St Kitts and Nevis citizenship cost for an investor

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program, launched in 1984, is the oldest in the world. It requires applicants to contribute to the country’s economy. In exchange, investors and their families are granted full citizenship.

Relatively simple procedures and low St Kitts citizenship costs attract investors when comparing terms with other investment programs. For example, there is no language test or history exam to get citizenship. Obtaining a residence permit in Portugal or Italy takes the same amount of investment as a Caribbean passport.

Investors can apply for St Kitts and Nevis passports remotely. There are also no requirements to live in the country to maintain the status.

There are three investment options: a contribution to a state fund, a real estate purchase, and a Public Benefit Investment.

Requirements for applicants. To participate, an investor should be over 18, have a legal and stable income, have no criminal records or prosecution, and have no serious illnesses.

An investor may add family members to the application:

• a spouse of the opposite sex without criminal records;

• children under 18;

• children between 18 and 25 years old who financially depend on the investor and attend a higher education institution;

• parents over 55 years old that live with the investor and are fully supported by them.

To get a St Kitts and Nevis passport, an applicant makes a non-refundable contribution to the state-owned Federal Consolidated Fund no less than $250,000. This option is called The Sustainable Island State Contribution, SISC.

The St Kitts and Nevis government spends the fund’s money on developing healthcare, education, tourism, culture, and alternative energy.

The total expenses depend on the number of family members included in the application. An additional amount needs to be paid for families of 5 and more people. The number of applicants also affects the amount of fees to pay.

The estimated final expenses are the following:

• $260,661 for a single investor;

• $268,822 for a married couple;

• $277,644 for a family of four with two spouses and two children aged 9 and 17;

• $295,805 for a family of five with two spouses and three minor children.

Applicants can also participate in the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program by investing in commercial real estate:

1. At least $325,000 worth of a share in a government-approved real estate project. The projects include five-star hotels, resorts, and properties of other kinds.

2. Investment minimum of $325,000 in a condominium unit designated as an Approved Private Home.

3. Purchase of a single-family private dwelling with a price of $600,000+. The property should be designated as an Approved Private Home.

The basic real estate investment amount is the same for single applicants and families, but the state fee depends on the size of the investor’s family and can be estimated as:

• $360,661 for a single investor;

• $383,822 for a married couple;

• $412,644 for a family of four with two spouses and two children aged 9 and 17;

• $415,805 for a family of five with two spouses and three minor children.

Shares in real estate earn stable interest of 3 to 4% per annum and lease of the property may generate an annual income of 2—5%. After 7 years, the investment can be sold, and the initial investment returned.

The program includes a free vacation for 1—2 weeks at the resort in which the applicant has invested.

Examples of properties in St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts & Nevis, Frigate Bay

$325,000 — $4,000,000

Share in a villa and apartments in a luxury hotel complex

58 m² — 426 m²

1—3

1—4

St Kitts & Nevis, Basseterre

$200,000 — $495,000

Turnkey apartments in a residential complex with ocean views

186 m²

3

St Kitts & Nevis, Basseterre

$1,795,000 — $1,895,000

Townhouse with a swimming pool in a landscaped park

278 m² — 295 m²

3

3

Investors are able to contribute to government-approved projects that benefit the people of St Kitts and Nevis. For example, these may include projects which develop local industries or involve the construction of real estate.

Some approved public benefit projects in St Kitts and Nevis are MSR Hotels, MSR Media, the Prime Creative Arts Center, and the Royal St Kitts Beach Resort.

The minimum investment is $250,000. Applicants are also required to pay a state fee.

The estimated final expenses are the following:

• $285,661 for a single investor;

• $308,822 for a married couple;

• $337,644 for a family of four with two spouses and two children aged 9 and 17;

• $340,805 for a family of five with two spouses and three minor children.

Due Diligence fee. In addition to the investment, the applicant pays a non-refundable Due Diligence fee for each family member: $10,000 for the main applicant and $7,500 for each family member over 16 included in the application. There is no Due Diligence fee for children under.

State fee. When selecting a property purchase or a Public Benefit Option, an investor pays a special state fee:

• $25,000 for a single investor;

• $15,000 for a spouse;

• $10,000 for each family member under 18;

• $15,000 for dependants over 18.

Other fees. The citizenship applicants also pay the following government fees:

• $250 of an application processing fee, per applicant;

• $361 of a passport fee, per applicant;

• $50 of a certificate of naturalisation fee, per applicant.

A foreign buyer is usually required to obtain a land ownership licence, which costs 10% of the property value. However, it does not apply to investors who purchase real estate through a citizenship by investment program.

To obtain Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment, an applicant needs to pay the costs within two stages.

To apply, an investor and their family collect documents that are sent to the St Kitts and Nevis CBI Unit. At this stage, the applicants pay for the translation and notarisation of the documents and the application processing fee. Then, there is Due Diligence payment.

The investment itself is carried out only after the applicant receives a letter of approval. Other state fees, bank charges, and courier services also should be paid around the same time.

The St Kitts and Nevis Golden Visa is an alternative name for the government investment program. It means an investor can get a second passport exchange investment in a short period. Investors choose St Kitts and Nevis passports because of their wide range of benefits.

1. Travelling without visas. An investor and their family may significantly increase their global mobility with St Kitts and Nevis passports. St Kitts and Nevis citizens can travel to over 150 countries, including the Schengen Area states, the UK, Malaysia, and Singapore.

2. Obtaining a US tourist or business visa for 10 years. St Kitts and Nevis citizens can obtain a B‑1/B‑2 Visitor Visa to the US for ten years. Visa holders can spend up to 180 days a year in the US visiting friends and relatives, travelling around the country, being treated at local clinics, and participating in conferences or business meetings.

3. Tax optimisation. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, there is no local or global income, wealth, and inheritance tax. Residents don’t pay taxes on dividends, royalties, and interest they earn in the country.

4. Available services of the Caribbean and European banks. With a St Kitts and Nevis passport, you can open accounts in the Caribbean and use all banking services. Depending on the country of first citizenship, it may be easier for an investor with a Caribbean passport to open accounts in Europe and the US.

5. Retaining citizenship of other countries. St Kitts and Nevis legislation allows its citizens to have a second passport. Therefore, when obtaining a passport, the investor does not need to renounce the citizenship of other states.

An investor needs to renew their St Kitts and Nevis passport ten years later. Children under 16 get new St Kitts passports every five years.

Documents for a passport renewal are submitted to the immigration service. The investors contact a licensed agent to renew a St Kitts and Nevis passport. The procedure is remote, and investors do not need to fly to the country.

Why the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program and the country's tax system are attractive for investors

1. The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program offers foreigners three investment options: a non-refundable contribution, a property purchase, and a Public Benefit Option.

2. The minimum investment to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship is $250,000. The real estate option is more expensive, requiring at least $325,000. However, the property can be sold in 7 years to return the investment.

3. In addition to the investment, applicants also pay Due Diligence and state fees. The total expenses amount to $360,661 for the real estate purchase, $260,661 for the fund contribution, and $285,661 for the Public Benefit Option.