Dual citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis: all ways to obtain it

Dual or multiple citizenships are allowed in St Kitts and Nevis, as seen in Section 93 of the St Kitts and Nevis Constitution. Individuals who obtain the country’s passport can be simultaneously recognised as nationals of other countries.

St Kitts and Nevis: second citizenship by investment

Some nations do not allow dual citizenship or apply restrictions — for example, India, South Africa, or Nepal. Passports of such countries will be revoked if their holders become naturalised in St Kitts and Nevis.

Children born on St Kitts and Nevis soil automatically become citizens, regardless of their parents’ nationalities. Other ways to get a second citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis include marriage, descent, adoption, and investment. The latter is the fastest option, especially convenient for high-net-worth individuals and their families.

St Kitts and Nevis citizenship is granted for life and is passed to future generations. Newly naturalised citizens are not required to pass language or history tests but must take the Oath of Allegiance.

A spouse of a Kittian or Nevisian can apply for citizenship after 3 years of legal marriage.

Application forms for getting St Kitts and Nevis citizenship through marriage should be sent to the Ministry of National Security and Information.

Necessary documents include:

• marriage certificate;

• birth certificates of the applicant and their spouse;

• divorce decree or a death certificate if either spouse was previously married;

• police certificate from any place where the applicant has been residing for the last six months;

• two passport-size photos.

The applicant pays a fee of XCD 500 ($185) if the marriage had been registered before 1983 and of XCD 1,000 ($370) if after.

Marrying a national of the country for the primary purpose of obtaining citizenship is forbidden. The government can also reject an application from spouses who are in the middle of divorcing or are no longer living as husband and wife.

Those with Kittian and Nevisian parents or grandparents may be eligible for naturalisation in the country.

Applicants submit a form to the Ministry of National Security, which can be done either in person or via a consular. They must provide names, dates of birth, places of birth, and places of usual residence of their parents and grandparents. The form also details the applicant’s personal information, addresses for the last ten years, and criminal record.

Other required documents include the following:

• applicant’s birth certificate;

• birth certificate of parents and, if applicable, grandparents, with certification by a Justice of Peace or Notary Public;

• police certificate if the applicant is 16 or older;

• two passport-sized photos.

There is an application fee of XCD 150, or $55.

Long-time country residents, full age and capacity, can eventually apply for naturalisation. This is the longest citizenship path.

Applicants must prove they have lived in St Kitts and Nevis for at least 14 consecutive years and have resided in the country continuously for the 12 years preceding their applications.

All registered addresses in the country applicants have ever had must be listed in a form. The form is submitted to the Ministry of National Security of St Kitts and Nevis.

If granted citizenship, applicants pay a USD-fixed fee of $5,320.

The country has the oldest citizenship-by-investment program in the Caribbean. Participants can receive St Kitts and Nevis passports in 6 months.

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

Investors have three options to choose from:

1. Contribution to the Federal Consolidated Fund. The minimum threshold is $250,000. This option is non-refundable.

2. Contribution to an Approved Public Good project aimed at developing the country. The minimum threshold is $250,000. This Public Good option is also non-refundable.

3. Purchase of government-approved real estate. The minimum threshold is $325,000. Investors can buy shares or entire properties and resell them in seven years.

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

$350,000+

Fraction in five star hotel under management of Hyatt Group

St Kitts & Nevis, Basseterre

$440,000+

Share in a 5-star hotel managed by Hyatt

Investors are considered the main applicants. They are allowed to add their spouse, as well as financially dependent family members:

• children under 25;

• parents over 55.

All applicants must be of good character and with no criminal records.

Family members receive St Kitts and Nevis passports and citizenship statuses along with the investor. Additional fees depend on the number of applicants and their ages.

Associated costs include:

• $10,000 for the investor and $7,500 for each family member over 16 — Due Diligence fee;

• $250 per person — application fee;

• $361 per person — passport fee.

Individual cost calculation for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Get the cost calculation

Visa-free entry to 156 countries, including the Schengen Area, EU, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. This makes St Kitts and Nevis passport one of the world’s strongest.

Access to long-term US and Canadian visas. This includes a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visa to the US, which allows both personal and business-related visits, and a 10-year tourist visa to Canada.

Tax burden reduction. Citizens of St Kitts and Nevis do not pay taxes on personal income, capital gains, real estate, dividends, inheritance, or gifts. There are also double taxation agreements with several countries, including the UK, the US, and Canada.

Companies registered in St Kitts and Nevis are eligible for up to 10—15 years of tax holidays. Hospitality and tourism enterprises pay a reduced VAT of 10% instead of 17%. There is also a free trade zone among the CARICOM members.

Quality education. Along with public schools and reputable universities in the country, Kittian and Nevisian students can get scholarships in the Commonwealth, UK, Europe, US, and Asia.

International business and financial opportunities. Entrepreneurs can register a company in St Kitts and Nevis in just three days, open accounts in local and worldwide banks, and transfer assets in any currency.

Belkacem, 42 years old

An investor from Algeria

How an Algerian entrepreneur get dual citizenship with St Kitts and Nevis for international business purposes

Belkacem is a business owner from North Africa. Extending his cargo company abroad required getting international visas.

Since Belkacem had been denied a US visa earlier, he chose to play it safe with the European one. Instead of applying for the Schengen visa with his Algerian passport, Belkacem decided to get second citizenship from the country that allowed visa-free access to the Schengen and EU countries.

Immigrant Invest needed to deal with two obstacles in Belkacem’s history:

• previous US visa denial, which can be a red flag to migration services;

• a lawsuit where the client was the plaintiff.

Learn how we dealt with these issues and helped Belkacem get visa-free access to Europe.

Learn a case

Usually referred to as a “dual-island nation”, St Kitts and Nevis is surrounded by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. St Kitts is the larger island, separated from Nevis by the Narrows waterway. The population of the country is approximately 53 thousand people.

St Kitts and Nevis is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the official language here is English. The national currency, Eastern Caribbean Dollar, is pegged to the United States Dollar: XCD 2.7 = USD 1.

The country’s tropical climate is relatively hot and humid, with an average annual temperature of +29℃. The hurricane season lasts from August to November. Both islands are mountainous, with tropical flora and fauna, sandy shores, lakes, and hot springs.

Infrastructure, public amenities and entertainment in St Kitts and Nevis are well-developed. The country has two international airports, multiple marinas, paved roads equipped for private and public transportation, beaches, markets and stores, banks, restaurants, and resorts.

Education in St Kitts and Nevis is provided in public and private schools and colleges. The country has four medical universities, as well as a University of the West Indies branch.

Health services are available in multiple hospitals and medical facilities, both public and private. St Kitts and Nevis has quality healthcare based on UK standards.

The capital city, Basseterre, is the country’s financial, political, and cultural hub. Most St Kitts and Nevis cities and towns are lively and beautiful. Residents and tourists alike enjoy a comfortable life on the islands.

1. St Kitts and Nevis permits multiple citizenships. The country’s passport can be obtained by birth, descent, marriage, naturalisation, or investment.

2. Citizenship by investment is the fastest path to St Kitts and Nevis citizenship since it usually takes 6 months. Other paths take 3—14 years.

3. The passport of St Kitts and Nevis makes its holders Commonwealth citizens. They can travel to 156 countries without a visa, conduct international business, reduce the tax burden and access quality education in Europe and the US.