The longest running Citizenship by Investment program in the world was launched in 1984 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, two small islands in the Caribbean Sea. They had just gained independence from Britain and were an underdeveloped region relying heavily on agriculture, particularly on sugar cane crops. Since then the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis has not only turned into a modern, safe and pleasant country to live in, but has excelled in attracting much-needed foreign investments to the economy.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program requires applicants to make a significant economic contribution to the country. In exchange, and subject to a stringent application procedure including thorough background checks, the applicants and their families are granted full citizenship.
To participate in the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship program, you won’t need significant capital investments—minimum investments start at $250,000, with options for both refundable and non-refundable choices. The process is entirely remote and takes just 4 – 6 months. You’ll obtain a passport from a country with low crime rates, visa-free entry to over 147 countries, and investment returns starting from 5 years.
The oldest program is not recognised by international media as the platinum standard brand for nothing. St Kitts & Nevis offers very favourable conditions for investors:
$250,000 Minimum investment
4 – 6 months Processing time
refundable & non-refundable Investment options
after 7 years Return of investments
home delivery Passport collection
140+ countries Visa-free travel
The interview takes place online, but can be arranged in person on the island or in the applicant’s country of residence if necessary.
Dependent applicants over the age of 16 may also be invited for an interview if necessary (at the request of the island authorities).
The interview takes place one-on-one. The applicant must attend the call alone and cannot use the help of legal representatives or relatives. If the applicant’s native language is not English, a certified interpreter will be provided.
Once the Citizenship by Investment application has been approved, due diligence have been completed, and the investment has been made, a Certificate of Registration will be issued to the main applicant. The Certificate of Registration must be obtained in person in St. Kitts and Nevis, or at an embassy or consulate designated by the Citizenship by Investment Division approved by the Board of Governors.
Children aged over 18, as well as parents have to be financially dependent on the main applicant.
*More details: the interview takes place online, by default, but can be arranged in person on the island or in the applicant’s country of residence if necessary.
Once the Citizenship by Investment application has been approved, due diligence has been completed, and the investment has been made, a Certificate of Registration will be issued to the main applicant. The Certificate of Registration must be obtained in person in St. Kitts and Nevis, or at an embassy or consulate designated by the Citizenship by Investment Division approved by the Board of Governors.
There are currently two options of investing in the island economy to obtain a second passport: refundable and non-refundable.
Investment starts at $250,000
The Fund spends the invested money on healthcare, education, culture, infrastructure, tourism and to support local businesses.
This investment option has two advantages:
Minimum contribution of US $250,000 allow to get a St Kitts and Nevis passport to the main applicant and their 3 dependants. For example, it can be their spouse and two minor children. To include any additional depandants you will need to increase the size of contribution by $50,000 for each adult and by $25,000 for each child under the age of 18.
Apart from the principal investment amount you must pay a due diligence fee which is $10 000 for the main applicant and $7 500 for each dependant older than 16.
Minimum investment – $400,000
You can obtain St Kitts & Nevis citizenship by purchasing a share in a holiday resort, a house or an apartment that is under construction or completed and that is approved by the government. This option is ideal if you do not want to part with your money for good and plan to return it in the future.
St Kitts & Nevis is a high-potential tourist destination with gradually rising property prices. Therefore, after 7 years of mandatory ownership, you will not only get your money back but also receive a gain. Besides, you can let out. And, if you invest in a share in a hotel, you get discounts when and if you stay there.
The minimal invest amount in order to get St Kitts & Nevis citizenship:
$400 000 – you must own a property for 7 years.
On top of the investment itself and a due diligence fee, real estate investors are required to pay a government processing fee:
It normally takes 4 to 6 months for your application to be processed.
No matter where you are in the world, we can arrange an initial consultation with our lawyers by phone or video call. Qualified advisers at Imperial & Legal will analyse your case, conduct background checks and help you choose the right investment option. They can also provide a breakdown of the citizenship program costs for you and your family.
After an online/telephone meeting, you will be sent a client agreement to countersign. At this stage, you will only need to provide a copy of your valid passport and a proof of address.
Once you sign the agreement, our team will help you prepare, draft, translate, certify and legalise all the required documents. Imperial & Legal experts will also complete all necessary forms.
How fast your application will be approved depends on whether the forms have been filled in correctly and whether all necessary documents have been submitted. You must also pay a due diligence fee upon submission. The application is submitted through a representative of Imperial & Legal that is permanently located in St Kitts and Nevis.
St Kitts authorities will conduct their due diligence checks and make a decision within 4 – 6 months. If you do not want to wait so long, you can pay for an accelerated procedure and get a decision within 60 calendar days. The fast-track fee is $25,000 for the main applicant, $20,000 for a spouse and dependants over 16, and $500 for each dependant under 16. Bear in mind that a due diligence fee is already included in those amounts.
If your application is approved, you will get an official confirmation.
On approval in principle, you must make an investment in St Kitts and Nevis, either of the two options, within 2 – 4 weeks.
You must have noticed that our team assists with 4 out of 5 steps of obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship. It is for a simple reason: St Kitts and Nevis laws only allow citizenship applications made through an approved agent.
Therefore, it is very important to take extra care when choosing immigration lawyers that would represent you – they must be qualified in matters of second citizenship by investment. It will save you a lot of time and money.
With the help of Imperial & Legal you can obtain a Caribbean passport within a short period of time and start using all the benefits it brings.
Investors have a choice of two options:
The final amount depends on the number of applicants in your application because, on top of the purchase price, you will have to pay a government fee and other charges.
Yes, your second nationality can be passed by descent to your children under 18.
You cannot submit an application for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship yourself, only through an approved agent, and that agent will conduct their initial background checks on you.
Your application might be refused if you do not comply with one or several requirements of the citizenship by investment program. If that is the case, immigration lawyers will be able to offer you a solution or an alternative scheme in a different jurisdiction where you would fit the criteria.
Another reason is a failure on your part to provide full details about yourself or provide them truthfully which will be revealed during due diligence checks.
However, in case of a refusal, you will only lose the due diligence fee as the investment is done strictly after an approval in principal.
We have made calculations above for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids applying for St Kitts passports under both options:
At a glance, option 1 seems like a preferrable choice, but remember that the whole amount is not refundable, while the amount in option 2, either $200,000 or even more, can be partially returned in 7 years. Therefore, in the long run, a real estate investment is a better option.
We will help you choose and make an investment and apply for a passport for the whole family. Get in touch now to discuss your requirements.
Caribbean passport
European passport
Citizenship by Investment