La Vida Golden Visas

St Kitts Citizenship by Investment

How to Obtain Saint KITTS Citizenship through Investment

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme offers two main investment paths. Applicants can obtain citizenship and a passport through a donation route or by investing in government approved real estate projects. The government requires a minimum donation of $250,000 to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) or a minimum real estate investment of $325,000. In addition, related government application fees, agency costs and due diligence fees apply.

* St Kitts significantly increased their investment levels on 27th July, 2023. The previous SGF or LTO are no longer investment options for St Kitts citizenship.

Saint Kitts CBI Programme News

Get the latest news and information on the citizenship investment programme in Saint Kitts.

Saint Kitts Benefits

Speak to our advisors to understand the benefits of investing for a second citizenship in Saint Kitts

Saint Kitts Real Estate Investment

Explore the qualifying investment opportunities for real estate leading to citizenship.

Overview of Saint Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programme

First established in 1984, the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme is the longest-standing CBI programme in the world. The programme attracts high-net-worth individuals and their families from all over the world looking to increase their global mobility and diversify their interests. Successful applicants will be granted St Kitts citizenship and  a certificate of naturalisation. The Saint Kitts Citizenship by Investment programme has helped the nation generate substantial foreign investment which in turn helps to boost the local economy and fund key community-focused projects across Saint Kitts and Nevis.

From $250,000 Donation

From $325,000+ Real Estate

Full family

Saint Kitts Citizenship

Ease of travel worldwide

Saint Kitts Citizenship by Investment Requirements

In addition to making the necessary investment or donation there are several requirements that applicants must meet for Saint Kitts

Family Requirements

Family members can be included in the application for St Kitts citizenship. The main investor can include:

  • Spouse
  • Dependent Children
  • Dependent Parents over 65 years

Due Diligence Requirements

All applicants will need to be of good character and undergo the St Kitts government’s due diligence formalities: Investors must:

  • Provide police reports – evidence of a clean criminal record
  • Have no outstanding visa refusals
  • Submit various documentation, including financial documents, employment/ business documents, ID, proof of address
  • Attend a virtual interview

Minimum Stay Requirements

Saint Kitts Citizenship by Investment programme does not require applicants to meet any minimum stay requirements. Citizens of St Kitts will have the right to live, work or study in St Kitts and Nevis if they wish to, but this is not a pre-requisite of the programme. There is also no language test required.

How Much Does St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programme Cost?

St Kitts Citizenship by Donation

The lowest cost route to gain St Kitts Citizenship is via a donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution Fund (SISC). The minimum investment required is currently $250,000 for a single applicant or a family of up to four people. Additional due diligence and processing fees are also applicable and will vary depending on the applicant’s age and the size of their family.

St Kitts Citizenship by Real Estate Investment

Applicants can also gain citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis by investing in government-approved real estate developments, such as hotel resorts and touristic properties, by investing a minimum of $325,000 (resalable after 7 years) for each main applicant. La Vida offers a selection of established projects, including exclusive five-star resorts which are managed by globally recognised hotel brands and built by the Caribbean’s most reputable developers. Some options offer the potential for an annual return and the real estate can be sold after a mandatory holding period, allowing you to release your capital without affecting your citizenship status.

How Long Does It take to Get Citizenship by Investment in St Kitts?

The government aim to process all applications within a maximum of six months of submission to the St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). On average it takes most applicants between 2-6 weeks prior to this to gather all their documentation. La Vida’s in-house processing team will assist applicants with this entire process and the application can be filed remotely, no need to travel. See the FAQ’s below for a more detailed breakdown of the timeframe.

Benefits of St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programme

Once investors have successfully been granted their Saint Kitts and Nevis Certificate of Registration they can enjoy the full benefits of a St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship which include:

  • Security of a Plan B Citizenship and Passport
  • Diversify your assets outside of your current region
  • Live, Work and Study in St Kitts and other CARICOM nations
  • Tax-free incentives for residency

Step1

Book your free consultation with La Vida’s team of experts to discuss and decide which programme and investment route is best suited to you and your family. Our experienced consultants will provide you with a personalised quotation which will cover all applicable fees. They will advise and guide you through the entire process in detail.

Step2

For your peace of mind, before you commit, La Vida will run a pre-application background check to ensure your application is likely to be successful. Once this has been completed and you are happy to proceed, you can formally initiate the process by signing our Client Facilitator agreement and paying the pre-application deposit.

Step3

La Vida’s in-house processing team will work closely with you to prepare your application. Once your file has been fully compiled our team will submit your application to Antigua’s Citizenship by Investment Unit. Government fees will be required at this stage. From this point applications typically take an average of 5-6 months to be processed.

Step4

Following the St Kitts Citizenship Unit’s comprehensive due diligence checks and analysis of your application, an approval letter from the government will be issued and you will then be required to make the final payment. St Kitts passports usually take around one month from granting of the citizenship

Buying Real Estate St Kitts

There is a selection of government-approved real estate projects available in St Kitts that qualify for citizenship through real estate investment. La Vida focuses on the most established projects that are either already completed or construction is well underway. Speak with our advisors to establish the best option for you.

There are currently two main investment routes in Saint Kitts to choose from:

1. Citizenship by Donation – A non-refundable contribution to the government’s fund from $250,000 for single applicants or a family of up to four*.
2. Citizenship by Real Estate Investment – $325,000 into a government-approved project, plus fees.

Additional government, professional and due diligence fees apply in all cases, for a personalised quotation, please contact us

La Vida’s experts will advise you on which programme will be best suited to your needs. Once you have decided on St Kitts you can apply through La Vida and we will manage the full application for you from A to Z.

A variety of documents are required to apply for Citizenship through Investment in St Kitts. The list may vary depending on your personal circumstances. La Vida’s in-house processing team will work closely with you and advise on exactly what will be required. Some of the most common documents required are:

  • Passports and ID cards
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Police Reports
  • Proof of Address
  • Proof of Funds / Bank Statements
  • Employment records
  • Education records

No. The Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme has no minimum stay requirement. St Kitts Citizens have the right to reside in the country for as long or little as they like.

La Vida has extensive experience submitting CBI Applications to St Kitts and other Caribbean countries. It allows us to quote our own actual figures based on a sizeable number of submissions for each program. Figures you see elsewhere on the web could be borrowed, generically quoted or amended to suit the message. We also caution against agents claiming quicker times. Everyone submits to the same processing unit and there is no favouritism. An agent influences the timeline based on their efficiency in processing prior to submission and ensuring the application is complete and accurate. And then further, in dealing efficiently and knowledgeably with any questions that come back from the CBI unit.

The latest timeline (taken as last two-year moving average) from submission to approval of citizenship for St Kitts is 5.8 months. The fastest approval time we have experienced during that period was 4.7 months. Please bear in mind, as with all CBI programmes, once approved there is a further period of bank clearing, making the investment and issue of the citizenship certificate before the application and receipt of a passport. The average additional time for this for St Kitts was a further 5.2 months.

Prior to submission, it typically takes applicants an average of 2-6 weeks to gather all the necessary documents to compile their file before submission. La Vida’s team will assist with all aspects of the process. Our market leading client portal offers complete security for documentation and efficient and transparent processing, enabling clients to update their documents at their own pace and track their progress. We feel this leads to the most stress free and efficient process in ensuring a complete and accurate file for submission.

One further point for St Kitts is the backlog of CBI applications. This is already built into the figures above. But as we approach the end of 2024 the backlog is past its peak. We hope and expect processing times will come down rapidly from here.

The main applicant can include the following family members:

  • Spouse
  • Dependent Children up to the age of 30 years old who are fully supported by the main applicant
  • Dependent Children of any age who are physically or mentally challenged and fully supported by the main applicant
  • Dependent Parents of the main applicant or spouse who are above 65 years of age and fully supported by the main applicant

You are not required to pay any income tax on your worldwide income in Saint Kitts or capital gains tax. You are only required to pay tax on any income derived in Saint Kitts.

Once you have been granted citizenship in Saint Kitts, this is for life. However, your St Kitts passport has a validity period of ten years. All applicants will be required to renew their passports every ten years. The renewal fees are currently around $1,150 per person.

There is no requirement to visit St Kitts to process your Citizenship by Investment application however you will be required to give an interview virtually and on completion collect your naturalisation certificates at a St Kitts embassy or approved overseas location.

All applicants are required to undergo and provide evidence of a full medical check, certified by a registered doctor as part of the application process for St Kitts. This includes supplying a HIV test and full blood count and completing the official medical form. Even if the medical report states the applicant has an existing health condition, it is still possible to apply in most cases. Please contact us for specific circumstances and we can clarify based on your personal situation.

No. The Saint Kitts Citizenship by Investment programme does not require any applicants to undergo a language test.

Saint Kitts and Nevis allow dual citizenship with all countries. It is worth checking with your current country if they also permit dual citizenship.

Applicants must be legally married if wanting to apply together under one family application. Unfortunately, same-sex marriage is not yet legally recognised in Saint Kitts or the other Caribbean nations offering CBI programmes. In this circumstance, the best solution is for the two individuals to apply as single applicants separately.

Alternatively, if you wish to apply with your partner, then you could consider one of the European Golden Visa programmes where same-sex marriage and unmarried couples are eligible to apply together.

Other than making the required investment applicants will need to pass the St Kitts’ government Due Diligence and Anti Money Laundering requirements. The DD and AML tests are extensive and fees are payable on application. However before committing La Vida can provide an initial and free assessment on your likelihood of success for the St Kitts CBI program through our own due diligence pre-screening. In addition to our own tests this uses the two most prominent commercially available products available to scan for potential issues and adverse media. Please contact our advisors if you would like your free assessment before proceeding.

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