St. Kitts & Nevis

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

Nestled in the Caribbean, St. Kitts & Nevis offers an enchanting fusion of natural allure, vibrant culture, and genuine hospitality. With its inviting climate, diverse landscapes, and low crime rates, it ensures a superb quality of life for residents and prospective second-home seekers. The nation's cultural heritage, welcoming locals, and commitment to safety contribute to its charm. Furthermore, St. Kitts & Nevis boasts excellent air connections, facilitating convenient travel to key destinations. In summary, St. Kitts & Nevis emerges as an attractive destination for those seeking a new residence or investment opportunity.

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St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment

Table of Contents

What is the Program for St. Kitts & Nevis Investment Immigration?

By meeting the legal requirements, international investors can become second-generation citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis under the Citizenship by Investment Programme. St. Kitts and Nevis’s Citizenship by Investment Programme has been running since 1984.

 

Citizenship by Investment is thus one of the longest-running and most prestigious programmes of its kind in the world. St. Kitts citizenship programmes provide international investors with a unique opportunity to broaden their business and travel opportunities in a world of rapid globalisation. Investors from other countries can get a highly valued second citizenship through this programme and live out their entrepreneurial dreams in a famous city.

What advantages come with obtaining residency in St. Kitts & Nevis through investment?

There are a lot of advantages to the “Citizenship-by-Investment Programme” in St. Kitts and Nevis. Being a member of the Caribbean and Commonwealth, Saint Kitts and Nevis offers improved visa-free access, one of the key advantages. Saint Christopher and Nevis, to give it its full name, occupies 261 square kilometres of the West Indies. In their federal parliamentary democracy, St. Kitts & Nevis’s little under 48,000 residents live well. A two-chamber Parliament, the Governor-General, and the Prime Minister make up this.

Benefits of St. Kitts & Nevis’s Citizenship Program & Passport

The St. Kitts & Nevis passport is very well regarded and has an excellent reputation, and only relatively few visas have been issued by the government under this citizenship-by-investment program. It is the cheapest program to gain second citizenship for Americans.

 

Important: We work with many law firms in St.Kitts, officially appointed and authorised by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, to represent and promote the Citizenship-by-Investment program.

Interviews

 

Each principal applicant must attend an interview conducted by an independent professional firm commissioned by the CIU or by officials of the Unit either virtually, in person in St Kitts and Nevis or person at such other location approved by the Board of Governors of the CIU. Dependents aged 16 or over may, if deemed necessary, also be required to attend an interview.

Requirements of St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment

The program requires applicants to make a significant economic contribution to the country. In exchange, and subject to a stringent application process and due diligence checks, the applicants and their families are granted full citizenship. The principal applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify, meet the application requirements, and select one of the following investment options:

 

OPTION 1. Donate to The Sustaınable Island State Contrıbutıon (SISC)

 

The minimum SISC contributions required by law are as follows:

Within 120 days of acknowledgement from the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of the submission of a CBI application, the CIU will advise whether an application is:

Family members such as spouse, child and siblings can be added later at any time after obtaining citizenship of the main applicant. This is subject to additional fees.

New Changes 2023

 

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) has announced sweeping changes effective Jul 27, 2023.  The minimum investment for donation and real estate has now doubled to US$ 250,000 and $400,000, respectively. The Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) was replaced with the Sustainable Island State Contribution Fund (SISC).  Mandatory interviews are required at the consulate or embassy or in person when visiting St.Kitts.

OPTION 2. Invest in Property

 

The Developer’s Real Estate Option requires you to invest no less than $400,000 in an approved development. Consequently, you must own the property for at least seven years. Furthermore, it can only be resold once to a new CBI programme member. In contrast, an Approved Private Home, either a condo or single-family dwelling, qualifies as a CBI option. In this case, you must pay at least $400,000 to the condo owner and $800,000 to the single-family dwelling owner. Subsequently, you must own the private home for at least seven years. Following this, you can’t resell to a CBI applicant unless the Federal Cabinet approves. Ultimately, it would help if you injected substantial extra investment through construction, renovation, or any other improvements.

 

  1. A. To qualify, there are specific minimum investment requirements that applicants must meet: Two applicants can proceed together with purchasing a property for at least US$200,000 on the condition of owning the property for at least seven years.

 

  1. B. Alternatively, one applicant must purchase a property worth at least US$400,000, with a minimum holding period of five years.

 

  1. C. Another option is the Private Investment Option, where one applicant must purchase a property worth at least US$400,000, with a minimum holding period of seven years.

 

Additional governmental fees and costs will also apply. The principal applicant must pay US$35,000 for government processing fees, while a spouse must pay US$20,000, and each qualified dependent must pay US$10,000.

It is also important to note that property-related costs are associated with each development, which will vary depending on the chosen specific project. Most of the available real estate projects consist of government-approved Approved Hotels. Investors can buy income-generating Hotel Shares, whereas newly built villas are also available to invest in and participate in the citizenship program.

 

OPTION 3. Approved Public Benefit Project

 

A minimum non-refundable contribution of US$250,000 to a public benefit unit in an Approved Public Benefit Project.

Giving to St. Kitts and Nevis government-approved public projects is the last possibility to apply for and receive St. Kitts citizenship through investing.

Through this channel, citizens can put their money into publicly-owned or privately-owned infrastructure or utility projects. The minimum investment required to join is $175,000 for up to four-person families. As the number of applicants (family members) to be included in the application increases, the minimum investment amount decreases (and therefore increases).

Donations to publicly funded projects are non-refundable and taken as monetary contributions.

Any development that receives public funds must be privately held or privately funded by a state-owned Public Good Project Developer for the investment to be considered. The program’s overarching goal is to encourage the creation of community-beneficial public goods. Consequently, the funds must be utilised to construct essential public amenities or infrastructure. In addition to improving the quality of life in the community, investors who choose this path will also be able to get permanent residency for themselves and their families.

 

Further expenses and levies from the government would be incurred as well.

 

Procedures for the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program

St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) processes all applications. The CIU examines the application thoroughly, and a mandatory interview is required for all investors applying for citizenship by investment, either virtually (default) or in person at a location specified by the CIU and approved by the Board of Governors. Dependents of a main applicant aged 16 years or over may also be required to attend an interview if deemed necessary. Interviews are conducted by an independent professional firm commissioned by the CIU, which also performs background due diligence checks on the CIU itself. All background due diligence checks are commissioned by the CIU and conducted by independent professional firms in Europe, the UK, and the USA, following the requirements set by the Board of Governors. The CIU will only accept an application if the applicant makes a false statement or omits relevant information.

 

The applicant must personally complete the prescribed government forms, which are only available from an authorised service provider. The documentary requirements of the program are reasonable, and the procedures are straightforward. Most applicants will usually visit the islands before deciding to purchase real estate. Still, it is optional for the application process, which generally takes 120 – 180 days (4-6 months) from submission of the application to the CIU for approval. Under the real estate option, the time frame may vary depending on the development, so choosing a real estate project that complements the citizenship application efficiently is essential.

 

Once the application has been approved, all processes and due diligence checks have been finalised. The investment has been made, a Certificate of Registration will be issued to the main applicant, which must be collected in person in St. Kitts and Nevis or at an embassy or consulate specified by the CIU as approved by the Board of Governors. The Certificate of Registration confers citizenship status, and once it has been issued, the applicant is entitled to apply for a passport.

How can we help?

WorkerVisa are UK immigration specialists.

 

WorkerVisa is a prominent immigration agency that provides you with assistance from our team of expert lawyers who specialise in many areas relating to immigration and visas.

 

WorkerVisa is here to help you with any aspect of the immigration process.

 

We have a great lot of experience in this field, and as a result, we are familiar with how to address all problems that may arise along the route. We can help you assemble all required documentation, submit your application, and finish the process. All of the legal considerations associated with acquiring a visa can be discussed with our team. You can call us immediately to learn how we can help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why choose St. Kitts and Nevis?

    St. Kitts and Nevis can be your preferred second home to spend Winter and Summer, and It is easy to travel from/to the US & EU with advanced airway options. The country allows dual & multiple citizenships. It also offers the most minimal tax rates in the Caribbean; no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax payment is requested.

  • Do I have to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis to start the Citizenship procedures?

    A trip to St. Kitts & Nevis is optional during the application procedure.

  • Is St. Kitts & Nevis a tax haven for investors interested in Citizenship by Investment?

    St. Kitts & Nevis is a country that imposes quite a minimal taxation on its investors considering obtaining St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment. State authorities do not demand any wealth, income, inheritance, or foreign income tax from their citizens, thus holding one of the lowest tax rates.

  • Do you offer Approved Property options for acquiring St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship?

    Yes. We work with leading developers in the Caribbean region, offering high-end, luxurious, and government-approved projects for St. Kitts and Nevis CIP.

  • Is St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship acquired/valid for life?

    Yes, once the citizenship is acquired, it becomes permanent citizenship for life for you and your next-generation family.

  • Does the child born after the acquisition of citizenship need to be born in St. Kitts and Nevis for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship?

    If the parents are both citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, then the child automatically inherits the citizenship wherever he/she is born.

  • Do the applicants have to reside in St. Kitts & Nevis for a certain period at any application stage?

    There is no residence requirement before or after acquiring St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship.

  • Can we change our names after obtaining citizenship?

    St. Kitts and Nevis concurred that candidates will not be permitted to change their names for effective Citizenship by Investment.

  • How many family members can apply for citizenship along with the Main Applicant?

    All family members (spouse, children up to the age of 30 years, dependent parents from 55 years, dependant siblings up to 30 years old) and the main applicant can be extended St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship investment application.

  • Is there any language requirement to apply for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship?

    No, there is neither a language requirement nor an interview, business experience or educational requirements for the citizenship application.

  • Once St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship is acquired, if the applicant will not stay in St. Kitts and Nevis, what will be the main applicant’s tax liabilities in St. Kitts and Nevis?

    Global incomes are not subject to taxation in St. Kitts and Nevis but personal income, inheritance, and wealth taxes within the country.

  • Is St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program regulated with official legislation?

    Yes. St Kitts & Nevis CBI is designated through legislation, especially with the Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship Act of 1984, which created the most long-established Citizenship Program. This Act gathers thorough & essential information regarding St Kitts & Nevis CBI procedures.

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