant sum of money. While the number of countries offering citizenship-by-investment has declined, and costs have risen, a few viable options remain. This process essentially means if you contribute enough money to a country's economy and meet their programme requirements, you'll be granted citizenship and a passport in return. Unlike residence-by-investment schemes, such as those famously offered by Portugal and Cyprus, there's also usually no requirement to relocate or even visit the country. Meet the requirements, pay the cash, pledge allegiance, and you should, in theory, get your hands on a new passport. A second passport can open doors to visa-free travel in Europe, the UK, and beyond. But with complex regulations and ever-changing rules, it's worth consulting an investment migration firm to ensure eligibility and access to the most up-to-date information. Here are some of the most popular second-passport options currently available in Europe and the Caribbean: Europe Malta Cost: R11.9 million Access: The Maltese passport is one of the world's most powerful, offering visa-free travel to approximately 190 countries. North Macedonia Cost: R4 million Access: Provides visa-free access to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Türkiye, and Europe's Schengen Area. Türkiye Cost: R7.3 million Access: Grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 110+ destinations, including Japan, South Korea, and much of South America. Caribbean Antigua and Barbuda Cost: R4.2 million Access: Includes visa-free travel to the UK, Europe's Schengen Area, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Dominica Cost: R3.7 million Access: Offers access to more than 130 countries, including Europe's Schengen Area. Grenada Cost: R4.3 million Access: Grants visa-free access to approximately 130 countries, including Europe's Schengen Area. St Kitts and Nevis Cost: R4.6 million Access: Includes visa-free entry to the UK, Singapore, Ukraine, and the Schengen Area. St Lucia Cost: R4.4 million Access: Offers visa-free travel to around 140 destinations, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the Schengen Area. |
