Intoxicating natural beauty, sunny skies, warm waters, and white sandy beaches combine to make the islands one of the most seductive spots in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus first spotted St. Kitts in 1493, when it was populated with native tribes, but the Europeans didn’t colonize until the British arrived in 1623. Its strategic location and valuable sugar trade led to an advanced and luxurious development that was among the best in the Colonial Caribbean.
The pretty two-island nation is blessed with a tropical climate & crystal blue waters. St. Kitts & Nevis has several international airlines providing direct services daily with major airports in the UK, USA and Canada. Flight time between St. Kitts and the US is just 3 hours.
Of all the Caribbean countries, St. Kitts & Nevis had the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017 at US$17,000 (Data: World Bank)
The St. Kitts & Nevis (St. Christopher & Nevis) Citizenship by Investment Program was established in 1984 under the regulations of the 1984 Citizenship Act, Part II, Section 3 (5), which makes it the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world.
Applicants must meet the following qualifications;
St. Kitts & Nevis has a track record of providing a secure, discreet, confidential route to citizenship. Individuals who choose to apply for citizenship under St Kitts & Nevis' Citizenship by Investment Programme may take advantage of the following:
St. Kitts & Nevis offers two tracks for citizenship by investment:
In April 2018, Saint Kitts & Nevis launched a new permanent investment fund to replace the temporary Hurricane Relief Fund set up to address the devastation caused by the 2017 hurricanes in the Caribbean. The new Sustainable Growth Fund is open for donations with the following thresholds:
In addition to the above, the due diligence fees are as follows:
Applicants may purchase government-approved property valued at a minimum of US$400,000, or purchase shares valued at the same minimum amount in a real estate development. The investment must be maintained for a minimum of five years.
Applicants can make an investment of US$200,000 in a government-approved luxury resort. The investment must be maintained for a minimum of seven years.
Investors are required to pay additional applicable taxes and fees.
The Accelerated Application Process (AAP) approved by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis in October 2016 allows applications with the Citizenship by Investment Program to be accelerated to a 60 day processing period.
Interested persons applying utilizing the AAP will still be required to meet all mandatory criteria and submit the necessary supporting documents to apply for citizenship by investment.
Applications will be given an accelerated treatment from the Citizenship by Investment Unit, Due Diligence Providers and the St. Kitts and Nevis Passport Office. As a bonus this process also includes the application and processing of the St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis passport.
Provided the due diligence process does not reveal any delaying issues, the application process is guaranteed to be completed within 60 days. Often the process is completed in 45 days or less. (Note: GLI's latest AAP application was completed in less than 40 days from the date when the CIU issued the confirmation letter - typically the confirmation letter for AAP arrives within one week after submission.)
(Disclaimer: Owing to the extended turn-around time of third party due diligence contributor’s applicants from the following countries will not be eligible for the AAP:
Investment Migration Council (IMC) is the leading global association for investment-related migration. As an IMC member, GLI stays up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in this field through continuous education and training courses. We are committed to the highest professional standards and enhancing the respectability of the industry overall.
