St Kitts and Nevis launched a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program in 1984, a year after becoming independent from Great Britain. Since that time, the terms and conditions of the program have changed many times. At the same time, the essence of the advantages that a passport of St Kitts and Nevis brings remains very much the same. Here are the main benefits that the St Kitts and Nevis CBI program offers:

  • An opportunity to visit over 150 countries without visas. This feature should be especially to holders of ‘weak’ passports;
  • A beneficial tax system. If you make an income outside St Kitts and Nevis, it is not going to be taxed in the country. In addition, gifts, inheritance, and capital gains are not taxed in St Kitts and Nevis either;
  • Several investment options. If you take Vanuatu that also has a CBI program, there is only one investment option there – a non-returnable donation to the state fund. St Kitts and Nevis offers several investment opportunities of different nature. These include returnable investments into business or property;
  • A stable political and economic situation in the country. St Kitts and Nevis could hardly be referred to as a rich country but it is not a poor Caribbean country either. The economy of the Federation is stable and it enjoys a good reputation in the political circles. Living in the country is safe and comfortable.

Economic citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis: investment options

There is a special Government agency that handles all issues related to granting citizenship to foreign investors. It is called ‘St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit’.

The Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship by Substantial Investment Regulations is the main document that regulates the activities of the Unit.

As there are several investment options, you can make a choice depending on your financial situation, personal preferences, desire or non-desire to relocate to the country, and so on. Here are the available investment options:

  • A non-returnable contribution to the state fund. The amount of the contribution changes over time and we quote the current prices below;
  • Investment into socially significant business projects. Projects aimed at infrastructure development are prioritized;
  • Purchase of real property that has been approved for CBI purposes by the Government of St Kitts and Nevis;
  • Purchase of property in the framework of the Approved Private Home (APH) program.

Whatever option you choose, you and all adult members of your family will have to pass the due diligence checks if you are to become a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis.

Sustainable Island State Contribution

You can make a contribution, that is, a non-returnable donation to the state fund to qualify for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis. Plainly speaking, you can ‘buy’ citizenship of the country in the literal sense. The amount of the contribution depends on the number of applicants (family applications for citizenship are welcome):

  • US$ 250,000 for a single applicant;
  • US$ 300,000 for a married couple;
  • US$ 350,000 for a married couple with one or two children;
  • US$ 50,000 per each additional dependent family member below 18;
  • US$ 75,000 per each additional dependent family member above 18.

Investment in social and infrastructure development projects

You can also qualify for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis if you invest in a business project that creates many jobs and that allows a large number of people to benefit from it. The following areas are prioritized:

  • Food industry;
  • Green energy production;
  • Tourist industry;
  • Agriculture;
  • Informational technologies;
  • Renewable energy sources;
  • Light industry.

We have to note that the island of Nevis in particular is a popular offshore jurisdiction where foreigners (mostly Americans and Canadians) like to register business companies. You could consider this opportunity too. If you would like to find out how to set up an LLC in Nevis, here is the link.

Purchase of property

You can choose of the following financial paths to citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis by investment proper (not by donation):

  • Purchase property in an approved development project. The cost of the property has to be at least US$ 400,000. You have to hold the property in your possession for 7 years. When the period expires, you can sell it to another CBI program participant.
  • Purchase an ‘Approved Private Home’ (APH). If it’s an apartment in a condo, its price has to be at least US$ 400,000. If it’s a single-family house, it has to cost at least US$ 800,000.
  • The APH option would suit you if you wanted to make St Kitts and Nevis your home country because you cannot sell the property to another CBI program participant even after 7 years.

As of today, more than 80 development projects have been approved for CBI purposes in St Kitts and Nevis. Many of them are resort complexes offering a high level of comfort.

Requirements to the foreign investor

A foreign investor wishing to apply for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis has to meet the following requirements:

  • Be above 18 years of age;
  • Have money from legal sources;
  • Pay all the state duties;
  • Pass the due diligence checks (applies to all family members above 16);
  • Have a clean police record and no instances of visa denials;
  • Be in good health;
  • Charm the interviewer.

Since recently, applicants for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis by investment have to have a personal interview with a CBI Unit officer. The interview is held online and only the main applicant is interviewed (family members don’t need to be present).

Acquiring economic citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis: stages in the process

You have to go through several consecutive stages when applying for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis by investment:

  • Introduce yourself to a licensed immigration agent and express your desire to ‘buy’ a passport of St Kitts and Nevis (you cannot file an application for citizenship directly to the country’s authorities: you have to act via a licensed agent);
  • Supply all the documents that the agent requests (the list of documents is rather large as many of them are required for due diligence purposes);
  • If you are applying for citizenship by investment into real estate, you have to finalize the purchase deal prior to filing an application;
  • If you are applying for citizenship by donation, you have to make the donation prior to filing an application too;
  • The agent will apply for citizenship on your behalf and you will have to wait while the due diligence procedures are carried out;
  • If the decision is positive, you have to make an oath of allegiance and accept your passport of St Kitts and Nevis.

Why citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis can be denied to you

The main reasons why your application for citizenship may be rejected include the following ones:

  • You’ve supplied false information;
  • You are unable to prove the legality of your sources of income;
  • You have a criminal past;
  • You are connected with terrorist organizations.

Besides, all the application documents have to be neatly filled out. This is why it is important to find a reliable immigration agent who will take care of this matter.