What do investors gain from St Kitts and Nevis second citizenship
Freedom to travel around the world. St Kitts and Nevis citizens can travel to 156 countries without a visa. They can spend:
- up to 90 days in a half-year period in the Schengen countries;
- up to 180 days a year in the UK;
- up to 90 days a year in Hong Kong;
- up to 30 days a year in Singapore.
Travel to the United States. The B-1/B-2 visa allows holders to visit the United States for tourism, medical treatment or business for up to 6 months a year.
St Kitts and Nevis citizens are issued a visa immediately for 10 years.
St Kitts and Nevis citizens face fewer difficulties in getting a US visa compared to passport holders from many other countries: they can choose to apply for a US visa at an American consulate in any of the 156 countries that they can enter without a visa. The B-1/B-2 visa is normally issued within a few days.
Arsen and Lusine began thinking about obtaining second citizenship when they started to experience problems with getting visas to Europe.
It was easier for Arsen because he travelled often, and the countries like France and Italy issued him a visa for 5 years. However, his family usually got short-term visas.
Arsen made up his mind to solve this problem. More and more friends and acquaintances shared with him the benefits of second citizenship by investment.
Remote registration. The country’s law does not require an investor to reside in St Kitts and Nevis at the time of application or after citizenship has been approved.
Citizenship can be obtained without visiting the islands. A program agent accepts documents from the investor, and after approval of the application, they send the passport and certificate of naturalisation to the applicant. It is especially convenient if borders are closed.
Samvel’s children were preparing to study in the EU. Samvel and his wife wanted to go with their children, and decided to get Caribbean passports to travel to the Schengen countries visa-free.
To obtain Caribbean citizenship before the start of the school year, the investor used the accelerated application processing service.
Low tax rates. St Kitts and Nevis tax residents do not pay taxes on gifts, inheritance, capital gains or dividends.
Businessmen holding St Kitts and Nevis passports can register international companies in the country. They do not pay withholding tax on dividends, interest or royalties, and social security contributions for employees are just 6%.
Transfer of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by inheritance. St Kitts and Nevis is one of the few countries that allows citizenship by investment to be transferred by inheritance. Thus, the investor’s children or other family members under the age of 18 can become citizens by birth.
Benefits for Commonwealth Citizens. St Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state.
There are a number of benefits for citizens of Commonwealth countries: visa-free entry to member states, assistance and protection of the embassies of the participating countries and scholarships for studying at British universities.
Visa-free destinations for St Kitts and Nevis citizens
St Kitts and Nevis is a peace-loving country with a good political and legal reputation. Its citizens can travel to 156 countries visa-free, including the Schengen Area, The UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The table below is grouped by region, containing the countries that St Kitts and Nevis passport holders can visit without a visa.
St Kitts and Nevis passport : a list of visa-free countries and territories
No. |
Country |
Entry conditions |
1 |
Armenia |
Visa on arrival |
2 |
Bangladesh |
Visa not required |
3 |
East Timor |
Visa on arrival |
4 |
Hong Kong |
Visa not required |
5 |
Georgia |
Visa not required |
6 |
Israel |
Visa not required |
7 |
Indonesia |
Visa not required |
8 |
Jordan |
Visa on arrival |
9 |
Iran |
Visa on arrival |
10 |
Cambodia |
Visa on arrival |
11 |
Laos |
Visa on arrival |
12 |
Lebanon |
Visa on arrival |
13 |
Macau |
Visa on arrival |
14 |
Malaysia |
Visa not required |
15 |
Maldives |
Visa on arrival |
16 |
Nepal |
Visa on arrival |
17 |
Pakistan |
Electronic entry permit |
18 |
Palestinian Territory |
Visa not required |
19 |
Singapore |
Visa not required |
20 |
Taiwan |
Visa not required |
21 |
Turkey |
Visa not required |
22 |
Uzbekistan |
Visa not required |
23 |
Philippines |
Visa not required |
24 |
Sri Lanka |
Electronic entry permit |
25 |
South Korea |
Visa not required |
No. | Country | Entry conditions |
1 | Botswana | Visa not required |
2 | Burundi | Visa on arrival |
3 | Gambia | Visa not required |
4 | Guinea-Bissau | Visa upon arrival |
5 | Egypt | Visa upon arrival |
6 | Zambia | Visa not required |
7 | Zimbabwe | Visa not required |
8 | Cape Verde | Visa upon arrival |
9 | Kenya | Visa not required |
10 | Comoros | Visa upon arrival |
11 | Lesotho | Visa not required |
12 | Mauritius | Visa not required |
13 | Mauritania | Visa upon arrival |
14 | Madagascar | Visa upon arrival |
15 | Mayotte | Visa not required |
16 | Malawi | Visa not required |
17 | Mozambique | Visa upon arrival |
18 | Saint Helena | Visa upon arrival |
19 | Reunion | Visa not required |
20 | Rwanda | Visa not required |
21 | Seychelles | Visa upon arrival |
22 | Senegal | Visa not required |
23 | Somalia | Visa upon arrival |
24 | Sierra Leone | Visa upon arrival |
25 | Tanzania | Visa not required |
26 | Togo | Visa upon arrival |
27 | Tunisia | Visa not required |
28 | Uganda | Visa on arrival |
No. |
Country |
Entry conditions |
1 |
Austria |
Visa not required |
2 |
Albania |
Visa not required |
3 |
Andorra |
Visa not required |
4 |
Belarus |
Visa not required |
5 |
Belgium |
Visa not required |
6 |
Bulgaria |
Visa not required |
7 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Visa not required |
8 |
Vatican |
Visa not required |
9 |
Great Britain |
Visa not required |
10 |
Hungary |
Visa not required |
11 |
Germany |
Visa not required |
12 |
Gibraltar |
Visa not required |
13 |
Greece |
Visa not required |
14 |
Denmark |
Visa not required |
15 |
Ireland |
Visa not required |
16 |
Iceland |
Visa not required |
17 |
Spain |
Visa not required |
18 |
Italy |
Visa not required |
19 |
Cyprus |
Visa not required |
20 |
Kosovo |
Visa not required |
21 |
Latvia |
Visa not required |
22 |
Lithuania |
Visa not required |
23 |
Liechtenstein |
Visa not required |
24 |
Luxembourg |
Visa not required |
25 |
Malta |
Visa not required |
26 |
Moldova |
Visa not required |
27 |
Monaco |
Visa not required |
28 |
Netherlands |
Visa not required |
29 |
Norway |
Visa not required |
30 |
Poland |
Visa not required |
31 |
Portugal |
Visa not required |
32 |
Russian Federation |
Visa not required |
33 |
Romania |
Visa not required |
34 |
San Marino |
Visa not required |
35 |
North Macedonia |
Visa not required |
36 |
Serbia |
Visa not required |
37 |
Slovakia |
Visa not required |
38 |
Slovenia |
Visa not required |
39 |
Ukraine |
Visa not required |
40 |
Faroe Islands |
Visa not required |
41 |
Finland |
Visa not required |
42 |
France |
Visa not required |
43 |
Croatia |
Visa not required |
44 |
Montenegro |
Visa not required |
45 |
Czech Republic |
Visa not required |
46 |
Switzerland |
Visa not required |
47 |
Sweden |
Visa not required |
48 |
Estonia |
Visa not required |
No. |
Country |
Entry conditions |
1 |
Vanuatu |
Visa not required |
2 |
Kiribati |
Visa not required |
3 |
Micronesia |
Visa not required |
4 |
Niue |
Visa not required |
5 |
New Caledonia |
Visa not required |
6 |
Cook Islands |
Visa not required |
7 |
Palau |
Visa on arrival |
8 |
Samoa |
Visa on arrival |
9 |
Solomon Islands |
Visa on arrival |
10 |
Tonga |
Visa on arrival |
11 |
Tuvalu |
Visa on arrival |
12 |
Fiji |
Visa not required |
13 |
French Polynesia |
Visa not required |
No. |
Country |
Entry conditions |
1 |
Anguilla |
Visa not required |
2 |
Antigua and Barbuda |
Visa not required |
3 |
Bahamas |
Visa not required |
4 |
Barbados |
Visa not required |
5 |
Belize |
Visa not required |
6 |
Bermuda |
Visa not required |
7 |
British Virgin Islands |
Visa not required |
8 |
Haiti |
Visa not required |
9 |
Guatemala |
Visa not required |
10 |
Honduras |
Visa not required |
11 |
Grenada |
Visa not required |
12 |
Greenland |
Visa not required |
13 |
Dominica |
Visa not required |
14 |
Dominican Republic |
Visa not required |
15 |
Cayman Islands |
Visa not required |
16 |
Cuba |
Visa not required |
17 |
Montserrat |
Visa not required |
18 |
Nicaragua |
Visa not required |
19 |
Panama |
Visa not required |
20 |
El Salvador |
Visa not required |
21 |
St Vincent and the Grenadines |
Visa not required |
22 |
St Lucia |
Visa not required |
23 |
Sint Maarten |
Visa not required |
24 |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
Visa not required |
25 |
Trinidad and Tobago |
Visa not required |
26 |
French West Indies |
Visa not required |
27 |
Jamaica |
Visa not required |
No. |
Country |
Entry conditions |
1 |
Argentina |
Visa not required |
2 |
Aruba |
Visa not required |
3 |
Bolivia |
Visa upon arrival |
4 |
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba |
Visa not required |
5 |
Brazil |
Visa not required |
6 |
Venezuela |
Visa not required |
7 |
Guyana |
Visa not required |
8 |
Colombia |
Visa not required |
9 |
Costa Rica |
Visa not required |
10 |
Curacao |
Visa not required |
11 |
Peru |
Visa not required |
12 |
Suriname |
Visa not required |
13 |
Uruguay |
Visa not required |
14 |
French Guiana |
Visa not required |
15 |
Chile |
Visa not required |
16 |
Ecuador |
Visa not required |
Who can participate in the St Kitts and Nevis CBI program
St Kitts and Nevis accepts applications from foreigners over 18 years of age. The applicant must have no criminal record and must be able to prove that the money to be invested was earned legally.
The investor can include the following family members in the citizenship application:
- a spouse;
- children under 25, including the ones from previous marriages;
- parents over 65.
Children and parents with mental or physical disabilities can participate in the program at any age.
Children between 18 and 25 years old and parents must be completely financially dependent on the investor. The investor must provide documents that confirm material support: checks, bank statements, and receipts for payment of tuition at the university. Immigrant Invest’s lawyers draw up a notarized affidavit confirming their dependence.
Why the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program and the country's tax system are attractive for investors
Family members can join the citizenship program after the investor’s passport is issued. There is no time limit within which family members can join the program. The cost of obtaining citizenship for a spouse is $35,000 and $10,000 per member for the rest of the family.
In order for the citizenship application to be approved, it is not enough to just make the required payment: the investor and each family member over 18 years old must pass a Due Diligence check.
The St Kitts and Nevis CBI Unit verifies the authenticity of the documents, the absence of a criminal record and sanctions, as well as rejections of applications for other citizenship programs or residence permits. The government wants to make sure of the legality of the sources of the investor’s funds and their compliance with the law.
How much does St Kitts and Nevis citizenship cost
The costs of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship include investments, administrative and government fees and fees for preparing documents, forwarding documents and notarizing translations.
The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program offers a choice of three investment options:
The cost of obtaining a passport depends on the family members included in the application and the number of documents that need to be prepared.
Expenses on obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by contributing to the SISC, including fees
Costs | Investor | Married couple | Family of 3 or more |
---|---|---|---|
Contribution to the fund | $250,000 | $300,000 | $350,000 for a family of up to 4 people +$50,000 per dependant under 18 + $75,000 per dependant over 18 |
Due Diligence fee | $10,000 | $17,500 | $10,000 for the investor + $7,500 per family member over 16 |
Passport fee | $361 | $722 | $1,083+ |
Application processing fee | $250 | $500 | $750+ |
Issuing a certificate of naturalisation | $50 | $100 | $150+ |
Total | $260,661 | $318,822 | $376,983+ |
Features of investing in real estate in St Kitts and Nevis
The minimum amount of investment in real estate is higher than the fund contribution amount, but it does not depend on the number or age of family members included in the application.
The option to invest in St Kitts and Nevis real estate is chosen by investors who want part of their investment to be returned. In the past few years, more than 50% of applicants of the CBI program have bought real estate.
Types of available properties. There are three types of real estate that investors can purchase under the citizenship programs:
- $400,000+ can be invested in a share in a government-approved real estate project. The projects include five-star hotels and resorts, and objects of other kinds.
- Shares, apartments and villas in government-approved hotel complexes. The minimum investment $400,000+ can also be invested in a condominium unit designated as an Approved Private Home.
- $800,000 is the minimum investment in a single-family private dwelling designated as an Approved Private Home.
The property can be sold in 7 years. The investor can earn an income of 2 to 5% per annum from leasing the property.
Examples of investment properties in St Kitts and Nevis
Remote purchase procedure. To invest in real estate, the investor has to conclude an agreement to purchase real estate, choose an escrow agent, and open an escrow bank account. Investors do not have to do this themselves; they can delegate this and other tasks to a licensed program agent.
Fees for real estate investments. When buying real estate, applicants pay the following state fees:
- $25,000 for an investor;
- $15,000 for a spouse;
- $10,000 per dependant under 18 and parent;
- $15,000 per dependent over 18.
The fees don't apply to investments in social and infrastructural projects.
Expenses on obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by purchasing a share in an approved real estate project
Costs | Investor | Married couple | Family of 3 or more |
---|---|---|---|
Purchase of real estate | $400,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
State fee | $25,000 | $40,000 | $25,000 for the investor + $15,000 for a spouse + $10,000 per dependant under 18 + $15,000 per dependant over 18 |
Due Diligence fee | $10,000 | $17,500 | $10,000 for the investor + $7,500 per family member over 16 |
Passport fee | $361 | $722 | $1,083+ |
Application processing fee | $250 | $500 | $750+ |
Issuing a certificate of naturalisation | $50 | $100 | $150+ |
Total | $435,661 | $458,822 | $476,983 |
Public Good Investment Option
Applicants make investments exceeding $250,000 in initiatives recognized as Approved Public Benefit Projects.
Investor | Married couple | Family of 3 or more | |
Investment | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
State fee | $25,000 | $40,000 | $25,000 for the investor + $15,000 for a spouse + $10,000 per dependant under 18 + $15,000 per dependant over 18 |
Due Diligence | $10,000 | $17,500 | $10,000 for the investor + $7,500 per family member over 16 |
Application processing fee | $250 | $500 | $750 |
Passport fee | $361 | $722 | $1,083+ |
Issuing a certificate of naturalisation | $50 | $100 | $150+ |
Total | $285,661 | $308,822 | $326,983+ |
Which investment option is more profitable
The minimum contribution to the SCIC and Good Public Investment is $250,000. However, this does not necessarily make these options more profitable in comparison to purchasing real estate, for contribution to the SCIC is non-refundable.
Real estate investment starts at $400,000. However, the minimum cost of a share does not depend on the number of participants. Moreover, the property can be rented and then sold at a profit a few years later.
Comparison of expenses under three investment options for the investor, spouse and two children aged 9 and 17
Costs | Fund contribution | Property purchase | Public Good investment |
---|---|---|---|
Investment amount | $350,000+ | $400,000+ | $250,000 |
Due Diligence fee | $25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 |
State fee | — | $60,000 | $60,000 |
Other government fees | $2,644 | $2,644 | |
Investment amount returned | - | $400,000 | |
Total | $377,644 | $87,644 | $337,644 |
Taxes and doing business in St Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts and Nevis exchanges information with other states according to the international system of common reporting standards (CRS). Investors with a St Kitts and Nevis second citizenship do not need to pay taxes in both their countries of citizenship.
An investor becomes a tax resident by living in St Kitts and Nevis for at least six months of the year. Tax residents do not pay taxes on income, capital gains, inheritance, gifts or dividends.
Tax rates for individuals include:
- 0% on income earned outside St Kitts and Nevis;
- up to 0.3% on real estate;
- from 6 to 10% on the sale of real estate.
Corporate tax rates are also quite low for St Kitts and Nevis tax-resident organizations:
- 0% on income earned outside St Kitts and Nevis;
- up to 0.3% on real estate;
- from 6 to 10% on the sale of real estate;
- 6% social contributions;
- 33% on income generated in St Kitts and Nevis.
St Kitts and Nevis does not disclose financial information about the beneficial owners of the business. The personal data of the owners is not disclosed when registering companies. The government will provide another state with such data only in urgent cases: for example, if a company is found to be involved in fraud or terrorism.
Registering a company. Most business in St Kitts and Nevis is conducted through companies registered in the form of an international business company (IBC). It is recognized by the jurisdictions of different countries and allows working with foreign partners.
Registering an IBC costs about $2,300 and takes less than two weeks. The total minimum annual cost of maintaining the company is $1,600.
Documents required for registering a company in St Kitts and Nevis:
- Memorandum of Association
- Director’s appointment letter
- Certificate of registration of the St. Kitts and Nevis office
- Declaration that the owner of the company has reached the age of majority
The credibility of the company is influenced by the political relations between states and the country's reputation. Sometimes foreign partners prefer to work with a business registered in St Kitts and Nevis rather than in a politically or economically less stable country.
St Kitts and Nevis: facts and places of interest
The two small islands of St Kitts and Nevis are located in the Caribbean, covering an area of 261 km² with a population of less than 50,000.
The locals speak English making it easy for foreigners to communicate and resolve issues that arise in everyday life. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD), although euros, US dollars and British pounds are also accepted.
Climate. Humid and hot, with winds constantly blowing from the southeast. It is sunny all year round and the average temperature remains +25 °C...+32 °C. The period of intermittent rains lasts from May to November, and hurricanes occur from August to October.
Nature. Jagged mountains overgrown with tropical forests, coconut groves, sandy beaches with coral reefs, pink salt lakes and blooming orchids along the river banks abound in St Kitts and Nevis. There are several extinct volcanoes in the country. A lake has formed in the crater of the highest volcano, Llamiuga.
Sightseeing. In the village of Challengers, an ancient rock painting of the Caribbean Indians has been preserved. The country has monuments of architecture from the Victorian era. Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Equestrian tournaments and a salsa and jazz music carnival are held annually in June in St. Kitts. At the end of December, tourists arrive to take part in the most spectacular show, a carnival with colorful costumes and dances.
Transport. The country has two international airports: Robert Bradshaw is located in St Kitts and Vance Amory, on the island of Nevis.
Each island has modern ports that accept the largest cruise ships.
Public transport: minibuses, taxis and ferries. Travelling in a minibus costs $3 per 10 miles and in a taxi, $1 per mile. Ferries transport people and cars between the islands in 45 minutes. The fare is $25.
A narrow-gauge railway runs along the perimeter of the island of St Kitts, along which excursions are carried out in double-decker carriages. They last for four hours. The well-informed guides point out the sights of interest on the island and answer any questions that are raised.
Yachting. Christophe Harbor is home to the largest and most modern port in the Caribbean. There are berths for 300 ships and 60 berths for large yachts.
There is a customs office in Christophe Harbor. All amenities are equipped for yachtsmen: showers, cafes, shops and beaches. The prices for goods do not include duties. Spare parts and fuel for yachts are cheaper here than in European ports.
Only St Kitts and Nevis citizens can register a yacht under the country’s flag. The yacht is registered in one day, while the owners remain anonymous.
5 steps to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment
1. Contact Immigrant Invest. St Kitts and Nevis law does not permit applicants to directly contact the department dealing with the citizenship by investment program. Our company has been issued a government license to apply for citizenship by investment on behalf of our clients.
Immigrant Invest has its own anti-money laundering compliance officer who examines the investor's documents and assesses the risk of the application being rejected. If they consider that everything is in order, the application is taken to the next stage.
2. Sign a contract. The investor and the agent company sign an agreement at the Immigrant Invest office or exchange documents through a courier.
3. Prepare and submit documents. Our lawyers translate documents into English and notarize them. They fill out the relevant government forms, upload scans of documents to the program's website, and mail the originals to St Kitts and Nevis. The investor pays us for reviewing the application review and a Due Diligence fee.
4. Wait for the decision of the St Kitts and Nevis government. The CBI Unit begins to consider the investor's application after receiving the original documents. The application processing takes 4 months. The expedited service, for an additional fee, reduces the verification process to 60 days.
The St Kitts and Nevis government conveys the decision on the application to the licensed agent. If the application is approved, the applicant must fulfill the investment conditions within 90 days.
5. Obtain citizenship documents. Our lawyers hand over the passport and naturalisation certificate to the investor at the Immigrant Invest office or send them by courier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Foreign citizens can obtain a St Kitts and Nevis passport by investment. The citizenship program offers three options:
- $250,000: minimum contribution to the SISC;
- $400,000: minimum investment in state-approved real estate;
- $250,000: minimum investment in Public Good projects.
Investing in real estate is preferred by applicants who want their investment to be returned. The real estate bought for $400,000 can be sold after 7 years.
A St Kitts and Nevis passport allows the holder to enter and remain visa-free for up to 90 days in a half-year period in the EU, 180 days a year in the UK, 30 days a year in Singapore and 90 days a year in Hong Kong. It entitles the holder to travel freely to 156 countries around the world.
St Kitts and Nevis citizens can receive a B-1/B-2 visa to the United States for 10 years quickly and comfortably at the US consulate in any of the 156 countries that they can enter without a visa.
St Kitts and Nevis taxes are beneficial for businesses and individuals. The country has no taxes on capital gains, inheritance, gifts or dividends. Personal information about the owners of the company is not disclosed.
Citizens enjoy the benefits of the Commonwealth of Nations, including scholarships to study at university in the United Kingdom, which reduces their educational costs.
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment can be obtained remotely: the program’s agent accepts documents from the investor, submits the application and then sends the passport and certificate of naturalization to the investor by courier. The law does not require residency in St Kitts and Nevis either at the time of the application or after citizenship has been granted.
The investor receives citizenship forever. A St Kitts and Nevis passport is renewable every 10 years. This can also be done remotely.
The investment terms of CBI in Saint Kitts & Nevis need to be fulfilled within 90 days of the citizenship application being approved by the government. The department overseeing the application can extend this period if the investor applies for an extension and provides reasonable grounds for an extension.
In order to successfully pass the Due Diligence check, the applicant must provide the correct information and authentic documents. The department in charge will reject the application if it considers the applicant has hidden information or forged documents.
It is also important that the investor does not have a criminal record, their application for citizenship or a residence permit in any other jurisdiction has not been rejected and sanctions have not been imposed on them.
Investors can include the following family members in the application: a spouse, children under 25 and parents over 65.