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Why choose St Kitts & Nevis?

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.

Benefits of investing in St Kitts & Nevis

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:

Affordable investment amounts.
A choice of investment options (some European programmes do not give this choice).
The whole process of obtaining St Kitts & Nevis citizenship is done 100% remotely – no need to fly to the Caribbean islands for an interview.
You invest in a passport of a safe country, with a stable economy and a low crime rate.
If applying through the accelerated application process, you can get your second passport in 60 days.
Investors are required by law to apply through an authorised agent; it helps to go through the process smoothly and reduces the risk of refusal.

: Get passport in 3–4 months

: Fast-track in 45–60 days

: Visa-free 140+ countries

: Dual citizenship permitted

: Favourable tax regime

: No residency requirements

: Citizenship for the whole family

: Full confidentiality

Eligibility and requirements

Main applicant should be at least 18 years of age.
Legal source of funds for investment and payment of government fees and charges.
All applicants over 16 must pass Due Diligence checks.
Clean criminal and immigration record.
Good health and no serious chronic deceases.

Eligibile dependants

A spouse.
Children under 30 years of age, including children from previous marriages.
Parents and grandparents aged over 55.
Brothers and sisters that are not married, have no children and are not older than 30 years of age.

Children aged over 18, as well as parents and siblings have to be financially dependent on the main applicant.

Two ways to invest in St Kitts & Nevis citizenship

There are currently two options of investing in the island economy to obtain a second passport: refundable and non-refundable.

Non-refundable contribution to the Sustainable Growth Fund

Investment starts at $150,000

The Fund spends the invested money on healthcare, education, culture, infrastructure, tourism and to support local businesses.

This investment option has two advantages:

You need less money to invest.
It is a one-off donation securing citizenship for you and your family – invest and relax.

Minimum investment is US $150,000. If you need a second passport for the whole family, a contribution amount will be bigger. You must pay additional $45,000 to include up to three dependants, another $20,000 for an eligible sibling, and each extra dependant will cost you another $10,000.

Apart from the principal investment amount you must pay a due diligence fee which is $7,500 for the main applicant and $4,000 for each dependant older than 16.

Price of St Kitts & Nevis passport through investment in the Sustainable Growth Fund


Donation	$150,000	$195,000	$195,000
Due diligence fee	$7,500	$11,500	$11,500
Total	$157,500	$206,500	$206,500

Investment in real estate

Minimum investment – $200,000

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 5-7 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.

You can choose to invest one of the two amounts in order to get St Kitts & Nevis citizenship:

$200,000 – you must own a property for 7 years.

$400,000 – you can resell it after 5 years.

On top of the investment itself and a due diligence fee, real estate investors are required to pay a government processing fee:

$35,050 – investor
$20,050 – investor’s spouse
$40,000 – eligible sibling
$10,050 – any additional dependant

Price of St Kitts & Nevis passport through investment in real estate


Purchase of real estate	$200,000	$200,000	$200,000
Due diligence fee	$7,500	$11,500	$11,500
Government fee	$35,050	$55,100	$75,200
Total	$242,550	$266,600	$286,700

Park Hyatt St. Kitts

Park Hyatt St. Kitts is an ultra-luxury hotel on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, operated by the world-renowned brand Hyatt. The hotel is developed by a leading hospitality developer in the region and opened its doors to the first guests in 2017. Known for its natural beauty, clear skies, warm waters and sandy beaches, Saint Kitts is one of the most tranquil locations in the Caribbean.

Price

$220,000 – purchase of shares

Location

Banana Bay, St Kitts

More detailsMore detailsbg

Park Hyatt St. Kitts

Price

$220,000 – purchase of shares

Location

Banana Bay, St Kitts

More detailsMore detailsbg

Your 5 steps to St Kitts and Nevis passport

It normally takes 3 to 4 months for your application to be processed. However, there is an accelerated option (additional fee applies) where you get your second passport in 45-60 days.

Get in touch with Imperial & Legal

Timeframe: 1 day

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.

Prepare documents and submit an application

Timeframe: 2 – 3 weeks

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.

Wait for the St Kitts & Nevis government to process your application

Timeframe: 45 days – 4 months

St Kitts authorities will conduct their due diligence checks and make a decision within 3-4 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.

Make an investment

Timeframe: 2 – 4 weeks

On approval in principle, you must make an investment in St Kitts and Nevis, either of the two options, within 2 – 4 weeks.

Get your St Kitts & Nevis Passport

Timeframe: 1 – 2 weeks

Once you make a fund donation or purchase a property, you will get a naturalisation certificate. With that, Imperial & Legal team will apply for St Kitts and Nevis passports and receive them when they are ready. You can either collect them from our office or we will arrange for them to be couriered to your home address.

Why do I need an agent to apply for citizenship by investment?

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.

How do I benefit from obtaining a St Kitts & Nevis passport?

You can travel visa-free to over 156 jurisdictions, including EU states, the UK, developed countries of South-East Asia and almost all South American countries. You can also apply for a 10-year visa to the USA that is not available to many nationals.
These Caribbean islands are known as a tax haven and an offshore jurisdiction for incorporating companies, because foreign profits are not taxed. Besides, St Kitts and Nevis government is developing the tourism sector which makes business investments very profitable.
Favourable taxation – especially important for investors who obtain second passport to move to the country permanently. There is no income tax, inheritance tax, gift tax, capital gains tax or wealth tax in St Kitts and Nevis.
Full confidentiality. It is guaranteed by the government that information about your second citizenship and passport will always be kept confidential.
An opportunity to live in a tropical paradise where a safe and comfortable urban lifestyle exists very close to pristine sand beaches and turquoise ocean.

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.

FAQ about St Kitts & Nevis citizenship

What are the advantages of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment?

It is the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world that sets very high standards for similar schemes. Provided you meet all criteria, which are not very complicated, you are sure to get a second passport.
A simple application process. The whole procedure is taken care by an agent and is done remotely without your personal presence. You obtain a St Kitts and Nevis passport after 4-5 months without leaving your house. If you want to get it quicker, pay a fast-track fee and wait only for 45-60 days.
A second passport for the whole family: a spouse, minor children and financially dependent unmarried children 18 to 30 years of age, unmarried and childless siblings under 30 and parents and grandparents over 55.
Unlimited opportunities for citizens of the world. Visa-free travel to 156 countries and territories. In the region, only Barbados can offer better terms, but they do not have a citizenship by investment program.
Tax benefits for companies and individuals. There are ways to optimise tax burden and preserve personal wealth.

How to invest in St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?

Investors have a choice of two options:

Non-refundable donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund
Minimum required investment is $150,000. The final amount depends on the number of applicants and additional costs.

Investment in real estate
The minimum $200,000 can buy you an apartment or a share in a house or a hotel under construction. You can only invest in government approved projects that minimises the risk of losing money. You will be able to return your investment in 5-7 years of ownership.

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.

Can I pass St Kitts and Nevis citizenship to future generations?

Yes, your second nationality can be passed by descent to your children under 18.

What are possible reasons for refusal of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?

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.

What is the best investment option for a couple with two little kids?

We have made calculations above for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids applying for St Kitts passports under both options:

Fund donation – $206,500.
Purchase of a property – $286,500

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.