Second Citizenship
calendar iconMarch 8, 2024
clock iconReading Time: 9 min

How to get a St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

The St Kitts and Nevis CBI Program is a government initiative that allows individuals to obtain citizenship by investment. It was established to attract foreigners to the country and promote economic development.

The program offers several investment options with a minimum financial requirement of $250,000. The investor and their family members obtain citizenship in 6+ months from the application date.

Find out more about how to participate in a St Kitts and Nevis CBI Program.

Lyle Julien
Lyle Julien

Explained how to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

How to get St Kitts and Nevis passport by investment

How to get a St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Requirements for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program is among the oldest and most respected. Established in 1984, it is the longest-running CBI program globally.

Under the CBI Index Report 2023, the St Kitts and Nevis program ranks the best across different areas, including:

  • freedom of movement;

  • minimum investment amount;

  • ease of processing.

Requirements for participants are the following:

  • investor must be over 18 with legal income, without a criminal record and serious illnesses;

  • spouse of the opposite sex without a criminal record;

  • children under 25, financially dependent on the investor or spouse;

  • parents over 65, financially dependent on the investor.

Due Diligence. Applicants and their dependents aged 16 and above must undergo a thorough background check conducted by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. This Due Diligence process ensures that applicants meet the character requirements for citizenship.

Application documentation. Applicants are required to submit various documents as part of their application, including:

  1. Passport and identification documents.

  2. Birth certificates.

  3. Marriage certificates.

  4. Police clearance certificates.

  5. Health certificates.

  6. Proof of the source of funds for the investment.

Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. If the application meets all requirements and is approved, applicants and their eligible family members will be granted citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis.

What to invest in to get a St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program provides three options: a non-refundable contribution, the purchase of real estate, and the Public Good Investment Option.

Non-refundable contribution. To obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship, investors contribute $250,000 to the Federal Consolidated Fund under the Sustainable Island State Contribution Option. The contribution is non-refundable, made once, and doesn’t imply income.

Real estate. Investors buy shares or condominium units in projects approved by the country’s government. Applicants usually invest $400,000, but $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.

Public Good Investment Option. Applicants invest $250,000 in projects that are considered Approved Public Benefit Projects. Investors who would like to develop a project which brings substantial benefit to St Kitts and Nevis can apply to be designated as an Approved Public Benefactor.

Individual cost calculation of the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Individual cost calculation of the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Fees and costs of obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

When obtaining citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis through the CBI Program, applicants are required to pay various fees. These fees cover different aspects of the application process and the investment in the country’s economy.

State fees. These fees are payable to the government of St Kitts and Nevis and cover the cost of processing the citizenship application. Government processing fees vary depending on the number of dependents and the chosen investment option. Generally, these fees can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Due Diligence fees. Applicants and their eligible dependents aged 16 and above must undergo a Due Diligence background check conducted by the government of St Kitts and Nevis. Due Diligence fees cover the cost of these checks and are typically charged per applicant.

Additional fees may be associated with the application process, such as courier fees for document delivery, translation fees for non-English documents, mandatory interviews, and other administrative expenses.

Additional fees under each option for a single applicant

Fee type

Find contribution

Real estate

PGI Option

Investment

$250,000+

$400,000+

$250,000+

State fee

$25,000

$25,000

Due Diligence fee

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Processing fee

$250

$250

$250

Naturalisation certificate fee

$50

$50

$50

Passport fee

$361

$361

$361

How to apply for St Kitts and Nevis passport

Obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment takes place in several stages. Investors don’t pass exams or visit the country to do so.

The procedure is entirely remote, confidential, and lasts 6+ months. The investment is made only after the application approval.

1

1 day

Preliminary Due Diligence

Immigrant Invest conducts a preliminary check that minimises the risk of being rejected by the citizenship program department. It takes 1 day. The investor provides only a copy of the passport and address of residence.

Our certified AML Compliance specialists check the applicant in international databases, which investment program departments use in their work. Based on the verification results, our lawyers recommend a package of documents covering all possible questions for the applicant during Due Diligence.

2

2—4 weeks

Preparation of documents for citizenship

Our lawyers help the investor collect the documents required to obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship. They analyse a specific situation, based on which they form a list of documents. Further, legal explanations are prepared, state forms are filled out, apostilles are affixed, and documents are checked for correctness.

When the package of documents is collected, it is transferred to the department of the St Kitts and Nevis citizenship program for Due Diligence. The investor pays government fees and verification immediately.

3

3—6 months

Due Diligence by the St Kitts and Nevis government

When the program department receives a package of documents, it proceeds to Due Diligence. Its purpose is to find out if the investor and his family members meet the conditions of the St Kitts and Nevis program.

If additional requests are received from the citizenship program department, our lawyers respond to them. If necessary, collect more documents or prepare explanations.

All applicants over 16 must participate in an online or in-person interview. In some cases, Interviews may also be requested for dependents.

4

Up to 1 month

Approval and fulfilment of the investment condition

When the application is approved, an official notification comes. It is the basis for investing. The applicant contributes to the fund or purchases real estate. He has 90 days to invest.

5

1+ month

Getting citizenship

The investor receives a Certificate of Registration after the investment is made. The Certificate of Registration must be collected in person in St Kitts and Nevis or at an approved Embassy or Consulate.

7 benefits of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Obtaining citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis, a passport from the country offers several benefits, which may appeal to individuals seeking greater mobility, financial opportunities, and security.

1. Fast and remote process. St Kitts and Nevis’s citizenship by investment program is designed for efficiency, typically concluding within 6 months. The application and all related processes can be done remotely.

2. No residency requirement. The investment program comes with the added advantage of no mandatory residence requirement. It means applicants don’t need to live in St Kitts and Nevis before, during, or after the application process.

3. Increased global mobility is an important benefit under the citizenship by investment program. St Kitts and Nevis citizens do not need visas or obtain visas upon arrival in most countries.

4. Obtainment of the US visas. St Kitts and Nevis passport holders can get a B‑1/B‑2 Visitor Visa for the US, valid for 10 years and allowing multiple entries. Those visas can be extended online without an interview if they are valid or expired during the past 24 months.

St Kitts and Nevis citizens can also get a 10-year tourist visa to Canada that grants multiple 180-day entries.

5. Investment opportunities. The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program allows individuals to obtain citizenship through investment in the country’s economy. It can provide access to investment opportunities in the Caribbean region and potentially generate returns on investment.

6. Tax benefits. St Kitts and Nevis is known for its favourable tax environment, including no personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.

7. Dual citizenship. St Kitts and Nevis allows for dual citizenship. Investors can retain original citizenship while holding a St Kitts and Nevis passport. It provides added flexibility and benefits.

Gareth,

Entrepreneur from England

How a UK citizen acquired St Kitts and Nevis citizenship and cut taxes

Gareth got tired of living in a big city, the unstable political situation worldwide, and of the rapidly rising prices. The businessman wanted his second home to be remote and secluded. Gareth had been on Caribbean cruises and was familiar with the region, so he created a Plan B.

Five Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investment under similar terms. Looking closer at the countries, Gareth discovered he could find a second home and cut taxes.

Learn a case

Visa-free countries for St Kitts and Nevis passport holders

The list of countries and territories with which Saint Kitts and Nevis have a visa-free regime is flexible and changes constantly depending on the situation in the world.

St Kitts and Nevis citizens do not need visas for 97 countries. When crossing the border, it is enough to provide a national passport. In most cases, the maximum stay is 90 days.

Visa on arrival is issued in 24 countries. Thе visualisation takes place at the airport or a security checkpoint.

Electronic Travel Authorization, eTA, is issued in 32 countries. The estimated time of arrival can be obtained online through the request form on the special website of the country’s migration service. The process usually takes 1—2 days.

St Kitts and Nevis passport visa-free travel list

Asia

No.

Country

Entry conditions

1

Armenia

Electronic entry permit

2

Bahrain

Electronic entry permit

3

Bangladesh

Visa not required

4

Bhutan

Electronic entry permit

5

Cambodia

Visa on arrival

6

Georgia

Electronic entry permit

7

India

Electronic entry permit

8

Iran

Electronic entry permit

9

Israel

Visa not required

10

Jordan

Visa on arrival

11

Kazakhstan

Electronic entry permit

12

Kyrgyzstan

Electronic entry permit

13

Laos

Visa on arrival

14

Lebanon

Visa on arrival

15

Malaysia

Visa not required

16

Maldives

Visa on arrival

17

Mongolia

Electronic entry permit

18

Nepal

Visa on arrival

19

Oman

Electronic entry permit

20

Pakistan

Electronic entry permit

21

Philippines

Visa not required

22

Singapore

Visa not required

23

South Korea

Electronic entry permit

24

Sri Lanka

Electronic entry permit

25

Tajikistan

Electronic entry permit

26

Thailand

Electronic entry permit

27

Timor-Leste

Visa on arrival

28

Turkey

Visa not required

29

Uzbekistan

Visa not required

30

Vietnam

Electronic entry permit

Africa

No.

Country

Entry conditions

1

Angola

Visa not required

2

Benin

Electronic entry permit

3

Botswana

Visa not required

4

Burkina Faso

Electronic entry permit

5

Burundi

Visa on arrival

6

Cameroon

Electronic entry permit

7

Cape Verde

Visa on arrival

8

Comoros

Visa on arrival

9

Congo — Kinshasa

Electronic entry permit

10

Côte d’Ivoire

Electronic entry permit

11

Djibouti

Electronic entry permit

12

Ethiopia

Electronic entry permit

13

Equatorial Guinea

Electronic entry permit

14

Gabon

Electronic entry permit

15

Gambia

Visa not required

16

Guinea-Bissau

Visa on arrival

17

Guinea

Electronic entry permit

18

Kenya

Visa not required

19

Lesotho

Visa not required

20

Mauritius

Visa not required

21

Mauritania

Visa on arrival

22

Madagascar

Visa on arrival

23

Malawi

Visa not required

24

Mozambique

Visa on arrival

25

Nigeria

Electronic entry permit

26

Rwanda

Visa not required

27

Seychelles

Visa not required

28

Senegal

Visa on arrival

29

Somalia

Visa on arrival

30

South Sudan

Electronic entry permit

31

Sierra Leone

Visa on arrival

32

São Tomé and Príncipe

Electronic entry permit

33

Tanzania

Visa not required

34

Togo

Visa on arrival

35

Tunisia

Visa not required

36

Uganda

Electronic entry permit

37

Zambia

Visa not required

38

Zimbabwe

Visa not required

Europe

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

Croatia

Visa not required

9

Cyprus

Visa not required

10

Czech Republic

Visa not required

11

Denmark

Visa not required

12

Estonia

Visa not required

13

Finland

Visa not required

14

France

Visa not required

15

Germany

Visa not required

16

Greece

Visa not required

17

Hungary

Visa not required

18

Iceland

Visa not required

19

Ireland

Visa not required

20

Italy

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

Montenegro

Visa not required

29

Netherlands

Visa not required

30

North Macedonia

Visa not required

31

Norway

Visa not required

32

Poland

Visa not required

33

Portugal

Visa not required

34

Russian Federation

Visa not required

35

Romania

Visa not required

36

San Marino

Visa not required

37

Serbia

Visa not required

38

Slovakia

Visa not required

39

Slovenia

Visa not required

40

Spain

Visa not required

41

Switzerland

Visa not required

42

Sweden

Visa not required

43

Ukraine

Visa not required

44

United Kingdom

Visa not required

Oceania

No.

Country

Entry conditions

1

Australia

Electronic entry permit

2

Fiji

Visa not required

3

Kiribati

Visa not required

4

Micronesia

Visa not required

5

Palau

Visa on arrival

6

Papua New Guinea

Electronic entry permit

7

Samoa

Visa on arrival

8

Solomon Islands

Visa on arrival

9

Tonga

Visa on arrival

10

Tuvalu

Visa on arrival

11

Vanuatu

Visa not required

North America

No.

Country

Entry conditions

1

Antigua and Barbuda

Visa not required

2

Bahamas

Visa not required

3

Barbados

Visa not required

4

Belize

Visa not required

5

Cuba

Visa not required

6

Dominica

Visa not required

7

Dominican Republic

Visa not required

8

El Salvador

Visa not required

9

Grenada

Visa not required

10

Guatemala

Visa not required

11

Haiti

Visa not required

12

Honduras

Visa not required

13

Jamaica

Visa not required

14

Nicaragua

Visa not required

15

Panama

Visa not required

16

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Visa not required

17

St Lucia

Visa not required

18

Trinidad and Tobago

Visa not required

South America

No.

Country

Entry conditions

1

Argentina

Visa not required

2

Bolivia

Visa on arrival

3

Brazil

Visa not required

4

Chile

Visa not required

5

Colombia

Visa not required

6

Costa Rica

Visa not required

7

Ecuador

Visa not required

8

Guyana

Visa not required

9

Peru

Visa not required

10

Suriname

Visa not required

11

Uruguay

Visa not required

12

Venezuela

Visa not required

Dual citizenship benefits

St Kitts and Nevis allows for dual citizenship. It means that individuals who obtain citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis through the Citizenship by Investment program or any other means can retain their original citizenship while holding citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis simultaneously.

Dual citizenship offers several advantages, including:

  1. Increased travel opportunities. With dual citizenship, individuals can benefit from visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a broader range of countries, as they can choose to travel on either passport, depending on their destination.

  2. Access to services. Dual citizens have access to the rights and privileges afforded to citizens of both countries, including healthcare, education, and social welfare services.

  3. Business and investment opportunities. Holding citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis and another country can give individuals access to diverse business and investment opportunities in both jurisdictions.

  4. Cultural and personal connections. Dual citizenship allows individuals to maintain strong ties to their country of origin while forging connections and contributing to the community in St Kitts and Nevis.

Instead of conclusion

  1. St Kitts and Nevis’ citizenship by investment program offers individuals and families an efficient and flexible pathway to citizenship.

  2. The program, designed to attract foreign investment and promote economic development, provides three options with varying minimum investment requirements — $250,000 to 800,000.

  3. The process typically concludes within 6+ months, and applicants can benefit from remote application procedures without residency requirements.

  4. To navigate the application process successfully, applicants must meet Due Diligence requirements, submit required documentation, and cover associated government and Due Diligence fees. Applications are accepted from licensed agents only.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.

Will you obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?

Practical Guide

Will you obtain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?

Frequently asked questions

  • How much to invest to become a citizen of St Kitts?

    Applicants must make a qualifying investment in the St Kitts and Nevis economy. There are several investment options available, including:

    • contribution to the Federal Consolidated Fund under the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) Option — $250,000;

    • Public Benefit Option — $250,000;

    • investment in approved real estate projects — $400,000.

  • Can a US citizen live in St Kitts?

    A US citizen can live in St Kitts and Nevis, but there are specific requirements and considerations to remember.

    US citizens can visit St Kitts and Nevis for tourism without obtaining a visa for up to 90 days. However, suppose a US citizen intends to stay longer or reside in St Kitts and Nevis for purposes other than tourism. In that case, they may need to apply for the appropriate visa or residency permit.

    St Kitts and Nevis also offers citizenship by investment program, which allows individuals to obtain citizenship of the country by investment in its economy. While this option primarily targets foreign investors, US citizens may also explore obtaining citizenship through the CBI Program if they meet the eligibility criteria and are willing to make the required investment.

  • Can you have dual citizenship in the US and St Kitts?

    Yes, it is possible to have dual citizenship in both the US and St Kitts and Nevis. The United States generally allows its citizens to hold dual citizenship with other countries. Similarly, St Kitts and Nevis also permit citizens to have dual citizenship.

  • Is St Kitts citizenship worth it?

    Obtaining citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis offers several benefits, which may be appealing to individuals seeking greater mobility, financial opportunities, and security. Whether St Kitts citizenship is worth it depends on individual circumstances, goals, and priorities.

  • Can I visit the US with a St Kitts passport?

    St Kitts and Nevis citizens are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for stays of up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

    Therefore, St Kitts and Nevis citizens must apply for a nonimmigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate before travelling to the United States for tourism, business, education, or medical treatment. The type of visa required will depend on the purpose of your visit.