True cost of luxury: 5 crazy things that are more expensive than a second passport

While the Louis Vuitton Bed Trunk holds a place in luxury history — converting into a travel-ready bed for explorers like Pierre Savorgnan — its €160,000 and above price tag pales next to the lasting value of a Caribbean passport for $200,000. 

The $40,000 difference pays for itself in just a few years.

Passport savings and privileges. A Schengen visa costs €90 per application, and a US tourist visa costs $250. For a frequent business or ordinary traveller making five multi-country trips a year, visa fees can exceed $5,000 annually. That means the $20,000 investment pays for itself in four years. Every trip after that is free of visa costs.

More than savings. A second passport in the Caribbean offers visa-free access to over 140 destinations, tax planning opportunities, and the right to live, work, or retire in a stable, investor-friendly country. These are practical benefits a historic object, however iconic, cannot provide.

The world’s most expensive dog collar is the Amour Amour, a diamond-studded piece valued at $3.2 million and once dubbed “the Bugatti of dog collars.” It may spark attention at exclusive gatherings, but it offers no real benefit to mobility, security, or global opportunities for you and your dog.

Maltese citizenship is more than status. Investors can obtain it under the citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment program. This path requires a minimum contribution of €600,000 to Malta’s National Development and Social Fund, along with:

• purchasing property worth at least €700,000 or renting at €16,000 per year;

• donating a minimum of €10,000 to a Maltese non-governmental organisation.

After holding residence in Malta for 12 to 36 months, applicants may apply for citizenship. It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 160 countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada. It also grants the right to live, work, and study in any EU country.

Malta offers a stable political environment, favourable tax system, quality healthcare, and respected educational institutions. For high-net-worth individuals, these are practical advantages — far beyond what any luxury item can offer.

Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise starts at approximately $61,000 per person for an interior stateroom, with suite prices exceeding $200,000 per person. It will surely make memories. 

However, investing in Malta’s Permanent Residence Programme offers lasting benefits.

By investing at least €182,000, wealthy individuals can gain lifelong residency in Malta. This gives them and their families the right to visit a safe and stable country at any time and stay there however long. Malta’s Permanent Residence Programme also allows visa-free travel across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days every 180 days.

To qualify, applicants need to meet several obligatory conditions: 

• buy or rent property;

• pay government fees;

• make a contribution;

• prove they have at least €500,000 in assets.

Malta lets applicants include several generations in one application. It’s a long-term solution that builds a family legacy and opens doors in Europe. In short, while a cruise gives a temporary escape, Malta’s permanent residence is a smart, secure investment in freedom and family wealth.

Malta is also a great place for a luxury getaway — the island is dotted with five-star resorts, spas, and yachts. It may not be a tropical paradise — more rocks and sea than palm trees — but the Mediterranean charm and comfort are hard to beat.

The Cartier Panthère watch is a classic piece of jewelry. Some models cost over $150,000 — like the diamond-covered version with 660 brilliant-cut stones. It’s elegant, luxurious, and makes a strong style statement. 

For a similar amount, one can invest in property in Greece and get a Golden Visa.

The Greece Golden Visa starts at €250,000 and offers residency not only for the main applicant but also for the whole family. With it comes the right to live in Greece, travel freely across 29 Schengen countries, and even apply for citizenship after seven years of living there.

So while a Cartier watch may sparkle on your wrist, a Greek residence permit opens doors — literally — to Europe, safety, and a better future for your family. It’s a luxury with long-term benefits.

One of the most famous jeweled eggs in the world — the Imperial Coronation Egg by Fabergé — is valued at over $18 million. It’s an exquisite symbol of luxury, craftsmanship, and history. But beyond its beauty, it sits locked away, offering no real-world utility — no freedom of movement, no financial flexibility, no legacy.

For less than 1% of the price of that egg, an investor can obtain Vanuatu citizenship by its government-approved investment program. The entire process takes just 2 to 4 months and offers far more than a collectible.

With a Vanuatu passport, investors gain:

1. Visa-free access to 95 countries, including the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

2. No income, inheritance, or capital gains taxes.

3. Eligibility to include family members, such as spouses, children under 25, and parents over 50.

4. Privacy and asset protection benefits in a stable island nation.

Though a jewelled egg may gleam on display, Vanuatu citizenship opens real doors — today and for future generations. It’s not just a statement of wealth, but a smart, functional investment in freedom, mobility, and security.

Some people spend €15,000 on a designer bag. Others invest in a second residency or citizenship.

Golden Visa programs grant a residence permit in return for a qualifying investment. In some countries, this can lead to citizenship. The programs are available in Greece, Hungary, Cyprus, Portugal, Andorra, the UAE, and the USA.

Malta has the Permanent Residence Programme for investors. To qualify, applicants meet several conditions. They need to buy or rent real estate, pay government fees, make a donation, and confirm assets of at least €500,000.

Citizenship by investment programs allow high-net-worth individuals to obtain a second nationality by making a substantial economic contribution.

The investment can take the form of a donation to a state fund, a real estate purchase or a business venture. Countries offering such programs include, for example, St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Vanuatu.

Egypt and Türkiye also grant citizenship to investors. However, there’s no opportunity to obtain an EU passport directly by investment.

Malta only grants citizenship by naturalisation. Wealthy individuals can obtain Maltese citizenship through exceptional services by direct investment, starting from €690,000. The investment involves three key requirements:

• a €600,000 contribution to the National Development and Social Fund

• renting a property for €16,000+ per year or buying one for €700,000+

• a €10,000 donation to a registered Maltese NGO.

Applicants must first secure a Maltese residence permit and maintain it for 12 or 36 months, depending on the contribution amount, before becoming eligible to apply for a passport.

Applicants do not “buy” a passport or residence permit. They first make a real investment, meet the program’s requirements, and pass a strict Due Diligence procedure. Only after that, in return, they receive the same legal rights and obligations as other citizens or residents.

Getting residency in another country isn’t like walking into a store and walking out with a Hermès bag. It takes time and effort. But surprisingly, people often spend the same — or more — on things that lose value, instead of investing in freedom and access.

1. Luxury crocodile handbags — even a limited-edition Birkin — may promise a 10% annual return. But that pales in comparison to the lifetime savings on departure taxes, visa fees, and consular costs that come with a second passport or residency by investment.

2. A frequent traveler spending over $5,000 a year on visas can recover a $20,000 investment in four years — after that, all trips are visa-free. Here’s the tangible benefit of a Caribbean passport obtained by investment.

3. High-end fashion items often lose 50 to 70% of their value right after purchase, especially if they aren’t rare or limited edition. A second passport or residency will always be valuable.

4. Royal Immigration helps investors obtain a second residency or passport and supports them at every step of the process.