St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean, with its spectacular natural scenery, sunny skies, and white sandy beaches.
Why choose St. Kitts & Nevis for your citizenship?
This lovely two-island country is well-connected by direct flights to and from Europe and the United States, and it provides residents and individuals with attractive benefits such as dual citizenship and tax-free worldwide income.
As one of the most successful programs, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by investment program provides applicants with several advantages:
1- Quick processing within a total of four months
2- Addition of dependent children under 30 and dependent parents or grandparents over 55
3- Addition of financially dependent siblings of the applicant who have no children and are under 30.
4- The applicant is not required to be present physically in the country to acquire citizenship
5- The applicant does not require to travel to St Kitt’s and Nevis during the application process.
6- Lifetime citizenship
7- Dual citizenship benefits
8- Tax-free regime – there are no income, inheritance, or wealth taxes.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has a long history of offering a citizenship-by-investment program that attracts foreigners who contribute significantly to the country’s growth. Investors, as well as any family members, can automatically apply for citizenship by investment, either through a donation or through the purchase of a real estate property.
The St Kitts passport is undeniably strong, providing excellent global mobility and ranking 26th in the Passport Index. The passport holder can travel visa-free to over 154 countries, including much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The St Kitts passport is valid for ten years and can be renewed at any consulate where the passport holder resides.
To be eligible for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship, applicants must meet the following investment criteria:
– The applicant must be above the age of 18 to apply
– A background check of the applicant
– Bank accounts and employer references should be used to demonstrate the applicant’s character.
– The applicant must make a qualifying contribution of at least USD 200,000 in government-approved real estate or a charitable donation of at least USD 150,000 to St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Foundation (SGF).
Investment options
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has raised the new investment amount as of January 2012 and there have been no announcements or changes of amount as of February 2021.
There are two direct paths to obtaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship under the citizenship-by-investment program:
1- Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF)
St. Kitts and Nevis established a new Sustainable Growth Fund following the Hurricane Relief Fund. The Sustainable Growth Fund would entail a donation of USD 150,000, inclusive of government fees, for a single applicant. The contribution for a family of up to four is estimated to be USD 150,000.
The SGF contribution conditions are as follows:
– USD 150,000 one-time non-refundable donation from the main applicant
– USD 150,000 for a family of four (spouse, main applicant, 2 children)
– USD 10,000 for additional family dependents
2- Real Estate:
A. Five-year hold period
Applicants can make a purchase in government-approved property, priced at a minimum of USD 400,000, or they may purchase shares in a real estate development valued at the same minimum price. The investment must be held for at least five years.
B. Seven-year holds period.
Applicants can make a USD 200,000 investment in a government-approved luxury resort.
Investors are expected to pay additional applicable taxes and fees in all cases.
The process for gaining St Kitts and Nevis citizenship
Passport Legacy’s priority is to provide you with a hassle-free and streamlined experience when assisting you with your citizenship application. Our team will guide you with due diligence and care through every stage of St Kitts and Nevis’s citizenship acquisition process, ensuring that the application is submitted properly and followed up before the application’s approval.
The application method is often straightforward yet thorough. The steps are as follows:
1- Simply deposit through us a security deposit as a qualified Agent
2- We will file the application to the chosen country’s Citizenship-by-Investment Unit (“CIU”).
3- Following clearance, the applicant must pay the donation (or complete the real-estate purchase) following the CIU specifications.
Document checklist
Applicants must provide us with the original or copy set of documents for KYC (“Know Your Customer”), such as:
1- Passport Copy
2- Birth Certificate
3- Marriage Certificate
4- Police Certificates
5- Bank References
6- Health Checkup
Second passport and Golden Visa
The St Kitts citizenship program is suitable for investors who need a second passport for travel and easy entry to a variety of countries such as the EU and UK.
Benefits of a second passport:
1- Visa-free travel
2- Perform business globally
3- Dual citizenship
4- Financial safeguard future generations
5- Avail tax benefits
Additionally, individuals can further apply to European Golden Visa programs that are more tailor-made for those who want to frequently travel and live in Europe and potentially gain EU citizenship.
Golden Visas are Residence-by-Investment (“RBI”) programs that provide real estate investors with immediate residency. These programs also include a potential road to naturalization for citizenship after a certain number of years if all conditions are met. To obtain a residence, only the most basic conditions must be met. Prices for Greece for instance begin at EUR 250,000, with other good options ranging from EUR 350,000 to EUR 900,000.
A Golden Visa for an EU country is particularly attractive because it enables the holder (and their family members) to travel freely in the Schengen Zone. If the Golden Visa eventually leads to gaining EU citizenship, the resulting passport would allow visa-free travel to more than a hundred countries worldwide, depending on the issuing State.
The amount of money required to be qualified for a Golden Visa varies by region.
Some countries, such as Spain, Portugal, or Greece, provide residence by investing in real estate, businesses, government bonds, or specific industries. In these cases, the amount of money required for investments is typically less than EUR 500,000.
On the other hand, certain EU countries, such as Switzerland, Italy, and Austria, need a much more active investment strategy, such as creating jobs. The investment requirements are higher in these countries.