Saint Kitts and Nevis CBI Program | An Incomplete Guide

Capital: Basseterre

Population: 54,338(as of 2023, 187th)

Ethnic Group: 92.5% African, 3% Multiracial, 2.1% European, 1.6% Indian

Area: 261 km²(188th)

Offical Language: English

Currency: East Caribbean dollar( pegged to the United States dollar, at the exchange rate of US$1 = EC$2.70)

GDP per Captial: $29,893 (as of 2023)

Human Development Index: 0.838 (51st)

Country Profile：

Saint Kitts and Nevis is located in the Caribbean region of Central America. It is a federal island country composed of Saint Kitts Island and Nevis Island. It is also a member of the Commonwealth, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Economically, tourism and offshore finance are important pillars of Saint Kitts’ national economy. It is a well-known Caribbean tourist destination famous for its beautiful beaches, tropical climate, and colonial cultural heritage sites.

Politically, Saint Kitts is one of the few countries that has never established diplomatic relations with China but instead maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Visa Exemption：

People from Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadlines, and Grenada can work and live in Saint Kitts and Nevis freely.

Citizenship By Investment Program：

What is Citizenship By Investment Program?

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, also known as the Passport Programs, are government initiatives that allow foreign nationals to obtain citizenship in a country by making a significant financial contribution or investment in that country’s economy. This process offers a legal and relatively fast route to acquiring a new nationality and passport, often within a few months, depending on the program and country.

Currently, there are ten globally stable and reputable passport programs:

• Caribbean: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and Saint Lucia.

• Pacific: Vanuatu.

• Middle East: Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.

• Southeast Asia: Cambodia.

In addition to these countries, Malta, after canceling its passport program, has introduced a new fast-track citizenship law called MEIN (Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalization). By donating a certain amount of money, investors can secure naturalization and citizenship within 1 to 3 years.

Overall, while the global Citizenship by Investment programs require significant financial investment, they offer several advantages:

1. Quick Passport Acquisition: In most CBI countries, once the investment is made, applicants can obtain a passport within 3 to 4 months, or even just a few weeks.

2. Lenient Background Checks: Although there has been increased scrutiny on background checks due to pressure from the EU and the US, compared to major countries’ green card programs, the background checks for CBI programs in smaller countries are still relatively lenient, sometimes even superficial.

3. No Residency Requirement: Almost all CBI countries have a zero-immigration-residency policy. In most cases, applicants can apply for and hold citizenship without ever having to reside in the country.

4. Broad Dependent Eligibility: Many CBI programs allow multiple generations of the primary applicant’s family, including grandparents and grandchildren, to be included regardless of age or status.

Saint kitts And Nevis Citizenship By Investment Program:

Saint Kitts and Nevis is one of the earliest countries in the modern world to implement and successfully operate a citizenship-by-investment program. After gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1983, it began selling passports to foreign investors the following year and has maintained the program continuously ever since.

Compared to similar programs worldwide, Saint Kitts’ citizenship-by-investment program offers several advantages:

1. Citizenship can be obtained without the principal applicant or their family members (spouse, parents, and children up to three generations) having to physically reside in the country, and the passport is valid for life.

2. The passport has high practical value, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 159 countries and territories worldwide, including the European Union, Commonwealth countries, South America, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Additionally, passport holders are theoretically eligible to apply for a 10-year multiple-entry B1/B2 visa to the United States.

3. Saint Kitts is a tax haven and offshore financial center, imposing no income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or other mainstream taxes on its tax residents.

4. The citizenship by investment program has been running steadily for over 40 years, offering a reliable and straightforward way to obtain citizenship through investment.

These features make Saint Kitts and Nevis’ program one of the most established, stable, and beneficial citizenship-by-investment options available globally.

Investment Options:

Currently, the Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship-by-investment program offers overseas applicants two economic options to choose from:

1. Donation Option: Applicants make a donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution Fund (SISC). The donation amount varies depending on the number of family members applying:

• For families of up to four people, the main applicant must donate $250,000 to SISC;

• For each additional dependent under 18 years old, an extra $25,000 is required;

• For each additional dependent over 18 years old, an extra $50,000 is required.

Regardless of the economic option chosen, all adult main and dependent applicants must pay a one-time due diligence fee upon application submission: $10,000 for the main applicant and $7,500 for each dependent aged 16 or older.

2. Real Estate Option: Investors seeking citizenship through real estate investment have three economic routes:

• The Developer’s Real Estate Investment Option allows discerning investors to secure Citizenship by Investment in St. Kitts and Nevis  through the purchase of designated units in approved developments. The minimum real estate investment in an Approved Development is US$325,000 (resaleable after seven years) to be paid to the developer for each main applicant.

• The Private Real Estate Investment Option offers a unique pathway to citizenship for discerning investors. Secure an exclusive property and enjoy the benefits of living or investing in St. Kitts and Nevis, a destination known for its stability, sustainability, and luxury real estate opportunities.

Investors can choose between two options under the Private Real Estate Investment Option:

The minimum investment in a condominium unit or share in a real estate development designated as Approved Private Real Estate is US$325,000.

The minimum investment in a single-family private dwelling home designated as Approved Private Real Estate is US$600,000.

Similar to the donation option, both main and dependent applicants must pay a due diligence fee: $10,000 for the main applicant and $7,500 for each dependent aged 16 or older.

Unlike the donation option, the real estate option (as well as the public benefit investment option) requires investors to pay a one-time government fee: $25,000 for the main applicant, $15,000 for the spouse and dependents over 18, and $10,000 for dependents under 18.

3. Public Benefit Investment: Foreign investors who invest $250,000 or more in government-endorsed public benefit projects that create employment and introduce technology to benefit the local community can apply for citizenship.

Under this option, applicants must also pay the due diligence fee upon application and a one-time government fee upon approval, similar to the real estate option.

In addition to the financial requirements, applicants for the Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship program must also meet basic conditions such as good health, no criminal record, and no history of visa refusals from countries that offer visa-free access to Saint Kitts passport holders.

Application Process:

The application process for the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport program generally involves the following steps:

1. Retain an Authorized Agent: Similar to other passport programs, you cannot apply for a Saint Kitts passport independently; you must engage a government-approved agent to assist with your application. You can find a list of official authorized agents for the Saint Kitts passport program here.

2. Complete and Submit Application Forms: The agent will help you complete and submit the application forms:

Required documents typically include:

Identification: Passport copies, national ID card copies, six passport-sized photos for all applicants, and documents proving the relationship between main and dependent applicants, such as birth and marriage certificates.

Medical Certificate: An official medical certificate attesting to the health of all main and dependent applicants.

Police Clearance Certificate: Applicants aged 16 and over must provide a police clearance certificate from their country of residence.

Proof of Funds: Documents demonstrating your assets and the source of your funds, such as bank statements and property deeds.

Application Forms: In addition to the application forms, the agent will provide a letter attesting to the applicant’s good character.

Due Diligence: After submitting the forms and documents, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) conducts thorough background checks. The background check assesses several factors: criminal record, sufficiency and legality of funds, authenticity of documents, and the health of the main and dependent applicants. 

Currently, each main applicant needs to attend an in-person or video interview with CIU officials or their representatives. Upon successful completion of the due diligence process, you will receive an “Approval in Principle”.

3. Make the Investment: Once you receive the “Approval in Principle,” you must select an investment option and complete the donation or investment within 90 days.

4. Obtain Passport: After completing the investment, the Saint Kitts and Nevis authorities will finalize the process, and you will receive your passport, thus becoming a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Currently, the Saint Kitts passport program does not even require an oath of allegiance. Each newly naturalized citizen must also pay a passport fee of $3505.

The entire Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship-by-investment process, from initial application to passport issuance, generally takes four to six months. The investor and their family do not need to enter Saint Kitts and Nevis during the process.

Passport Renewal:

After obtaining a Saint Kitts passport, you can maintain citizenship for life without residing in the country, provided you did not submit any false information during the application. 

This passport is generally valid for ten years. After expiration, you need to renew it at the nearest Saint Kitts and Nevis embassy or consulate. The current passport renewal fee is $1,150.

Dependents:

Under the Saint Kitts citizenship by investment program, the main applicant’s spouse, children under 18, financially dependent children aged 18 to 25, children of any age with physical or mental disabilities, and parents of the main applicant and their spouse over 65 can obtain passports as dependents.

Passport Power:

Saint Kitts and Nevis has diplomatic relations with Taiwan but not with China, although the largest source of investors is China.

The country recognizes dual citizenship. Its passport is ranked 23rd globally, allowing holders to travel freely (visa-free or visa on arrival) to 155 countries and territories worldwide (April 2025)

Useful Links：

Saint Kitts and Nevis CBI official site：https://ciu.gov.kn/

Saint Kitts and Nevis visa online platform：https://evisa.stkittsnevisonline.com/ng-kn-evisa/indexlist