St. Kitts & Nevis
Citizenship by Investment
Overview
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, also known in its Constitution as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is a small two-island nation in the Caribbean Basin. It is the smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere and boasts the oldest Citizenship By Investment program, established in 1984; shortly after the island obtained independence from the United Kingdom. St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the British Commonwealth, United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Eastern Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS), and CARICOM. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is also headquartered in St. Kitts.
- Processing time: 4-5 months
- Visa-Free Travel: Over 150 countries
- Investment Options: Donation, Real Estate, Alternative
- Investment: $150 000
- Passport Length: 10 years validity (adults) , 5 years validity (children)
Info
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, also known in its Constitution as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, is a small two-island nation in the Caribbean Basin. The capital city of Basseterre and the Government headquarters are located on the bigger island of St. Kitts. The smaller island of Nevis lies about 2 miles (3 km) southeast of St. Kitts. The combined area is about 100 square miles (260 sq. km).
These were some of the first Caribbean islands to be settled on by the Europeans and home to French and UK colonies, following their discovery by Columbus. In 1983, St. Kitts and Nevis was granted independence from the United Kingdom. The Government is represented by a parliamentary democracy and federal constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State, represented by a Governor General, and the Prime Minister is the head of the Government.
Often referred to as “Two Islands, One Paradise”, St. Kitts and Nevis is exactly the kind of lush tropical paradise one associates with the Caribbean – hot sun, beautiful beaches, warm sea, spectacular scenery, a mellow culture and friendly atmosphere. It has a population of about 53,000 people of predominantly of African descent, with about 15,000 living in Basseterre.
English is the official language and the Judiciary system is based on English Common Law. The predominant religion is the Christian faith, with smaller communities of Rastafarian, Orthodox and others. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD or EC$), which is very stable and has an exchange rate of EC$ 2.7 for US $1.00.
St. Kitts and Nevis is a member of the British Commonwealth, United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Eastern Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS), and CARICOM. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is also headquartered in St. Kitts.
The program was established in 1984 and is based on the Chapter VIII (Sections 90-95) of the Constitution, and Section 3 (5) of the Citizenship Act, 1984 (No. 1 of 1984), stipulated any person can apply for naturalization and may be eligible for citizenship on payment of prescribed fees, if the Cabinet is satisfied that such person has invested substantially in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Applicants with a criminal record will not be considered.
ADVANTAGES
- Expedited route option (guaranteed in 60 days)
- Visa-free travel to 150 countries
- Minimal taxation (no taxation of gift, inheritance, or capital gains)
- Oldest and most prestigious citizenship by investment program in the Caribbean
- Investment payable only after approval
- No residency requirements
- No interview or language requirements
- Stay in the UK for up to 6 months at the time
- Biometric e-passport increased security
- Ability to open bank accounts in institutions across the globe
- Can live for any length of time in any CARICOM country
- Most powerful CBI passport in the Caribbean, ranked 24th in the world
- Idyllic, stable & prosperous nation
CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT OPTIONS
1. Donation (Sustainable Growth Fund “SGF”) - nonrefundable financial contribution to government fund, depending on number of applicants and their ages
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Single applicant |
$150 000 |
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Main applicant plus spouse |
$175 000 |
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Main applicant plus three dependants |
$195 000 |
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Sibling of main applicant or spouse (aged under 30) |
$20 000 |
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Any additional dependant (other than spouse, sibling of main applicant, or sibling of spouse) |
$10 000 |
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2. Real Estate - Investment in a government-approved real estate project which could be a freehold property, hotel shares, or fractional ownership
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Minimum investment (must hold for seven years): |
$200 000 |
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Minimum investment (must hold for five years): |
$400 000 |
3. Accelerated Application Process (AAP)
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Main applicant: |
$25 000 |
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Dependant of main applicant: |
$175 000 |
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Main applicant plus three dependants |
$20 000 |
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Government Fees |
(only real estate)
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Main applicant |
$35 000 |
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Main applicant and spouse |
$20 000 |
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Dependant (regardless of age) |
$10 000 |
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Additional dependant (sibling of main applicant or sibling of spouse |
$40 000 |
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Additional Fees (for both Investment Options)
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Due Diligence & Background Checks: |
Compulsory background checks are payable to Government-preferred international due diligence agencies to screen applicants (ie:Interpol). |
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Main applicants |
$7500 |
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Spouse |
$4000 |
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Any dependant over 16 |
$4000 |
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Other Fees
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Processing Fee |
$250 (per person on the application) |
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Certificate of Registration Fee |
$50 (per person on the application) |
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Passport |
$1200 (per person on application) |
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Escrow fee: |
$2000 (real estate option only) |
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TIMEFRAME & PROCESS
Step One:
You will be appointed a specialized team member to advise on the collection of required documents. Our team will support you every step of the way to ensure all documents are perfect to ensure a successful application.
Step Two:
Government processing fees, due diligence fees, and professional & legal fees are payable when we are ready for you to courier all your documents for submission to the government.
Step Three:
Once the application has been submitted, due diligence will take 3-4 weeks. You will receive an approval letter when the government receives the due diligence report. Once accepted you are requested to pay the donation or investment.
Step Four:
FAQ
The average time of an application is 4-5 months. However, St Kitts & Nevis is one of the only Caribbean islands to offer citizenship by investment via an accelerated route.
The Accelerated Application Process (AAP), approved by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, allows applications for the Citizenship by Investment Programme to be accelerated to a 60 day processing period for additional fees of $25,000 for the main applicant and $20,000 per dependent over the age of 16 years.
The SIDF is the donation option; the funds are non-refundable and would only be payable once you have had a successful due diligence check and been approved for citizenship. The Real Estate Investment option is an investment into Government approved real estate projects. Caribbean Citizenship works solely with developers who have completed projects that are operational and successful. Your asset can therefore offer a rental return or be re-sold in the future. Clients prefer the real estate route to an additional asset, a Certificate of Title to property, as well as utility bills in their name.
There is no requirement to reside in St Kitts & Nevis to maintain citizenship.
The SIDF donation option starts at $150,000 donation for a single applicant and for real estate
$200,000. Both options have legal fees, due diligence fees, application fees and passport fees in addition.
BROCHURE
- Program Overview
- Citizenship Law
- Country profile
- Benefits of the program
- Applicants Qualifications
- Investment requirements
- Application Fees
- Document Checklist
- List of countries Visa free and on arrival