Cosmopolitans with St Kitts and Nevis citizenship enjoy visa-free access to more than 150 countries, have an opportunity to obtain a long-term visa to the United States and get other benefits.
Along with the rights, there are also obligations: for example, to comply with the rules of the investment program. We will tell you what opportunities a St Kitts and Nevis passport gives to its holders and how an investor can maintain the status of a citizen.
Author •Lyle Julien
Explained the rights and the obligations of investors with a St Kitts and Nevis passport
St Kitts and Nevis passport by investment is the same as a passport obtained by birthright. An investor can get a long-term US tourist visa, optimise taxes and freely cross the borders of other countries with a St Kitts and Nevis passport.
The guarantor of the rights and freedoms of a citizen is St Kitts and Nevis Constitution. The document provides the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, property ownership, freedom of speech, and the right to legal protection.
Travelling without visas. An investor can visit 156 countries without visas, including the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Getting benefits in the UK. St Kitts and Nevis is a former British colony. It gained independence in 1983, but the monarch of the United Kingdom still rules the country. They are represented on the island by the Governor-General.
St Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, so the country’s citizens can spend up to 180 days in a row in the UK. In addition, citizens of St Kitts and Nevis have access to preferential conditions for studying at British universities — for example, they can apply for the Commonwealth Scholarships.
The Commonwealth is one of the world’s oldest political associations of states. Its history goes back to the British Empire, when the UK ruled countries worldwide.
Obtaining a US tourist visa for ten years. Citizens of St Kitts and Nevis can obtain a B‑1/B‑2 visa to the United States for ten years. Visa holders can spend up to 180 days a year in the United States visiting friends and relatives, travelling around the country, being treated at local clinics, participating in conferences or holding business meetings.
Enjoying benefits in the Caribbean. St Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Citizens of the country can come to any state of these associations without a visa.
CARICOM is a duty-free zone, so doing business in the region can be profitable.
Using the services of the Caribbean and European banks. With a St Kitts and Nevis passport, you can open accounts and deposits 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 USA.
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.
Tax optimisation. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, there is no income, wealth or inheritance tax. Residents don’t pay taxes on dividends, royalties and interest they earn in the country.
Living in St Kitts and Nevis. The investors and their families can arrive in the country even if the borders are closed. Living there is a right, not an obligation.
You can come to St Kitts and Nevis for a holiday at any time. In addition, it’s possible to organise a "backup plan" at St Kitts and Nevis and go to the islands in case of danger.
The inhabitants of the island are very hospitable. They warmly welcome guests and new citizens of the country. The warm climate, sea, pleasant music, and fresh seafood contribute to rapid adaptation. But every culture has its code and expressions that are understood only by the locals.
Obtaining citizenship by investment imposes some additional duties on the investor.
Providing reliable information is a prerequisite for participation in the citizenship by investment program. Therefore, the authenticity of documents is checked at the Due Diligence stage.
If an investor provides false information about himself to participate in the citizenship program, the government of St Kitts and Nevis may take away the citizenship in the future.
Following the terms of the program. If an investor buys property under St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program, he undertakes not to sell it at least for seven years.
Submitting a notification about a second passport. Depending on the country’s legislation regarding first citizenship, the investor may be required to submit an official notification of getting a second passport. For example, a Turkish citizen must notify the government about obtaining a second passport.
Paying taxes. Doing business in St Kitts and Nevis results in the obligation to pay taxes. The income tax rate for legal entities is 33%.
The standard VAT rate is 17%. The reduced rate is valid for the hotel and restaurant business, and a zero rate is allied to some goods.
Property tax usually ranges from 0.15 to 0,3% for buildings and 0.2 to 0,75% of the property value. And if an investor does not live in St Kitts and Nevis but gets dividends or other income from sources in the country, a 15% withholding tax is paid.
Military service. People with two passports often have to serve in the army of both states unless there is an agreement on dual citizenship. However, this does not apply to participants in investment programs. As a rule, neither investors nor their family members are required to serve in the country’s army of second citizenship.
Citizenship of any country imposes on a person the obligation to comply with state law and respect the traditions and customs. Before visiting the country, we recommend learning some useful facts about St Kitts and Nevis.
The investor’s relatives can be included in the initial application for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship or added afterwards without a time limit.
The investor’s spouse and any financially dependent person can participate in the investment program. The cost of joining a spouse is $35,000. For a financially dependent person, you need to pay $10,000.
A newborn child of an investor with a St Kitts and Nevis passport automatically receives citizenship of the country.
Frequently asked questions
Ten years after St Kitts and Nevis passport issuance, an investor must replace it with a new one. Children under 16 get new St Kitts passports every five years. Documents for a passport renewal are submitted to the immigration service.
The investor turns to a licensed agent to renew a St Kitts and Nevis passport. The procedure is remote, and you do not need to fly to the country. The investor provides:
a valid passport;
a certificate of naturalisation;
a birth certificate;
a certificate of no criminal record;
photographs for a new passport.
Immigrant Invest lawyers fill out government forms and apply for St Kitts passport renewal.
Courier delivers a new St Kitts and Nevis passport to the address provided by the investor. It takes four weeks to replace the document.
St Kitts and Nevis passport renewal fee is $361. In addition, the investor pays for professional services, bank commission and forwarding of documents separately.
Participation in St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship By Investment Program is possible only with the assistance of a licensed agent.
Investors choose one of two options — a non-refundable contribution to the state fund or a real estate purchase.
The personal presence of the investor on the islands is not required. But if you want to visit the Caribbean, you can quickly get there from the US, the UK, European and other countries. In this case, it is necessary to consider the travel requirements for the entire vaccination course for COVID‑19.
Benefits of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program:
investors can apply remotely, and visit St Kitts and Nevis only for the passports;
living in St Kitts and Nevis after obtaining citizenship is not required;
all data about the investor and the fact of obtaining a passport are confidential;
refund of investment is possible after seven years if an investor buys a property to participate in the program;
the investors obtain citizenship quickly — usually, all the procedures take 6 months.
An investor has to be over 18 years old and without a criminal record to participate in the program. Together with the investor, a St Kitts and Nevis passport can get the members of his family:
spouse of the opposite sex with no criminal records;
children under 25, wholly financially dependent on the investor if over 16;
parents of the investor and their spouse over 65 entirely financially dependent on the investor.
There is no limit on the number of permitted dependants.
Non-refundable contribution. Investors contribute to the Federal Consolidated Fund. St Kitts and Nevis government spend the fund’s resources developing healthcare, tourism, culture and alternative energy.
Purchase of real estate. Investors can buy St Kitts and Nevis property in full or share ownership. There are three different ways to buy a property depending on the object’s character:
1. Purchase of the objects approved by the government. In this case, the minimum cost is $400,000. Investors can sell real estate after seven years.
2. Purchase of a private dwelling house or a single-family condominium unit designated as Approved Private Homes. The minimum amount of investment is $800,000.
3. Public Good Investment option. Involves investing at least $250,000 in an Approved Public GoodProject.
A property without governmental approval is suitable for the program on the following terms:
The seller owns the property and has a certificate of title as proof.
The land value is not included in determining the home’s value.
A single-family home should be sold as one unit and shall not be converted into apartments or condominiums or otherwise divided for sale under the citizenship by investment programme.
An apartment building or more than one apartment building on the same piece of land shall be sold as one unit and shall not be divided.
It is a whole object, not a share.
The investor must retain ownership of the object for at least seven years. After that, the property does not qualify for use in subsequent citizenship by investment application.
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.
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58 m² — 426 m²
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