Comparison of St Kitts and Nevis & Dominica passports

Wealthy people get second passports by investing to have vacations abroad and make business visits visa-free. To achieve these goals, they participate in St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica state citizenship programs.

The St Kitts and Nevis passport by investment was the most in demand only a year ago. But Dominica signed a visa waiver agreement with China, and its CBI program became popular, too.

To date, St Kitts and Nevis citizens freely travel to 156 states, and there are 144 destinations for Dominica.

We list visa-free countries for the Caribbean passports in the tables below and highlighted different destinations with icons:

• ❌ means visa-free countries for the Dominica passport with restricted entry for St Kitts and Nevis citizens or the other way round;

• ⚠️ means that the entry conditions are slightly different. For example, visa‑free countries for Dominica citizens require visas on arrival from holders of St Kitts and Nevis passports.

Entry to the US. The popular destination for travelling and business contacts is the United States, but the country isn’t listed as visa-free for citizens of St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica.

The Caribbean passport holders can get 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visas to the US within 2一3 weeks. For comparison, citizens of countries with complicated geopolitical situations wait for US visitor visas for over half a year or can’t get them at all.

Relocation. Holders of St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica second passports can relocate to their citizenship countries anytime. They are eligible to live, study, work, and run a countrywide business.

To choose a second passport between St Kitts and Nevis’s and Dominica’s, investors compare the conditions of the CBI programs: time frames and costs that include investment and fees.

If an investor decides to get citizenship with their families, they will check the age limits for relatives.

The time frame for a passport obtaining depends on a continuance of Due Diligence; it’s the main step of each citizenship program.

The Dominica government check lasts at least 3 months; the longest is up to 6 months.

St Kitts and Nevis Due Diligence takes up to 6 months too.

Samvel, 43 years old

A plant owner from Yerevan

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship with an accelerated application processing

Samvel’s family got Saint Kitts and Nevis passports in about three months: to have the life-long right to enter the Schengen countries visa-free, they benefited from the Accelerated Application Process.

Now the family no longer have to extend European residence permits every year. Samvel can freely visit his children who study in Europe.

Learn a case

Program costs include investments and fees determined by choosing an investment option.

The Dominica program has two following options:

1. A non-refundable contribution to a state fund is at least $100,000. Investors who participate in the program with their spouses will pay $150,000. For a family of 4, the investment is $175,000.

2. A refundable investment in real estate is $200,000. Investors buy shares in government-approved projects, for example, five-star hotels, and return money 5 years later.

The principal applicant is eligible to sell the real estate after 3 years of ownership. But a buyer can also participate in the CBI program if the share is sold 5 years after the purchase. Thus, investors keep real estate ownership for 5 years.

The Due Diligence fee for the investor is $7,500 and $4,000 per family member over 16. In addition to this charge, the main applicant pays other insignificant fees, for example, per issued passport. If the investor chooses the real estate option, they will defray a special state fee of at least $25,000.

Individual cost calculation for Dominica citizenship

Get the cost calculation

The St Kitts and Nevis program has three following options:

1. A non-refundable contribution to a state fund is at least $250,000.

2. A refundable investment in real estate is at least $400,000. Unlike the Dominica CBI program, the St Kitts and Nevis program allows investors to buy not just shares in government-approved projects but also villas. The villa value must be at least $800,000. Investors return their money after 7 years of ownership.

3. Investment in socially significant facilities is $250,000 and is the least popular option.

Fees under the St Kitts and Nevis program, including a special state fee per property, are almost the same as under Dominica’s.

Individual cost calculation for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Get the cost calculation

Age limits. Also, investors’ relatives can participate in programs with the principal applicant: a spouse without age limit, children under 30, parents over 55 under the conditions of the St Kitts and Nevis program and over 65 under Diminica’s.

Requirements for Dominica passports are the following:

• to renew the document every 10 years for holders over 16;

• to renew the document every 5 years for holders under 16;

Requirements for St Kitts and Nevis passports are the same as Dominica’s.

If the investor with a second passport decides to relocate to St Kitts and Nevis or Dominica for over 183 days a year, they will become tax residents and have to obtain a tax ID.

Sometimes wealthy people get tax residency in Caribbean countries to reduce their tax costs.

The Caribbean countries have warm climates all year round. Winter is the best season for vacation in St Kitts, Nevis and Dominica. At this time, air and water temperature fluctuates between +25℃ and +30℃, and booking prices for apartments and villas increases by 2一3 times compared to August, for example.

St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica are members of CARICOM, the Caribbean commonwealth. It is a political and economic community of 15 countries with a common currency called the Eastern Caribbean dollar. 1 Eastern Caribbean dollar always costs 37 US cents.

There is no St Kitts and Nevis or Dominica nationality. For the most part, the population of these countries is of African descent. Approximately 10% of the population is Caribbean Indians and Europeans. Christianity is the main religion in St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica. The official language is English.

Antigua and Barbuda, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Martinique are countries near St Kitts and Nevis and Dominica. Their residents can get to neighbouring states by plane or ferry in 2 to 5 hours.

Reduce costs. If you decide to reduce the costs of getting a second passport, we recommend the Dominica CBI program. Investments under the program conditions are less than under St Kitts and Nevis’s. Fees under both programs are the same.

Fast-track procedure. If you want to obtain a second passport as soon as possible, we recommend the St Kitts and Nevis CBI program. It has a fast-track procedure that lasts 2 months. An applicant who makes an opening to accelerate a program procedure pays an additional fee.

Second passports for siblings. If you decide to participate in a CBI program with your siblings, we recommend the St Kitts and Nevis CBI program. The Dominica citizenship program doesn’t allow adding sisters and brothers to the investor’s application.

Return investment. If you prefer to spend more but return your money, choose a real estate option. You can sell a property after 7 years of ownership under the St Kitts and Nevis program and 5 years later under Dominica’s.