St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship offers a number of benefits to holders, including:

No worldwide income tax – St Kitts and Nevis does not levy personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax. Citizens who are not tax residents in the federation are not subject to any St Kitts and Nevis tax obligations on foreign-sourced income, making it attractive to international investors and entrepreneurs.

Dual citizenship permitted – St Kitts and Nevis places no restrictions on holding other nationalities. Applicants do not need to renounce their existing citizenship, and there is no language requirement or integration test.

Hereditary citizenship – Citizenship acquired through the programme can be passed down to future generations by descent. However, this could be curtailed if the proposed changes are introduced.

Family inclusion – The main applicant can include a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents in the same application. There is no requirement for the family to apply separately, and dependants can also be added after the main applicant’s citizenship has been granted.

No residency requirement – Unlike many residency or golden visa programmes elsewhere in the world, there is currently no obligation to spend any minimum amount of time in St Kitts and Nevis to maintain citizenship.

Investment return potential – Those who choose the real estate route can resell their qualifying property after a 7-year holding period, offering the prospect of recouping part or all of the initial outlay, depending on market conditions.

Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)

The SISC is a non-refundable contribution to the Federal Consolidated Fund, directed towards environmental sustainability, food security, renewable energy, and social protection initiatives. It is the simplest and most straightforward route, with no ongoing management obligations.
The SISC carries a flat contribution of USD $250,000 for a single applicant or a family of up to four people.

For families with more than four applicants, additional contributions apply: USD $25,000 per additional dependent child under 18, and USD $50,000 per additional dependent aged 18 or over.
Due diligence fees are charged separately at USD $10,000 for the main applicant and USD $7,500 for each dependent over 16.

Public Benefit Option (PBO)

The Public Benefit Option allows applicants to direct their contribution towards a specific government-approved public benefit project rather than the general consolidated fund.

The minimum investment threshold is the same as the SISC at USD $250,000, making it an alternative for those who wish to see their investment linked to a particular national development initiative.

The PBO tends to attract a lower volume of applications, and applications can, in some circumstances, be processed more quickly than the other routes.

Approved and Private Real Estate Investment

The St Kitts & Nevis citizenship by investment programme offers two real estate routes.
The first is the approved real estate route, which starts at USD $325,000 and covers shares in government-approved tourism projects or condominium units.

These properties can be rented out, generating annual yields of around two to five per cent, and can be sold for a profit after a mandatory 7-year holding period.

The second is the private single-family dwelling route, which requires a minimum investment of USD $600,000 in a standalone private home.

The same 7-year holding period applies, but once a property has been used to qualify one investor for citizenship, it cannot be used again by a future buyer for the same purpose.

Both routes lead to full St Kitts & Nevis citizenship and require applications to be submitted through a licensed agent, and do not require the investor to actually live in the property.

This makes the real estate route attractive to investors who want to hold a tangible asset and retain the possibility of an exit.

Government application fees and due diligence fees apply in addition to the qualifying investment amount under the real estate route.

There are a number of steps that must be followed when applying for citizenship by investment:

Step 1 – Engage an authorised agent – Applications to the CIU must be submitted through an authorised agent or a registered approved person. Applicants cannot submit directly to the government. The first step is to engage a qualified immigration lawyer or a licensed agent who can conduct an initial eligibility assessment, advise on the most appropriate investment route, and manage the process from start to finish.

Step 2 – Preliminary due diligence – Before a formal application is submitted, the agent will conduct initial due diligence to identify any potential issues.

Step 3 – Document preparation – Comprehensive supporting paperwork is gathered. This often includes certified copies of passports, birth and marriage certificates, police clearance certificates from every country where the applicant has lived for a significant period, a medical certificate, bank statements, and evidence of the lawful source of investment funds.

Step 4 – Application submission – The completed application and supporting documents are submitted to the CIU by the authorised agent, along with payment of the applicable due diligence fees.

Step 5 – Due diligence review – The CIU appoints an independent professional firm to conduct thorough background checks on the main applicant and all dependants aged 16 and over. This is conducted in line with OECD and FATF standards.

Step 6 – Mandatory interview – Each main applicant and all dependants aged 16 or over must attend a mandatory interview conducted by an independent firm commissioned by the CIU. Interviews can be conducted virtually, in person in St Kitts and Nevis, or in person at an approved location abroad.

Step 7 – Approval in principle – If the application satisfies all requirements, the CIU issues an approval in principle. Only at this stage does the applicant proceed to make the qualifying investment.

Step 8 – Investment and final submission – Once approval in principle has been granted, the qualifying investment is completed. Final documents and outstanding fees are submitted.

Step 9 – Certificate of Registration – Upon final approval, the applicant receives a Certificate of Registration confirming their citizenship.

Step 10 – Biometric enrolment – From 14 April 2026, all new applicants are required to complete biometric enrolment (fingerprints and facial recognition) as part of the passport application process.

All existing CBI citizens who have not already done so must complete biometric registration by 31 July 2027, and failure to do so will result in existing passports being deactivated for international travel, although citizenship itself is not affected.

The standard processing time for a St Kitts and Nevis CBI application is approximately four to six months from submission to the issuance of the Certificate of Registration.

Required Documents for the Application

While the specific documentation required can vary depending on individual circumstances and which investment route is chosen, the following are often required for all applicants:

• Valid passport copies, including all pages
• Birth certificate (certified copy)
• Marriage certificate, where applicable
• Police clearance certificate from each country where the applicant has resided for 12 months or more in the past ten years
• Medical certificate confirming the applicant is in good health
• Recent bank statements evidencing financial standing
• Documentation establishing the lawful source of investment funds
• Proof of residential address
• Passport-sized photographs meeting official standards
• Completed application forms

For dependants, additional documentation is required to evidence the relationship to the main applicant (such as birth or marriage certificates) and, for adult children, evidence of full-time enrolment in education and financial dependency.

For parents, documentation confirming age and financial dependency is required.

All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Some documents may also require an apostille or notarisation to be legally recognised.